UI students looking to avoid classes with costly textbooks will soon have another option: avoiding the course altogether.
Under a new federal act, students will now be able to view required textbooks — and their pricetags — for courses before they register.
The move is in response to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, and it will be beneficial for students during tougher economic times, UI art Professor Joni Kinsey said at Wednesday’s Faculty Assembly meeting.
“The students will have advance notice [of textbook price] when choosing classes,” she said. “Students will also be able to purchase their books early.”
Kinsey said the new procedure will also help students with disabilities, who will have more time to get their books adjusted to fit their individual needs in advance.
The UI’s policy will go into effect in July 2010.
Some Faculty Assembly members were concerned that advanced knowledge of textbook prices would discourage students from taking their courses.
“Well, that’s the motivation behind the legislation,” Kinsey said. “Whether it will be a deterrent, we’ll just find out.”
First-year graduate student Maya Katzir said the new addition will be beneficial.
“It’s about the level of interest, knowing what books will be read in class,” she said. “Knowing the price will also help for budgeting purposes.”
Regardless, she said, knowing that a course requires an expensive book likely won’t sway her from taking it.
“If you spend money on anything, it should be on education,” she said.
Helena Dettmer, an associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said the new procedure will also change the way faculty members plan their courses.
“They will have to decide which textbooks to use by the time their course goes up,” said Dettmer, who also presented information about the plan at Wednesday’s meeting. “That could be up to six months [before the start date.]”
Once the UI’s policy goes into effect in July, each on the ISIS website will have a link — to one of three local bookstores — with the name of the book, price, and where it can be purchased.
To prevent any errors for students purchasing books, faculty will submit textbook titles to the bookstores, where employees will acquire the text’s ISBN.
“The bookstores have this information conveniently on hand,” Kinsey said. “It saves faculty from extra work and safeguards any mistakes.”
Sophomore Becky Kohles said the program is a good idea, and any additional advanced knowledge of a class could be beneficial.
“It would be interesting to know book titles before you register,” she said. “It could probably sway me either way.”