The Mount Combats the Skyrocketing Price of Textbooks

EMMITSBURG, MD- Mount St. Mary’s University is aggressively recruiting adult-undergraduate and transfer students with a new free book policy. The offer also includes new financial aid packages for transfer students along with the textbook offer to help offset the cost of tuition.

“We realize this is a bold but necessary move to help our students with the huge cost of today’s textbooks,” says Mount President Thomas H. Powell. “The Mount has been looking for ways to make it easier and more affordable for adult students and transfers from community colleges. This is what needs to happen.”

According to a recent study by the Student Public Interest Research Groups, the average cost for a college-level text book is $131.44 per book.

The first phase of the cost-cutting measure kicks-off at the Mount’s Frederick campus, where individuals who attend the Information Session on November 5th and enroll in the undergraduate accelerated program will have their textbooks for their first class provided at no cost. The University’s Center for Professional & Continuing Studies in Frederick offers evening and weekend classes designed for working adults.

“Free books for their first class is another effort on our part to make the transition back into college that much easier for those who have wanted to complete their degree for years but always found some obstacle in their path,” says Joe Lebherz, director of the Center.

The second phase includes free books for all transfer students who received their Associates’ degree and are enrolled at the Mount for spring semester of 2010. The free books are awarded for two academic years or four semesters. The spring application deadline for transfer students is December 1, 2009.

Named one of the most faithful and affordable Catholic colleges in the country, Mount St. Mary’s University competes on the national level with its nineteen Division One athletic teams. The Mount has more than 70 club and intramural sports and a vibrant campus activity program.

For more information on the November 5th Information Session, please contact Joe Lebherz at 877-MSM-8648 or visit http://www.msmary.edu/.