Student Assembly

R. 42 Encouraging Professors to Comply with Cornell Store Booklist Submission Deadlines

Whereas, universities across the nation compete for the same limited supply of used textbooks;

Whereas, according to Student Watch Data, the average price of required course materials in 2008 was $702 ¹ ;

Whereas, in a survey conducted by the SA in November 2009, 88.4% of respondents (130 students) felt that the price of books on campus were “too expensive”;

Whereas, buying used textbooks and selling back unneeded textbooks yields students great savings, comparable to or exceeding other options (e.g. textbook rentals, sharing books)

Whereas, whenever possible, the Cornell Store attempts to purchase as many available used books required for courses in order to reduce costs for students;

Whereas, a longer duration to shop wholesale book markets increases the number of used books that the Cornell Store can purchase and make available to students;

Whereas, deadlines for booklist submissions for the fall and spring semesters are generally mid-April and the first Friday in November, respectively;

Whereas, we respect the dynamic academic process of restructuring course syllabi from year to year;

Be it therefore resolved, that the Student Assembly implores all Cornell faculty to do their utmost in abiding by the booklist submission deadlines of the Cornell Store when not in conflict with pedagogical aims as this will make an enormous difference in the way textbooks are sourced, in the prices students will receive when selling their books, and in the prices students will pay when purchasing books from the Cornell Store.

Be it finally resolved, that upon passage of this resolution, the Student Assembly shall forward a copy of this text to the Faculty Senate for its further consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

Chris Basil ‘10
At-Large Representative
Student Assembly Vice President of Finance

Rammy Salem ‘10
At-Large Representative
Student Assembly President

¹ “Higher Education Retail Market Facts & Figures 2009.” National Association of College Stores. http://www.nacs.org/public/research/higher_ed_retail.asp (↑)