State Series 51 Policy On Bookstores and Textbooks

Administrative Procedure for Bookstores and Textbooks (pdf)

State House Bill 4355 Policy

House Bill 4355

The House Bill 4355 describes that faculty are encouraged to consider certain information when they select course materials, e.g.,:

• specific mechanisms to minimize the costs to students for textbooks and course materials to include low-cost textbook options and Open Educational Resources (OER) textbook options free or at low cost
• encourage the use of textbooks that have low cost alternative editions available
• encourage the use of various technology innovations for the provision of textbooks and course materials such as electronic textbooks, online textbooks, and print on-demand services
• encourage the selection of textbooks it is believed will not be revised by the publisher within the next three years

Textbook Adoption Information

eCampus provides textbook adoption services for faculty through its eCampus FAST system. To request eCampus access for your specific program areas, please email Dhenderlong@ecampus.com or blueridgectc@ecampus.com.

For specific guidance and training on the FAST textbook adoption system, please contact Dhenderlong@ecampus.com or blueridgectc@ecampus.com.

Textbook Adoption Deadlines

To adhere to the State Series 51 policy, specific deadlines are set for faculty to complete the textbook adoptions:

• For the summer semester, the deadline is a date designated in mid-March;
• For the fall semester, the deadline is a date designated in mid-March; and
• For the spring semester, the deadline is a date designated in mid-October.

Once course schedules are posted, eCampus quickly begins preparing the textbook adoptions that are completed by faculty. It is important for faculty to follow up and double check their textbook and course material adoptions to ensure accuracy for the respective semesters. It is also important for the accuracy check to be completed in the eyes or perceptions of the students, reviewing the eCampus Web Page – Blue Ridge CTC Website and its textbook/course material listings for students purchasing the required and recommended products.