Textbook Task Force
Minutes of the textbook task force: subcommittee of the EAC
Meeting 11-30-05

In Attendence: Scott Quinn, Michael Sonnleitner, Rhonda Smythe, Joyce Joyce Morrison, Diane Mulligan, Colin Fleming, Jeffrey Andika, Maribel Pinas-Espigule, Ed DeGrauw, Sheila Sheila Afran-Manns, Gaylon Erikson.

1. Discussion of the Agenda
2. Introductions
3. Discussion of the SAC Role in Textbook Determinations
1. Some SAC’s exercise a lot of contol, other’s very little to preserve academic freedom.  The trend more or less followed discipline lines with science, math, etc SAC’s playing a larger role than those of the social sciences and humanities.
2. Use of the same textbook for the same class at all campuses to negotiate quantity pricing.
3. Return of all complimentary copies of textbooks to the publishers for books not adopted for classroom use, either by publisher pickup or prepaid postage packaging provided by the publisher.
4. Enforce PCC “Code of Ethics” policy B-303 which

• Prohibits sale of textbooks to book buyers for personal profit.

1. Discussion of the life cycle of a college textbook and discussion of costs involved at each step (refer to handout given out at meeting)
2. Acceptance of the minutes of the last meeting (11/2/05).
3. Scott discussed making sure that everyone was “being heard more” that it is not just being able to say what you have on your mind, but also keeping an open mind when listening to others.
4. Rhonda discussed the credit card system now in place at some schools (including PSU).  This system allows students to buy books at other stores or via the internet, before they have received their financial aid.  Determined not to be a viable option; 1) bad press with corporate connection, 2) expressed interest in feeding money back into the college.
5. Michael discussed the idea of Eliminating or decreasing the schools “cut” of the profit from the bookstore.  In the ensuing discussion it was revealed that the school asks for a certain amount from the bookstore each year that will then go into the general fund.  Cost of textbooks, by necessity, reflect the amount of “profit” that must be generated to give to the school..  Diane will determine the overhead costs of the bookstore by the next meeting (1-25-06).
6. Discussion of David Wu’s legislation very short.  It is Dead and other bills like it have been buried.
7. Scott defers on his discussion of online resources until the 1/25/06 meeting.
8. Diane discussed the Dean of Student’s Meeting:
1. Textbook White Paper
2. CALprig to make textbooks affordable
9. Rhonda discussed the resolution by the students to support affordable textbooks which will be presented to the faculty.
10. An invaluable discussion of the workings of the bookstore by Joyce:
1. How book buyback works
2. Textbook ordering, costs of over-ordering, costs of bundling and how it affects buyback, used book market.
3. Encouraging students to purchase texts from sources other than the bookstore can increase bookstore costs due to return shipping of unused books or the bookstore having to absorb the cost of the books if the publishers and other book buyers will not accept them.
11. Discussion of revision of textbook order form (Michael will bring a copy of the current textbook order form to the next meeting to use in rewriting):
1. Can unbundled items be bought used
2. Required with CD; “yes” or “no” checkbox
3. Actual number of total seats
4. Anticipated actual enrollment
5. Net cost of each text
6. Is the use of a previous edition acceptable
7. Commitment to how long a textbook will be used (1 term, 1 year,2 years) to determine possibility for quantity pricing.
12. Move toward an entirely online book order process in which the default does not accept the order form unless it is filled out completely.
13. Meeting Textbook order deadlines and complete all parts of the orderform:
1. Fall, June 1st
2. Winter, November 1st
3. Spring, February 1st
4. Summer, May 1st
14. Further discussion of “bundling”, Is the stuff really free?  Cuts out used book market.
1. Recommendation: NO BUNDLING, unless all items are required and it is the first term of use for a new edition of the book and bundled items in question.
15. Next meeting set for 3:00 pm, 1/25/06 in the Library office.
16. Evaluation of current meeting, the tone was more positive than the first meeting.