Resolution in Support of Affordable Textbooks
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE TEXTBOOKS
Adopted March 7, 2005
Whereas, according to a survey by the California Student Public Interest Research
Group (CALPIRG), students spent an average of $898 per year on textbooks
in the 2003-04 school year, or almost 20 percent of the cost of in-state fees,
and
Whereas, in contrast, a 1997 University of California survey found that students spent
an average of $642 on textbooks in 1996-97, and
Whereas, textbook publishers “bundle” textbooks with CD-ROMs and workbooks that
over 65% of faculty surveyed say they “rarely” or “never” use, and
Whereas, textbook publishers put new editions on the market frequently – often with
few content changes – making the less expensive used editions obsolete and
unavailable, and
Whereas, textbook publishers charge American students more than students overseas
for the same textbooks, and
Whereas, these new editions make it difficult for students to sell back their textbooks to
the Humboldt State University Bookstore, and
Whereas, textbook publishers are unfairly charging students at a time when tuition and
other college costs are rising, therefore be it
Resolved, by the members of The Associated Students call upon college textbook
publishers to adopt the following practices:
· To keep the cost of producing textbooks as low as possible without
sacrificing educational content;
· To give faculty and students the option of buying textbooks separately;
· To keep textbook editions on the market as long as possible without
sacrificing the educational content;
· To give preference to paper or on-line supplements to current editions
over producing entirely new editions;
· To disclose to faculty members all of the different products they sell -
including both bundled and unbundled options, list how much each of
those products cost, the length of time they intend to produce the current
edition, and how the newest edition is different from the previous edition;
and be it further
Resolved, that The Associated Students call upon faculty to give preference to the least
cost textbook option when the educational content is equal and to press
publishers to adopt the above practices, and be it further
Resolved, that The Associated Students call upon the University to encourage as many
opportunities for students to purchase used books as possible, including the
Associated Students Book Exchange and the Humboldt State University
Bookstore, and be it further
Resolved, that the HSU Bookstore negotiate with publishers for a complimentary
University Access Copy to be placed in the HSU Library, and be it further
Resolved, that The Associated Students will forward a copy of this resolution to the
following parties: the Association of American Publishers, HSU President
Rollin Richmond, Provost Richard Vrem, All HSU College Deans, Sharmon Kenyon, Dean of the Library, the HSU Academic Senate, the California
Faculty Association, the California State Student Association, the HSU
University Center, the HSU Bookstore, CALPIRG and the Lumberjack
News and local media.
Drafted by: CALPIRG
Revised and authored by: Michelle Woo
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Approved:
Kyle Zeck, Legislative Vice President
Samantha William-Gray, President