Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) will implement a new mental health fee and a cost-saving textbook program starting in the 2025-26 academic year. The SIU Board of Trustees approved these initiatives on April 17, 2025, in response to student requests aimed at improving educational access and mental health services.
The Salukis Mental Health Fee will cost $7 per credit hour, allowing for affordable mental health services for students. Chancellor Austin A. Lane emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, ‘Our students have taken the lead on this issue to support mental health care and ensure they and their peers have all their needs met.’ With this fee, SIU aims to enhance mental health and wellness support for its diverse student body, contributing to their overall academic success.
In addition, SIU is partnering with Follett Higher Education to launch the SIU myTextbooks program. This initiative will lower the cost of course materials significantly. The average textbook cost for public in-state four-year institutions was $1,220 for the 2022-23 academic year, equating to approximately $41-$51 per credit hour. Under the new program, students will pay only $26 per credit hour for all required materials identified by faculty.
Tena Bennett, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary enterprises and student affairs, noted that students using SIU myTextbooks could save up to 60% on their required course materials. Studies have shown that students who take advantage of such programs have a course completion rate that is over 15% higher, with an average GPA increase of about 2.3%. The positive impact is even more pronounced among underrepresented student populations.
The SIU myTextbooks program will automatically enroll students when they register for classes. Students can opt out if they choose. This system simplifies the process of acquiring necessary materials, relieving students of the burden of sourcing and purchasing textbooks on their own. As course selections change, digital materials will be updated automatically, and students will receive notifications for any physical materials that need to be picked up or shipped.
This dual initiative reflects SIU Carbondale’s commitment to improving educational access and supporting the mental health of its students, ensuring they have the resources needed to succeed academically and personally.
