2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty face obstacles
New courses, workload, books add to delays in choosing
By: Angie Favot
Issue date: 11/26/07 Section: News
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Betty Lewis said time constraints, new faculty, courses and textbooks all are reasons why some professors do not reach the CMU Bookstore's deadline for turning in textbook lists.
It is unfair to blame faculty for costing students money when some instructors miss the deadline, said Lewis, executive secretary of the philosophy and religion department.
"It also makes the department office look bad because I would be pushing much harder to get requests back on time if every single one made an impact," she said. "We do try to keep these deadlines in mind because (faculty) get busy and they count on us to help them and remind them."
The issue of professors' impact on textbook prices recently came to light after CMU Bookstore Director Barry Waters said only 60 to 70 percent of faculty turned in their lists by the Oct. 19 deadline, which can drive up costs for students.
Lewis said while some faculty could turn in book requests earlier, Waters' number is skewed.
"Departments have always been told if a professor expects for any reason to use different books, their order does not have to meet that early deadline," she said. "And that does take time because they have to request it from the publishers, then they have to go through it to see if it's going to work, while on top of normal classroom work, grading and committee work."
Marketing and hospitality services administration professor Robert Cook said he is guilty of missing the Oct. 19 spring textbook deadline.
"I personally do wait until the summer so I can actually look through the materials because most of my books are self-built where I choose chapters from different books within a publishing company," he said. "I realize that creates a pain for students, but I'd rather have them have a really good course."
Cook said he agrees deadlines should be met by professors because materials should be chosen during summer and if rules exist they should be followed.
"I just don't have time mid-term to stop and organize books because I'm busy organizing internships and helping (students) get jobs," he said.
It is unfair to blame faculty for costing students money when some instructors miss the deadline, said Lewis, executive secretary of the philosophy and religion department.
"It also makes the department office look bad because I would be pushing much harder to get requests back on time if every single one made an impact," she said. "We do try to keep these deadlines in mind because (faculty) get busy and they count on us to help them and remind them."
The issue of professors' impact on textbook prices recently came to light after CMU Bookstore Director Barry Waters said only 60 to 70 percent of faculty turned in their lists by the Oct. 19 deadline, which can drive up costs for students.
Lewis said while some faculty could turn in book requests earlier, Waters' number is skewed.
"Departments have always been told if a professor expects for any reason to use different books, their order does not have to meet that early deadline," she said. "And that does take time because they have to request it from the publishers, then they have to go through it to see if it's going to work, while on top of normal classroom work, grading and committee work."
Marketing and hospitality services administration professor Robert Cook said he is guilty of missing the Oct. 19 spring textbook deadline.
"I personally do wait until the summer so I can actually look through the materials because most of my books are self-built where I choose chapters from different books within a publishing company," he said. "I realize that creates a pain for students, but I'd rather have them have a really good course."
Cook said he agrees deadlines should be met by professors because materials should be chosen during summer and if rules exist they should be followed.
"I just don't have time mid-term to stop and organize books because I'm busy organizing internships and helping (students) get jobs," he said.
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