USM Textbook Affordability

From: Elliot Hirshman, Provost and Senior Vice President, and Tim Topoleski, Faculty Senate President

Dear Colleague,

As you know, we have a new University System of Maryland (USM) policy and new state law on the subject of textbook affordability. The USM Textbook Affordability policy was effective with the fall 2009 semester and the new state law was effective on July 1, 2009.

Below are highlights of the major components of both the policy and state law. The policy and law are not intended to restrict your academic freedom in textbook selection in any way; rather they are intended to increase awareness of important options in selecting textbooks, as well as provide students with sufficient time and information to obtain their course materials at the lowest possible cost.

Textbook Adoption Deadline: For the spring 2010 semester, the new state law indicates all textbook adoptions must be “posted” on the Bookstore Web site by Tuesday, December 1. In order to give the Bookstore time to finalize the order and post the information, our due date is November 24. This deadline does not apply to situations in which a faculty member has not yet been assigned to a course by that time. The textbook adoption form is available on the Bookstore’s Web site.

Textbook Adoption Form: The Bookstore has revised this form to provide space for faculty members to
consider items as required in the USM policy and state law as follows:

– Multiple Semesters: Faculty members teaching the same course for multiple semesters can produce cost savings for students by using the same textbook and course materials. The revised textbook adoption form provides space in the 6^th column in which one can indicate if a book will be used for another semester, if this is known (yes/no, spring/fall, or don’t know).

– Textbook Editions: Faculty are encouraged to order new editions of textbooks only if pedagogically necessary and advise the Bookstore if previous editions are also acceptable. The revised form provides space to indicate in column #3 a listing of all acceptable editions.

In addition, space is provided for situations in which the previous edition is selected by the faculty member and the Bookstore finds that sufficient copies are not available; in column #7, space is provided for a faculty member to provide the Bookstore with pre-approval to order the latest edition as either (i) the only edition to be used or (ii) to allow both the latest and previous editions to be used.

– Faculty acknowledgement: The state law requires faculty to acknowledge that he/she has considered a number of cost issues in his/her textbook selection. The form provides applicable links regarding these issues and the faculty members’ signature on the textbook adoption form constitutes these acknowledgements.

– Bundled Versions: Faculty should order bundled versions of textbooks (plus supplemental materials such as CDs or workbooks) only if necessary to the curriculum and instruction. If a bundled version is selected, the Bookstore will advise you of the option to request unbundled versions and the price differential.

– E-books: Use of electronic versions of textbooks by students should be permitted. The Bookstore currently stocks e-books, if available.

The Bookstore is also working with student representatives from SGA on a “Guide for Students in Buying Course Materials” with an anticipated release in December 2009. Further informational sessions on these issues will be conducted at the faculty senate meeting on November 10.

Lisa Kakavas, our campus bookstore textbook manager, is your primary contact person for textbook questions; so should you have any questions or need additional information, contact her directly at ext. 5-2699 or kakavas@umbc.edu.
We greatly appreciate your support of our students.