Open Education: VT Policies

The intent of the textbook provision within the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act is “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.”

The federal regulation requires posting of textbook information by registration. For Virginia Tech, compliance with the regulation requires posting prior to the opening of DROPADD.

How can faculty participate?
- Be aware of the “unbundling” of “bundled” course materials* [Publishers are required by the Act to offer each item from a bundled course materials packet individually and at individual prices. Publishers should make you aware of this option when you are choosing your course materials.]

- Ensure that “substantial content revisions” have been made to materials prior to ordering a new edition. [Publishers must describe the major differences or revisions between the current and previous editions of the textbook or supplemental material (source: Sec. 122, HEOA 2008).]

- Submit your textbook order to the University Bookstore on time. [The deadline for submitting textbook orders to the bookstore is one week prior to the opening of Drop/Add for the next term.]

Full text of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008)

Section 9.4 Textbooks and Other Instructional Materials

Section 9.4.1 Faculty-Authored Course Materials