Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives Presentation to Academic Senate March 11, 2009 Karen Ward, Director Bookstore Services Suzanne Donnelly, Assistant Director Book Division

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity Topics State legislation and other government actions on textbooks Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) Bureau of state Audits Report Bronco Bookstore Textbook Affordability initiatives

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity Most Recent State Legislation: AB 1548 – Solorio College Textbook Transparency Act Became Ed Code Section in January 2008 Faculty required to consider cost in the adoption of textbooks Bookstore required to post its retail pricing policy on new and used books both in store and online. (see handout: Where your CPP Textbook Dollar Goes…”)

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity CSU Textbook Affordability Task Force Final Report Aug Identified several cost-saving strategies including: Strong buyback & used books Guaranteed buyback Textbook rental Digital Recommended exploring new models such as licensing, revenue sharing, library subscriptions, and open- source

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity Bureau of State Audits Report on Textbook Costs August 2008 Originally requested to audit textbook practices in CSU, expanded to community colleges and UC system as well. Report found that textbook costs are a significant burden. However institutions, faculty, bookstores and publishers don’t always work together to keep course materials affordable. Recommendations made for institutional action in all 3 systems. Agency responses required at 60 days, 6 months and one year.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity Bureau of State Audits Report on Textbook Costs Recommendations UC, CSU, and the Community Colleges should issue guidance on the process of selecting textbooks … This guidance should direct campuses to do the following: Communicate the provisions from recent state laws regarding textbook affordability to ensure faculty are aware of the existence of the laws and steps they can take to possibly reduce textbook costs. Require faculty to submit textbook adoption information to the campus bookstores by the due dates so that the bookstores can obtain as many used textbooks as possible and also purchase books back from students at higher prices.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: State Legislation and Other Activity Bureau of State Audits Report on Textbook Costs Recommendations Encourage faculty to consider textbook prices when they evaluate materials for their classes and to consider adopting less costly textbooks if doing so will not compromise the quality of the education that students receive or the academic freedom of faculty. The system offices of UC, CSU, and the community colleges should continue taking steps to promote the awareness, development, and adoption of open educational resources as alternatives to textbooks and other learning materials. Further, CSU should continue its efforts to develop, implement, and promote the Digital Marketplace.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: Federal Legislation Regarding Course Materials HEOA Higher Education Opportunity Act 2008 Reauthorization of the Federal Higher Education Act Affects every college in the United States that receives any federal funds Two provisions in Section 112 impact both the University and the Bookstore directly These requirements go into effect starting July 1, 2010

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: Federal Legislation Regarding Course Materials HEOA Provisions: CPP and Bronco Bookstore Requires textbook price information, including ISBN #, be posted with the online schedule of classes, or that the online schedule is linked to the bookstore’s information Requires institution to provide their bookstores with all course schedule information and all required/recommended book lists for all courses using books Intent is to create centralized information source for students to find out about textbook usage and costs.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: Federal Legislation Regarding Course Materials HEOA Provisions: Publishers Requires published summaries of content changes from the previous edition and copyright date of previous editions (to give an estimate of how long the new edition will last). Mandates publishers inform professors/departments about alternate/lower cost versions.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update: Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives Bronco Bookstore is part of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit auxiliary Self supporting, not subsidized Helps support programs on campus Focus on service, educational mission of university Positive results from customer service survey 2008 Pricing, buyback still concerns for our students

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Textbooks ARE Expensive We realize that makes it hard for some students to get what they need. Textbook costs have risen at a higher rate than the PPI for the past 7 years (GAO) -Issue is getting legislative attention at state and national levels Pricing is set by publishers Our margin is within college bookstore industry standards. -We take a lower margin on higher priced titles.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Steps Bronco Bookstore has taken… Focus on Increasing Used Books Used books save 25% compared to new Buyback and used books depend on faculty adoptions. Over time, a good used program can equate to a rental program, but with more flexibility and choice.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Availability of Used Textbooks New Book / Used Book Ratio 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 73/27 71/29 57/43 51/49 51/ : #3 in Used Book Percentage of the 91 stores of the Large Stores Group (LSG) of the National Association of College Stores

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Steps Bronco Bookstore has taken… Bundling and Choice Always offer bundle parts separately, if possible. Lower Gross Margins Lowered gross margin on all new books to 25% in 2005 Instituted “sliding scale” margins in 2007 Digital Options Jumpbooks/CourseSmart Access codes generated by our store POS system Partnership with i-Chapters- link on our website

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Initiatives Bronco Bookstore is planning… Guaranteed Buyback For books that qualify, we guarantee to students that they will be able to get 50% of the new price back at buyback. Give students purchasing confidence Requires knowing usage at least one term ahead

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY Initiatives Bronco Bookstore is planning… Rental Program Hoping to pilot 5-10 rental books for Fall 2009 Rental price will probably 35-40% of retail Requires 2 year book adoption commitment from faculty/department Requires close partnership with campus administration on student records

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives ALL of these initiatives depend on timely textbook requisition and faculty communication Due dates are the same every year We send notices out via to department coordinators and chairs 3-4 weeks ahead of due dates Requisitions can be submitted online or ed to Incentive program offered to thank departments and faculty who help us by following our due dates.

Bronco Bookstore 2009 Update Regarding Course Materials Affordability Issues and Initiatives Thank You! We truly appreciate your support! If you have any questions please feel free to contact us: Karen Ward Suzanne Donnelly X3276 X3284