HI, Jim

Thanks for sharing this information about reducing the cost of student textbooks.

The University Faculty Senate has recommended for several years that these costs be reduced.  We simply need to be careful that faculty are involved in the decision of which texts to use.  Faculty are responsible for course content so they need some significant input about learning materials such as texts.

The blog you sent listed some modest but worthy goals.  Two years ago, the Music Department started to list textbooks for upcoming semesters on the Music Department website.  We made our list approximately l5 months before the upcoming semester so students would have a chance to search for the least expensive source of the required text.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to update this information in recent semesters, although I thought it had become a college requirement.  I agree with all of you that anything we can do to cut the cost of texts will be an important service to our students.



Thanks

Janet



Dr. J. Nepkie

SUNY Distinguished Service Professor

Professor of Music and Music Industry

Fine Arts 145

State University College

Oneonta, NY 13820

tele: (607) 436 3425

fax:   607 436 2718

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From: "Greenberg, James ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>)" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 11:28:55 -0500

To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>

Subject: Oregon's House Subcommittee on HE passes HB 2963



TBers,



Although not directly related to teaching and learning, I thought some on this list might be interested in this.  Pasted from web site below where the entire article can be read.



http://www.ospirg.org/home/blog/ospirg-blog/textbook-affordability-act-passes-first-test-in-salem





Today the Oregon legislature’s House Subcommittee on Higher Education unanimously passed HB 2963 out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation. This bill sponsored by State Representative Michael Dembrow would require Oregon’s Joint Boards of Higher Education to prepare a report on strategies for reducing higher education textbook costs by October of 2012. The bill now moves to the House Committee on Education for their consideration.



College textbook prices are a significant additional cost that impacts the overall affordability of a college education. This legislation is a sensible proposal that would bring Oregon students, faculty and other stakeholders together in a collaborative process to determine the best strategies to increase adoptions of lower cost instructional materials. We thank the committee for hearing the concerns of Oregon’s college students and supporting this bill.





Mr. James B. Greenberg

Director Teaching, Learning and Technology Center

Milne Library

SUNY College at Oneonta

Oneonta, New York 13820



email: [log in to unmask]

phone: 607-436-2701

fax:   607-436-3677

Twitter: greenbjb



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