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Policy 2220 – Textbooks and Course Materials

Revision Date: 8/6/2013 
Last Review: 11/11/2024 
Responsible Office: Bookstore/Provost
Reference: University of Louisiana System Policy

Policy:

First revised 2/2002 in compliance with University of Louisiana System adopted policy.

All adoptions, changes and modifications to selected coursework materials (textbooks, prepared packets, and software) to be purchased by students will be identified on the Official Textbook Requisition (hereinafter referred to as the Adoption Form) and submitted to the Louisiana Tech Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager in accordance with the timeline referenced below.

In dealing with academic departments regarding ordering of books, negotiating pricing of materials, etc. the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager will work with only one person from each department, namely, the department head or a designated representative. If a representative (hereinafter referred to as the Adoption Contact) is to be used, the department head will notify the bookstore in writing of the name of the adoption contact.  All selections, adoptions, materials etc. for a course must be approved by the academic department head and the dean of the college.

The adoption contact is to produce a cover letter signed by the dean and department head with a statement that the following adoptions have been approved and attach this to their copies of the quarterly adoptions. Textbook adoptions, materials etc. are submitted to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager by the department head or adoption contact after approval by the dean of the college.  A copy of the cover letter and all supporting documentation ensuring ADA accessibility and compliance must be retained by the adoption contact.

Once you have submitted your paper adoptions, any subsequent paper adoptions turned in will require an additional cover letter with signatures.

The Official Textbook Requisition (Adoption Form) is to be completed with special attention to:

  • Accuracy of title, Author, ISBN#,
  • Edition, Indication of whether a previous edition is acceptable,
  • Estimate of number needed, and the maximum enrollment.

Please note that online adoptions must come from the department head or the adoption contact. Each individual instructor may not submit his/her adoption. When the adoption contact submits an online adoption, it signifies that the adoption contact has already received the approval of the dean and department head for that adoption. The adoption contact is to produce a cover letter signed by the dean and department head with a statement that the following adoptions have been approved and attach this to their copies of the quarterly adoptions. The Bookstore does not need a copy of this letter
if the adoption was submitted online, however the department adoption contact should retain the cover letter and all supporting documentation ensuring ADA accessibility and compliance.

A textbook or material is considered required unless identified on the Adoption Form as OPTIONAL. Required textbooks for multi-section courses will be the same for all sections, except that departments may substitute alternative textbooks in chosen sections to keep up with the evolving pedagogy in their fields. Selection will be a departmental decision based on appropriate faculty review and recommendations with final approval by the academic department head.

The Louisiana Tech Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager has been designated by the University to make all information concerning textbook and coursework material adoptions available on the Adoption Form to all vendors, both on and off campus, upon request and to respond to all vendor requests and inquiries concerning adoptions.

Textbooks and coursework materials authored by Louisiana Tech faculty may be adopted provided the selection is approved by the college dean. Customized textbooks must be reviewed and approved by the college dean with consideration of the no-buy back value of the text. In a case where a dean is the author, approval must be obtained from the Provost.

Adoption Timelines:

Each department will prepare and submit Adoption Forms for Summer, Winter, and Spring quarters through the college dean to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager by the Monday following the first day of classes of the preceding quarter (approximately 10 weeks before the beginning of the adoption quarter). Adoption Forms for the Fall Quarter, however, will be submitted the first Monday in April. The established dates will appear in the official academic calendar. The calendar is available on the Tech website (www.latech.edu).

Textbooks for courses taught every quarter are adopted for two years or eight quarters. If a department has plans to change a continuously used textbook for the upcoming academic year, that information should be conveyed to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager in advance of the established deadlines. Such advance information will be provided to all vendors who have requested information on adoptions.

Changes and Modifications:

Any request for a change or modification to materials previously submitted on a quarter’s Adoption Form must be presented in hard copy through the college dean to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager. If approved, copies of any changes or modifications will be provided by the Textbook Inventory Manager to all vendors who have requested information on adoptions.

Buy Back

Textbooks in satisfactory condition and continued in use by the University will be bought back by the Bookstore until quota is reached.  The owner must present his/her Louisiana Tech University I.D.

The buyback does not include novels, study guides, customized texts, and texts adopted as optional.

Complimentary Textbooks/Materials

It has long been a tradition in higher education for faculty to receive books from publishers for review for possible adoption. It is considered a violation of the Code of Governmental Ethics for faculty members to “sell” complimentary copies of books given to them because of their position. Employees of Louisiana Tech University shall not participate, directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to or consist of the sale or exchange of complimentary textbooks, software, laboratory manuals, or other educationally related items that result in financial benefit to the employee.  Please note that it is a violation of University policy for a faculty member to require students to purchase class materials (other than selected text) so that the instructor
receives a free copy. 

Textbook Accessibility Policy Statement

Louisiana Tech University is committed to providing a learning environment that affords equal access to instructional material to all members of the University community. Both Federal and State law classify accessible instructional materials to be all forms of communication; therefore, materials must be available in a manner that is equally effective for persons with disabilities. These laws pertain to any material required by an instructor including (but not limited to) textbooks, software packages, websites, in-class assignments/resources, and supplemental reading.  Any questions relating to accessibility should be directed to the Department of Testing & Disability Services (tds@latech.edu or 257-4221).

Louisiana Tech seeks to ensure that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination by the University. The policy includes provisions to the following effect:

  • The University will only purchase, develop or use technology and instructional materials that do not exclude persons who are blind or who have other vision disabilities; and
  • The University will only purchase, develop or use technology and instructional materials that allow persons who are blind or who have other vision disabilities the equal opportunity to access, use, and avail themselves of such technology or instructional materials in as full, equal, and independent a manner as persons without disabilities. 

Instructional Materials

  • All instructional materials and online courses created by a college, department, program, unit, or professor must be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities at the same time it is available to any other student enrolled in that program.
  • Each college, department, program, unit, and professor using pre-existing instructional materials and online courses created or used since January 2010 will develop and implement a plan to make them accessible in compliance with WCAG by December 1, 2014.  The plan shall be posted on the department, program, unit, or professor’s website and updated as implementation proceeds. 

Other Technology

  • The University will ensure that any new technology it makes available to students, prospective students or applicants, including web applications, hardware, software, telecommunications, and multimedia are accessible if such are commercially available and their purchase does not result in an undue burden or fundamental alteration.  If a product is available and meets some, but not all, of the relevant accessibility provisions, the product that best meets the standard must be procured.
  • The University will develop and implement a process to ensure electronic and information technology purchased by the University is accessible.

Definitions:

Not applicable.

Procedures:

Not applicable.

Policy 2220 – Textbooks and Course Materials

Revision Date: 8/6/2013 
Last Review: 11/11/2024 
Responsible Office: Bookstore/Provost
Reference: University of Louisiana System Policy

Policy:

First revised 2/2002 in compliance with University of Louisiana System adopted policy.

All adoptions, changes and modifications to selected coursework materials (textbooks, prepared packets, and software) to be purchased by students will be identified on the Official Textbook Requisition (hereinafter referred to as the Adoption Form) and submitted to the Louisiana Tech Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager in accordance with the timeline referenced below.

In dealing with academic departments regarding ordering of books, negotiating pricing of materials, etc. the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager will work with only one person from each department, namely, the department head or a designated representative. If a representative (hereinafter referred to as the Adoption Contact) is to be used, the department head will notify the bookstore in writing of the name of the adoption contact.  All selections, adoptions, materials etc. for a course must be approved by the academic department head and the dean of the college.

The adoption contact is to produce a cover letter signed by the dean and department head with a statement that the following adoptions have been approved and attach this to their copies of the quarterly adoptions. Textbook adoptions, materials etc. are submitted to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager by the department head or adoption contact after approval by the dean of the college.  A copy of the cover letter and all supporting documentation ensuring ADA accessibility and compliance must be retained by the adoption contact.

Once you have submitted your paper adoptions, any subsequent paper adoptions turned in will require an additional cover letter with signatures.

The Official Textbook Requisition (Adoption Form) is to be completed with special attention to:

  • Accuracy of title, Author, ISBN#,
  • Edition, Indication of whether a previous edition is acceptable,
  • Estimate of number needed, and the maximum enrollment.

Please note that online adoptions must come from the department head or the adoption contact. Each individual instructor may not submit his/her adoption. When the adoption contact submits an online adoption, it signifies that the adoption contact has already received the approval of the dean and department head for that adoption. The adoption contact is to produce a cover letter signed by the dean and department head with a statement that the following adoptions have been approved and attach this to their copies of the quarterly adoptions. The Bookstore does not need a copy of this letter
if the adoption was submitted online, however the department adoption contact should retain the cover letter and all supporting documentation ensuring ADA accessibility and compliance.

A textbook or material is considered required unless identified on the Adoption Form as OPTIONAL. Required textbooks for multi-section courses will be the same for all sections, except that departments may substitute alternative textbooks in chosen sections to keep up with the evolving pedagogy in their fields. Selection will be a departmental decision based on appropriate faculty review and recommendations with final approval by the academic department head.

The Louisiana Tech Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager has been designated by the University to make all information concerning textbook and coursework material adoptions available on the Adoption Form to all vendors, both on and off campus, upon request and to respond to all vendor requests and inquiries concerning adoptions.

Textbooks and coursework materials authored by Louisiana Tech faculty may be adopted provided the selection is approved by the college dean. Customized textbooks must be reviewed and approved by the college dean with consideration of the no-buy back value of the text. In a case where a dean is the author, approval must be obtained from the Provost.

Adoption Timelines:

Each department will prepare and submit Adoption Forms for Summer, Winter, and Spring quarters through the college dean to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager by the Monday following the first day of classes of the preceding quarter (approximately 10 weeks before the beginning of the adoption quarter). Adoption Forms for the Fall Quarter, however, will be submitted the first Monday in April. The established dates will appear in the official academic calendar. The calendar is available on the Tech website (www.latech.edu).

Textbooks for courses taught every quarter are adopted for two years or eight quarters. If a department has plans to change a continuously used textbook for the upcoming academic year, that information should be conveyed to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager in advance of the established deadlines. Such advance information will be provided to all vendors who have requested information on adoptions.

Changes and Modifications:

Any request for a change or modification to materials previously submitted on a quarter’s Adoption Form must be presented in hard copy through the college dean to the Bookstore Textbook Inventory Manager. If approved, copies of any changes or modifications will be provided by the Textbook Inventory Manager to all vendors who have requested information on adoptions.

Buy Back

Textbooks in satisfactory condition and continued in use by the University will be bought back by the Bookstore until quota is reached.  The owner must present his/her Louisiana Tech University I.D.

The buyback does not include novels, study guides, customized texts, and texts adopted as optional.

Complimentary Textbooks/Materials

It has long been a tradition in higher education for faculty to receive books from publishers for review for possible adoption. It is considered a violation of the Code of Governmental Ethics for faculty members to “sell” complimentary copies of books given to them because of their position. Employees of Louisiana Tech University shall not participate, directly or indirectly, in activities that relate to or consist of the sale or exchange of complimentary textbooks, software, laboratory manuals, or other educationally related items that result in financial benefit to the employee.  Please note that it is a violation of University policy for a faculty member to require students to purchase class materials (other than selected text) so that the instructor
receives a free copy. 

Textbook Accessibility Policy Statement

Louisiana Tech University is committed to providing a learning environment that affords equal access to instructional material to all members of the University community. Both Federal and State law classify accessible instructional materials to be all forms of communication; therefore, materials must be available in a manner that is equally effective for persons with disabilities. These laws pertain to any material required by an instructor including (but not limited to) textbooks, software packages, websites, in-class assignments/resources, and supplemental reading.  Any questions relating to accessibility should be directed to the Department of Testing & Disability Services (tds@latech.edu or 257-4221).

Louisiana Tech seeks to ensure that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination by the University. The policy includes provisions to the following effect:

  • The University will only purchase, develop or use technology and instructional materials that do not exclude persons who are blind or who have other vision disabilities; and
  • The University will only purchase, develop or use technology and instructional materials that allow persons who are blind or who have other vision disabilities the equal opportunity to access, use, and avail themselves of such technology or instructional materials in as full, equal, and independent a manner as persons without disabilities. 

Instructional Materials

  • All instructional materials and online courses created by a college, department, program, unit, or professor must be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities at the same time it is available to any other student enrolled in that program.
  • Each college, department, program, unit, and professor using pre-existing instructional materials and online courses created or used since January 2010 will develop and implement a plan to make them accessible in compliance with WCAG by December 1, 2014.  The plan shall be posted on the department, program, unit, or professor’s website and updated as implementation proceeds. 

Other Technology

  • The University will ensure that any new technology it makes available to students, prospective students or applicants, including web applications, hardware, software, telecommunications, and multimedia are accessible if such are commercially available and their purchase does not result in an undue burden or fundamental alteration.  If a product is available and meets some, but not all, of the relevant accessibility provisions, the product that best meets the standard must be procured.
  • The University will develop and implement a process to ensure electronic and information technology purchased by the University is accessible.

Definitions:

Not applicable.

Procedures:

Not applicable.