Faculty Affordability Strategies

V

Verify title information

In addition to title, author and current edition find out:

–   Last three previous copyright dates and if available, publication date

–   Net price, as well as the retail price to students

–   If a bundle, the ISBN of the bundle, as well as, the ISBN of each component in the bundle (publishers must make materials available as separate and unbundled items, unless custom or integrated)

–   Other available formats that may be less expensive (paperback, unbound, etc.)

Publishers are required to disclose this information. It can be used by faculty in the pre-adoption decision process; by bookstores when researching availability of inventory and to ensure accuracy when posting information to the public; and by students who may want to search the open market for their textbooks.

Need help obtaining this information? Your bookstore staff is happy to assist.

A

Acknowledge changes that might lead to higher costs

If considering a:

–   Different book - what is the difference in cost?

–   New edition - is it needed due to substantial content difference as reported by the publisher?

o    What is the price difference between editions?

o    Is the previous edition available to students via the used book market?

–   If considering a bundle, is all the supplemental material included in the bundle intended for use in the course?

Maryland law requires faculty to acknowledge a thorough consideration of the financial impact that changing titles or editions may have on students. Asking these questions will help you to evaluate if change is appropriate and necessary.

The less frequent that textbook adoptions change, the greater the opportunity for students to utilize the used book market.

L

Leverage your position as decision-makers

–   Make it clear to publisher reps that price is an important consideration for you

–   Go for long-term adoptions, using the same edition of a book as long as possible. This allows the bookstore to supply used books at a significant savings to students.

–   When practical, allow multiple editions to be used for a course. Let the bookstore know so information pertinent to previous editions can be listed as an option for students.

–   Work with the bookstore and publisher when designing and adopting a bundle to insure that it is economically sound. Consider the impact of bundling to buying back textbooks from students.

Publishers market their course material products to faculty. Bookstores acquire inventory and students make purchases based on what products faculty select.  This places faculty in a key position when it comes to controlling/reducing the cost of textbooks.

U

Utilize textbooks to the max

–   Explain to students why specific textbooks are chosen for each class. Discuss how the text fits within the course.

–   Indicate to the bookstore and students that a text is required only if it will actually be used, otherwise indicate the text is optional.

–   If you plan to use only a few chapters of a book, see if the materials can be placed on reserve in the library or if permission can be obtained to print the selections through copy services and sold through the bookstore.

–   Obtain feedback from students at the end of the course on how the required material aided their learning, and use this information in future adoption considerations.

Industry research shows that students relate the value of a textbook to the these factors:

–   Price of the required book

–   Extent to which the instructor uses the book.

–   Extent to which assignments are based on the book.

–   Degree to which exams are based on the book.

E

Explore alternatives to traditional textbooks

–   Permit students to use electronic versions of textbooks when available

–   Consider using electronic library access to make the course content more current and reduce book costs.

–   Create your own content, or collaborate with faculty from other institutions to create content and make them available online to students.

–   Learn about free content available through Open Educational Resources

Being open to other forms of content models may lead to innovations that ultimately reduce costs to students.

+

Here are other ways that you can have a positive impact on the issue of textbook affordability…

Submit textbook adoption information to the bookstore by the date requested (always before buyback), or sooner if possible. When the bookstore knows you are reusing a book, it can be bought back from students at the highest market value and recycled as lower cost used book inventory for other students. The bookstore can also search the wholesale market to obtain additional used book inventory.

Donate a current copy of your required textbook to the Library Textbook Reserve. Students may not check these out of the library, but it offers a free resource to students who only need limited access to the book. It can also allow students to use the book on a trial basis to see if they really want to buy a copy.  

Ask about the AACC Bookstore’s new Guaranteed Buyback program. If you enter into a long-term adoption agreement with a publisher, let the bookstore know. Titles meeting certain additional criteria may be eligible for our guaranteed buyback, and if so, students will receive 60% of the new book price at buyback. Contact Steve Pegg, bookstore manager, for information.

Visit the AACC Bookstore’s Student Textbook Affordability page to learn how students can maximize their textbook dollars.

Visit Tips to Obtain Textbooks developed by the Faculty Advisory Council to the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  Read their suggestions on how students, faculty and departments, administrators, bookstores, and the Commission itself can help manage those costs.

Read a summary of the Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2009.  If you have any questions about the law, contact Margaret Horner, Director of Auxiliary Services and Chair AACC’s Instructional Materials Affordability Committee.