Timely Textbook and Instructional Materials Adoption

Video

Timely Adoption of Textbooks Video

This three-minute video features Sacramento State students with disabilities describing the alternative ways they read books and instructional materials.The video highlights the importance of faculty ordering books and course readers early, to ensure sufficient lead time needed to convert the print materials into alternative formats for students with disabilities. It can take 8 weeks or more to scan, edit and convert textbooks into the formats needed by students. This video was produced through the facilities of Sacramento State's Academic Technology & Creative Services, a Division of Academic Affairs.

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Identification of Textbooks - Information for Instructors

To assure that all students receive instructional materials in time for the start of the semester, all print-based textbooks and course materials should be ordered by the Textbook Identification Deadline or at least 8 weeks prior to the semester. This will allow sufficient time for conversion into alternative formats (e.g. Braille, audio, electronic text), should students with disabilities need materials converted. Timely textbook adoption also allows the Bookstore to buy back books to assure the best priced textbooks for the upcoming semester and ensures that the information can be posted in the course schedule to meet the Higher Education Opportunity Act Textbook Information provision. The Textbook Information provisions within the HEOA law (effective July 1, 2010) require the campus to disclose ISBN (International Standard Book Number) and retail price information of required and recommended textbooks and supplemental materials for all courses listed in the course schedule at the time students register for courses. Giving students textbook information and pricing helps make higher education more affordable for all students.

Whenever possible, choose textbooks and instructional materials that have accessible electronic versions available, to facilitate conversion to alternative formats. Should students with disabilities enroll in your class, you may be asked to provide clean and clear copies of the syllabus (with reading list), and instructional materials in advance (in electronic text whenever possible) to facilitate conversions. If faculty have not been assigned to a course by the established deadlines, it is recommended that departments work with faculty to establish a process to identify textbooks and course materials to ensure timely access to materials for students (for example, by selecting the text used the previous semester or providing an equal alternate form of access).

Faculty who wish to change or add course materials after the Textbook Identification Deadline should consult with the Department Chair or appropriate administrator.  Because federal legislation requires course materials to be available to all students at the same time, changes or additional textbooks should only be approved if course materials are available simultaneously to all students enrolled in the course. Department Chairs or appropriate administrators who approve an exemption to change course materials after the Textbook Identification Deadline should inform the Bookstore of the new order and contact SSWD so that materials can be converted in a timely manner.

Links:

For more information about the Accessible Technology Initiative and assistance with instructional materials accessibility, please contact ati@csus.edu.

For questions on provision of course materials in alternative format for students whose disabilities, please contact Services to Students with Disabilities at sswd@csus.edu or (916) 278-6955.

For textbook ordering questions, please contact the Bookstore Textbook department at (916) 278-6448.