Undergraduate Textbook Orders and Desk Copies

The Undergrate CAR office handles undergraduate textbook orders and desk copies seperately from the graduate program. To order textbooks for the undergraduate program courses:

1) Select your course texts. A resource for finding textbooks can be found on the Campus Bookstore link or on FacultyCenter.net.

2) Place your order via the Bookstores on-line book order form. Make sure to check where Indicated on the form which campus the books should be available.

3) Once the Bookstore has placed your order, the undergraduate CAR office will be able to place the desk copy orders.

4) When the desk copies arrive, the CAR staff will notify you and ask whether you would like the copy or if you would like to leave it as a reserve copy for CAR students. Desk copies can be picked up at the undergraduate CAR office.


Please note- It takes three- four weeks for the books to arrive in the bookstore before the semester begins. The Bookstore accepts book orders starting in April for Summer and Fall courses, and October for Spring courses. Additional books or changes can be added after your preliminary order is in. At times, especially if there is insufficient course attendance, a desk copy order may not be fulfilled.

Please contact Barbara Breckenridge or the John Burton Library if  you have any questions or require assistance with this process.

The John Burton Library and Resource Center assists faculty members with orders for desk copies for graduate courses. The process is as follows:

1) Select your course texts. A resource for finding textbooks can be found on the Campus Bookstore link or on FacultyCenter.net.

2) Place your order via the Bookstores on-line book order form. Make sure to check where Indicated on the form which campus the books should be available. (Most graduate courses should indicate the "Arlington" campus).

3) Once the Bookstore has placed your order, the John Burton Library and Resource Center will be able to place the desk copy orders.

5) When the desk copies arrive, the John Burton Library staff will notify you, asking whether you would like the copy or if you would like to leave it as a reserve copy in the Burton Library for your students. We can place the books in your mailbox or you may come by to pick them up at the JB Library.
 

Please note- It takes three- four weeks for the books to arrive in the bookstore before the semester begins. The Bookstore accepts book orders starting in April for Summer and Fall courses, and October for Spring courses. Additional books or changes can be added after your preliminary order is in. At times, especially if there is insufficient course attendance, a desk copy order may not be fulfilled.

Please contact the John Burton Library (703- 993-1301) if  you have any questions or require assistance with this process.

The State of Virginia enacted a law in 2010 requiring professors at State funded universities to submit book orders "as early as possible" and upon the request of the bookstores. The Bookstore accepts book orders starting in April for Summer and Fall courses, and October for Spring courses.  Deadlines for book submissions are usually April 30th and October 31st. Additional books or changes can be added after your preliminary order is in.

Here is the act for your information. Relevant sections have been highlighted:

Higher Education Opportunity Act - 2008

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) was enacted on August 14, 2008, and reauthorizes the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). This page provides information on the Department's implementation of the HEOA.  http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html


‘‘SEC. 133.  Textbook Information.

‘‘(a) Purpose and Intent.—The purpose of this section is to ensure that students have access to affordable course materials by decreasing costs to students and enhancing transparency and disclosure with respect to the selection, purchase, sale, and use of course materials. It is the intent of this section to encourage all of the involved parties, including faculty, students, administrators, institutions of higher education, bookstores, distributors, and publishers, to work together to identify ways to decrease the cost of college textbooks and supplemental materials for students while supporting the academic freedom of faculty members to select high quality course materials for students.

(...)

‘‘(d) Provision of ISBN College Textbook Information in Course Schedules---

To the maximum extent practicable, each institution of higher education receiving Federal financial assistance shall—

   ‘‘(1) disclose, on the institution’s Internet course schedule and in a manner of the institution’s choosing, the International Standard Book Number and retail price information of required and recommended college textbooks and supplemental materials for each course listed in the institution’s course schedule used for preregistration and registration purposes, except that—

         ‘‘(A) if the International Standard Book Number is not available for such college textbook or supplemental material, then the institution shall include in the Internet course schedule the author, title, publisher, and copyright date for such college textbook or supplemental material;  and

         ‘‘(B) if the institution determines that the disclosure of the information described in this subsection is not practicable for a college textbook or supplemental material, then the institution shall so indicate by placing the designation ‘To Be Determined’ in lieu of the information required under this subsection; and

  ‘‘(2) if applicable, include on the institution’s written course schedule a notice that textbook information is available on the institution’s Internet course schedule, and the Internet address for such schedule.

‘‘(e)  Availabilty of Information for College Bookstores -

An institution of higher education receiving Federal financial assistance shall make available to a college bookstore that is operated by, or in a contractual relationship or otherwise affiliated with, the institution, as soon as is practicable upon the request of such college bookstore, the most accurate information available regarding—(Added emphasis)

   ‘‘(1) the institution’s course schedule for the subsequent academic period; and Web site. (Provided by S-CAR Administration)

   ‘‘(2) for each course or class offered by the institution for the subsequent academic period—

          ‘‘(A) the information required by subsection (d)(1) for each college textbook or supplemental material required or recommended for such course or class;

          ‘‘(B) the number of students enrolled in such course or class; (Provided by S-CAR Administration) and

           ‘‘(C) the maximum student enrollment for such course or class.(Provided by S-CAR Administration)


(f) Additional Information —An institution disclosing the information required by subsection (d)(1) is encouraged to disseminate to students information regarding—

   ‘‘(1) available institutional programs for renting textbooks or for purchasing used textbooks;

   ‘‘(2) available institutional guaranteed textbook buy-back programs;

   ‘‘(3) available institutional alternative content delivery programs;
or
     ‘‘(4) other available institutional cost-saving strategies.


(g) GAO Report- (cut)

(h) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to supercede the institutional autonomy or academic freedom of instructors involved in the selection of college textbooks,supplemental materials, and other classroom materials.

(i) No Regulatory Authority.—The Secretary shall not promulgate regulations with respect to this section.’’.

    (b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on July 1, 2010.