Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 20-2008-F - College textbook adoption policies(a) General rule.--An institution of higher education may implement policies, procedures and guidelines that promote efforts to minimize the cost of college textbooks for students at the institution while maintaining the quality of education and academic freedom. The policies, procedures and guidelines shall ensure that:(1) The adoption of a college textbook by a faculty member is made with sufficient lead time so as to confirm availability of the requested materials and, where possible, ensure maximum availability of used college textbooks.(2)(i) During the college textbook adoption process, the intent to use all items ordered, particularly each individual item sold as part of a bundled package, is affirmatively confirmed before the adoption is finalized by the faculty member.(ii) If the faculty member does not intend to use each item in a bundled package, the faculty member shall notify the bookstore, and the bookstore shall order the individualized items if:(A) Procurement of the individualized items is cost effective for both the institution and the students.(B) The individualized items are made available by the publisher.(3) Faculty members affirmatively acknowledge the quoted retail price to the bookstore of any college textbook selected for use in each course.(4) Faculty members shall give due consideration to both the educational value and cost of new edition college textbooks and any supplemental materials when previous editions do not significantly differ in a substantive way, as determined by the appropriate faculty member.(5) Required or assigned college textbooks are made available to students who are otherwise unable to afford the cost.(6) Decisions regarding textbook adoption are made in a timely manner to ensure a bookstore's ability to have textbooks available for the first day of class.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. XX-F, § 2008-F, added 2010, Nov. 17, P.L. 996, No. 104, § 21, imd. effective.