College students are no strangers to the often shocking price of textbooks. The last-minute, typically-required materials normally run students at least an extra $100 per book.

To combat unexpected textbook costs, LionPATH implemented a new criteria option in the class search page to indicate classes with low-cost or no-cost required textbooks, just in time for spring semester class planning.

The “Required Text Cost” feature can be found in “Class Search” in LionPATH, under the “Additional Search Criteria” tab, in “Course Attribute.” From here, in “Course Attribute Value,” users can pick either “Low-cost Required Text (under $50)” or “No-cost Required Text ($0).”

This new addition is available for all classes. However, it is currently only available for University Park and Commonwealth Campuses Penn State Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, and Wilkes-Barre.

Many required materials will also be made available through Penn State University Libraries and Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology. These resources, also known as open and low-cost educational resources or OERs, are one of Penn State’s initiatives toward accessible information and research.

“Completing the Course Marking Initiative is an important step toward the University’s access and affordability goals and something our student government organizations have been asking for,” Senior Assistant Dean for Distance Learning in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Ann H. Taylor said.

More information on the updated course markings can be found on the Course Marking Initiative’s website.