Faculty have made considerable strides in meeting the textbook list deadline.

The deadline is set so that the CMU Bookstore and Student Book Exchange, 209 E. Bellows St., can search for the best possible deals on used and new books. It gives the stores time to shop around and to provide a better deal for students.

As of Nov. 3, about half of faculty had submitted booklists. This is an improvement over performance in the last two years, said CMU Bookstore Director Barry Waters.

Though faculty deserve credit for improving performance, the rate is far from ideal. The other half of faculty still missed the Oct. 17 deadline by more than a month.

Faculty members who made sure to meet the deadline are appreciated. Their efforts go a long way in providing the most affordable books possible – even if textbooks still are quite expensive.

Those who did not, however, should ensure their booklists are provided as soon as possible, and should make a better effort next semester.

It’s understandable that faculty want to take great care in planning their course and in finding the most appropriate book. Books should not be selected haphazardly.

Departments should strive toward planning out course offerings as soon as possible so that faculty can know for which courses they will need books. Faculty deserve a reasonable timeframe to deliberate about which book to select, but this timeframe should not extend beyond Oct. 17, the booklist deadline.

If this requires departments to plan coursework farther ahead of time, then so be it. If this requires faculty to take less time on textbook deliberations, then so be it. Any combination of factors could improve performance.

Professional staff also can do their part by issuing routine reminders to faculty members. Vicki Ebner, executive secretary of the marketing and hospitality administration department, said she made forms to ease the process. Other office professionals should take similar steps if they have not already. Staff should not let the booklists fall to the wayside.

Between research, lectures and grading, professors may easily lose track of the booklists. But it’s important that they remember the lists are of major benefit to those whom they instruct: students. Meeting deadline should be made into a higher priority.

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