OSHKOSH (WPR) A professor at UW-Oshkosh has an idea that could revolutionize college textbooks. Instead of having students pay hefty sums to either buy or rent books, he says lessons can be delivered electronically. 

College students often complain about the high cost of textbooks which can ring up between $800 to $1,200 a year.  And professors often complain that a chosen text doesn't include all the information they'd like to teach.

So UW-Oshkosh economics professor Ryan Haley thinks he has an idea that could please everyone, except companies that now publish textbooks. It's called an "E Text."  Haley is launching it at the business school, which will be an initial text he’s written on statistics.  Then other professors can add their own chapters, tailored to their own classes.  Students can download the information for a nominal fee, Haley says it could be up to 90 percent cheaper than buying an actual book.

And Haley says the information will be tailored to students at UW- Oshkosh. He says a lot of business faculty consult in the Fox Valley and have contacts with employers many students take a job with.

Haley got a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop the E text.  He says the first version should be ready for use by next fall.

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Information from Wisconsin Public Radio, www.wpr.org