UW-La Crosse's textbook rental program has suspended new book purchases until the start of the next fiscal year, July 1, 2009. Increased costs and debt repayments from last year have resulted in more spending. Every year the textbook rental program has a $1 million budget, and this year's budget has already been spent. "We need to finish the year in the black," said Paula Knudson, Assistant Chancellor and Dean of Students. "We've spent our budget, now we need to curtail any new expenses, recognizing that we still need to make sure that students have the textbooks they need for their courses." Higher freight (shipping and handling) and skyrocketing book costs have led to increased spending. Some book editions have doubled in price, according to Cory Miller, manager of textbook rental. Last year the program suffered a deficit of $112,521, a shortfall that was repaid with money from this year's budget. Traditionally the textbook rental program has been very stable. "UW-L is very committed to the textbook service, the rental program…we are currently reviewing the policy, and there may be some long-term impacts from that," said Larry Ringgenberg, Director of Student Activities and Centers. "Everything has been going into textbook rental, [including] supplemental texts…I hear stories of students who check out multiple books for a class," Ringgenberg said. "We have to ask...is that reasonable? And should we be providing a whole series of multiple texts for one class, or should some of those be purchased in the bookstore? We have to look at these issues." UW-L students pay a segregated fee for textbook rental: $157 per year, or $78.50 per semester. This fee has remained consistent for the last three years, but may go up next year to accommodate increased costs. This March, during the University's annual budget meeting, a committee will be formed to review the current textbook policy and to implement a new one that will minimize costs. Student representatives will be on the committee, according to Knudson. The new policy should encourage faculty to use books that are already available in textbook rental, and to wait on ordering new books until it is necessary. The current policy asks that a new edition be used for three years before re-ordering. Faculty were able to make requests for books, but they had to be approved before purchasing. The long term impact of this issue is that eventually there will be more books placed in the bookstore for purchase, and fewer in textbook rental. "It's always interesting when you send out a mass email…you will always get an exciting array of responses, but overwhelmingly the faculty have been very good…our hope is that everyone communicates with us so that we can turn this around," Knudson said. "I'm a believer in communication; whether it's good news or bad news I think you have to be up front about it." To generate revenue, every year the textbook rental program tries to sell back used copies of books that are no longer needed. Last year around $20,000 in revenue was generated this way. During the first week of classes, some ordered books had not been delivered to the bookstore, but according to Knudson, the materials should have been delivered by the end of the first week. UW-La Crosse's textbook rental program has suspended new book purchases until the start of the next fiscal year, July 1, 2009. Increased costs and debt repayments from last year have resulted in more spending. Every year the textbook rental program has a $1 million budget, and this year's budget has already been spent. "We need to finish the year in the black," said Paula Knudson, Assistant Chancellor and Dean of Students. "We've spent our budget, now we need to curtail any new expenses, recognizing that we still need to make sure that students have the textbooks they need for their courses." Higher freight (shipping and handling) and skyrocketing book costs have led to increased spending. Some book editions have doubled in price, according to Cory Miller, manager of textbook rental. Last year the program suffered a deficit of $112,521, a shortfall that was repaid with money from this year's budget. Traditionally the textbook rental program has been very stable. "UW-L is very committed to the textbook service, the rental program…we are currently reviewing the policy, and there may be some long-term impacts from that," said Larry Ringgenberg, Director of Student Activities and Centers. "Everything has been going into textbook rental, [including] supplemental texts…I hear stories of students who check out multiple books for a class," Ringgenberg said. "We have to ask...is that reasonable? And should we be providing a whole series of multiple texts for one class, or should some of those be purchased in the bookstore? We have to look at these issues." UW-L students pay a segregated fee for textbook rental: $157 per year, or $78.50 per semester. This fee has remained consistent for the last three years, but may go up next year to accommodate increased costs. This March, during the University's annual budget meeting, a committee will be formed to review the current textbook policy and to implement a new one that will minimize costs. Student representatives will be on the committee, according to Knudson. The new policy should encourage faculty to use books that are already available in textbook rental, and to wait on ordering new books until it is necessary. The current policy asks that a new edition be used for three years before re-ordering. Faculty were able to make requests for books, but they had to be approved before purchasing. The long term impact of this issue is that eventually there will be more books placed in the bookstore for purchase, and fewer in textbook rental. "It's always interesting when you send out a mass email…you will always get an exciting array of responses, but overwhelmingly the faculty have been very good…our hope is that everyone communicates with us so that we can turn this around," Knudson said. "I'm a believer in communication; whether it's good news or bad news I think you have to be up front about it." To generate revenue, every year the textbook rental program tries to sell back used copies of books that are no longer needed. Last year around $20,000 in revenue was generated this way. During the first week of classes, some ordered books had not been delivered to the bookstore, but according to Knudson, the materials should have been delivered by the end of the first week.
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