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SOURCE: The Daily Tar Heel
01.30.07
More professors turn in late book orders
By: Lauren Berry, Staff Writer
If students noticed a lack of used books available this semester, professors might be the ones to blame.
The number of courses for which professors were late turning in their textbook orders increased from the fall semester, as did the number of courses for which book orders never were received.
Student Stores' managers said whether professors comply with book order deadlines affects the managers' ability to find used books and also the amount students are paid during end-of-semester buy-backs.
"What it really comes down to is if we don't get the information early, the books won't be there," said John Jones, director of Student Stores.
"When we know a book is going to be used, we can usually pay a lot more at buy-back," he added.
Store officials said the number of orders received late from professors increased from 1,125 for the fall semester to 1,210 for the current semester.
The number of courses for which books were not ordered because professors never responded to order requests has been increasing since fall 2005.
The number of courses with no orders was 66 in fall 2005 and has risen to 694 for the current semester.
Kelly Hanner, textbook department manager of Student Stores, said professors are asked to tell the store when books are not needed for a course so that they can notify students.
The deadline for the following term is two months into the current semester, in this case Feb. 23 for summer courses.
Jones said that if managers know a book is going to be needed for the next semester, Student Stores can pay students 50 percent of the book's retail price.
"If you sell back a $100 book, you get $50, but if you bought that book used at $75, you still get $50 back."
Hanner said the store's inability to provide students with used books is the biggest effect of teachers turning in their orders late.
"The earlier we know, the harder we search," Hanner said of the hunt for used books.
Hanner and Jones both noted the competition among a large number of schools for a relatively small used-book market.
Professors' schedules and courses being added after the deadline are among the reasons managers cite for late orders.
"There are as many reasons as faculty members for why orders are turned in late," Jones said.
Student Stores managers declined to name professors who were late turning in book orders but said the department with the most late orders varies by semester.
Jones said officials are making it a top priority for professors to get their orders in on time.
Hanner also said students have had a large influence in the past.
Increasing student influence is a goal of the UNC-system Association of Student Governments, which has made timely book orders part of its textbook proposal.
The proposal will be brought before the Board of Governors in early February.
Jake Parton, ASG's vice president for academic and student affairs, said professors need support staff to help make sure textbooks are researched and identified by the appropriate deadlines.
"It's not laziness or apathy on the part of professors that's causing this problem," Parton said. "It's just too much of a workload."
Turning orders in on time is a quick way to save money, Parton said, but he also said saving money is not the only thing that matters to students.
"We're willing to pay money for our books," Parton said. "But only if it's justifiable by the benefit we get."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Textbook orders
Orders submitted on time:
Fall 2005: 365
Spring 2006: 473
Fall 2006: 320
Spring 2007: 320
Orders submitted late:
Fall 2005: 1,463
Spring 2006: 1,166
Fall 2006: 1,125
Spring 2007: 1,210
Courses with no orders:
Fall 2005: 66
Spring 2006: 267
Fall 2006: 577
Spring 2007: 694
