New policy for books

Students have a new supporter in the battle against rising textbook prices: the federal government.

Universities, including Baruch College, will be required to release a textbook's information prior to start of classes, listing it on each course description.

It is set to start this summer, Provost Jim McCarthy announced on Thursday at the Faculty Senate meeting.

"[The mandate] requires the author, publisher, title, ISBN number, edition and a reason why [teachers] are asking for the latest edition of the textbook," said McCarthy.

While the provost admitted this would not be difficult for the college to implement technology-wise, it may be difficult for all professors to "compile a list of textbooks a number of months in advance."

While questions were raised as to how quickly and widespread this policy needs to be implemented, the Higher Education Opportunity Act says that textbook information should be included "to the maximum extent practicable."

Besides including textbook pricing information, the act calls on institutions to provide programs for renting textbooks or purchasing used books, guaranteed textbook buy-back programs, alternative content delivery programs and other cost-saving strategies.

To determine the act's implementation, an audit will be completed by July 2013, evaluating implementation of this policy and focusing on the availability of pricing information from higher education publishers, the use of bundled and unbundled materials and the implementation of the textbook information on course schedules.

"We need to figure out how to do all of this so we don't end up paying a fine instead of using that money for a salary," said Interim President Stan Altman to the Faculty Senate.

An internal auditor has been appointed by Altman to make sure Baruch is in compliance with various mandates, including the soon-to-be-instated textbook policy.

"Our internal auditor will find the mistakes before someone else does," Altman said.

Despite the added work for the college, McCarthy sees this as a positive program.

"There are good intentions to reduce the cost of textbooks to students," he said.