212 Policies Governing Textbook Selection and Ordering

(Approved by Faculty Senate, September 29, 2006)

All textbook selections are subject to approval by the department chair.  Department chairs are responsible for supervising and consolidating all book orders for the department.  No book order will be accepted by the bookstore unless it is signed by the department chair.

In order to ensure that an adequate number of books is available, all book orders will be sent to the University Bookstore.  The University Bookstore will inform the local private bookstore(s) of the details of each order.  Based on previous experience with enrollment patterns and departmental usage, the University Bookstore may judge that the estimate of the number of copies needed should be decreased or increased.  Changes to bookstore orders will require approval from either the professor or department chair.

The University Bookstore is responsible for accurate record keeping and for proper inventory management to ensure that the needs of the faculty and students are met.

In order to reduce the cost to students, frequent changes in textbooks should be avoided.  Departments should select textbooks with care and, in courses that are taught every semester (fall and spring), should attempt to use the same textbook for at least two academic years.  For changes in textbooks to be initiated for the summer term, the instructor will notify the bookstore no later than February 1st.

For better inventory control, sudden changes in textbooks should be avoided.  Except in very unusual circumstances, it is the policy that for a course offered every semester (fall and spring), at least one semester will elapse between the time the University Bookstore is notified of the proposed change and the time the change is effective.

Ideally, all sections of a multi-sectioned course should use the same textbook.  Every department is urged to make a conscientious effort to hold to a minimum the number of different texts used in different sections of a multi-sectioned course.  

Instructors may require textbooks authored by themselves and immediate family members with approval of a third party (e.g., Department Chair, Department Adoption Committee).