SD 03-11

For Discussion April 7, 2004

Proposal to establish an ad hoc subcommittee to investigate options for increasing textbook availability

Textbook availability is crucial to student success; however the rising cost of textbooks is becoming a serious financial burden, increasingly undermining the success potential of students at Purdue University Calumet.  To find a way of helping to ease this hardship, the Senate resolves to establish an ad hoc subcommittee of the Student Affairs Committee with the purpose of studying various means by which textbooks can be made more readily to our students.

Tasks of this subcommittee will include, but not be limited to:

• Inviting external experts to campus to present information to the committee and campus community regarding textbook rental programs
• Visiting other campuses that utilize textbook rental programs
• Conducting an analysis of various other programs (lease agreements with bookstores, university operated bookstores, vendor operated rental systems, university operated rental systems)
• Conducting an analysis of the impact of financial aid regulations and procedures

The subcommittee of five will be composed of:

• Two faculty members (one must be a senator).
• One member representing student services
• One member representing administrative services
• One full time student

The subcommittee will report to the Student Affairs Committee in January 2005.