A Report on the Feasibility of Textbook Rental - IBHE

Response from Provost Presley and Vice President Adams to“A <strong>Report</strong> on the Feasibility of Textbook Rental Programs and OtherTextbook Cost-Saving Alternatives in Illinois Public Higher Education”Prepared by the Illinois Board of Higher EducationDecember 2006Senate Resolution 692 directed “the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), in conjunction with theIllinois Community College Board (ICCB), to conduct a study of the cost and feasibility of implementingtextbook rental programs at community colleges and public universities as well as identifying othertextbook cost saving alternatives.” The <strong>Report</strong> appropriately addresses the various issues impacting thecost of college textbooks, the strengths and weaknesses of a textbook rental program, and alternatives to arental program.IBHE determined that the success of a textbook rental program is dependent upon:• Sufficient mandatory rental fees to cover annual operating costs• Additional funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to provide additional funds for lowincomestudents facing fee increases for textbook rentals.• Campuses developing a consensus among students, faculty and administrators that “a textbookrental program is an effective method for reducing textbook costs without adversely affectingquality”• Addressing start-up costs for implementing a textbook rental program• Sufficient storage space for textbook inventory• Development of textbook rental policies and proceduresThe key issues in implementing a textbook rental program at Illinois State University remain the same• Start-up costs ($16 million)• Space to store textbook inventory and distribute textbook rentals (20,000 sq, ft.)• Difficulty in implementing a textbook rental program at an institution the size and complexity ofIllinois State University (large enrollment, small class size with diversity of class offerings,research emphasis)• Commitment from faculty to selecting a textbook across sections of same course• Commitment from faculty to use same text for at least three years• Commitment from faculty to forego bundled texts (text, workbook, CD)• Contract with Barnes & Noble College Bookstores (expires June 2011)• Loss of revenue from contract with Barnes & Noble College Bookstores (approx. $320,000annually)The IBHE <strong>Report</strong> lists several alternative cost-saving measures. Some of the alternatives are problematic.They may require an institution to take action for which it has no authority and/or may invade ofacademic freedom. Such alternatives include:• Require faculty and staff members to consider the most cost-effective practices in textbookdecision making.• Prohibit community college and public university faculty, staff, an academic department frombenefiting financially from selection of required textbooks.• Require publishers to provide faculty members with the price of course materials sold at thebookstore and the revision history of course materials.In conclusion, the IBHE <strong>Report</strong> on textbook rentals is comprehensive. However, it fails to adequatelyaddress the obstacles to implementing a textbook rental program at a large, research university. Of the 25colleges and universities nationwide with textbook rental programs none of the institutions are research-108-