M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: March 12, 2014
TO: All Health Science Center Faculty
FROM: Cheryl R. Scheid, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs
Anthony A. Ferrara, CPA, MAS
Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial
In 2007 the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law designed to control textbook costs at Tennessee public colleges and universities, with the goal of making higher education more affordable to students in Tennessee. One aspect of this law is the requirement that faculty be attentive to costs as they make decisions about required texts for their courses. Officer
To help comply with the spirit of this law, the new UT Health Science Center bookstore, now called the UTHSC VolShop, stands ready to assist with this effort, stocking the books that students need and maintaining costs as low as possible. To make this work effectively, faculty need to get summer book orders in now, providing both the name of the text and an estimate as to the number of books that should be ordered. We know that some students will obtain their textbooks online or in used bookstores, and your assistance in ‘right-sizing’ our orders would be greatly appreciated, as this will reduce costs for all concerned.
To speed the process, the Volshop added the Online Faculty Adoption feature on their website (https://shop.uthsc.edu), which allows faculty and department coordinators to submit book requests electronically, saving time and paper. Once you are in the site, look for the “Textbook” tab and “Faculty Adoptions” from the drop down menu (there is also a tutorial video available on the site). Please note that while the website indicates “Knoxville” at the top of the first page, you will be able to select the “Health Science Center” following the drop down menus.
Alternatively book requests can be accepted via hand delivery or campus mail. Requests made by April 1st will be published on the VolShop website, alerting students to the books that will be available for spring courses. Special orders can be made at a later date, but please try to provide book orders (with estimates on volume) no later than June 1st. This will help to eliminate confusion and allow students to ‘comparison shop’ with confidence using the information supplied through the bookstore website as required by the Tennessee Legislature.
Finally, there is an expectation in the legislation that ‘free samples’ from vendors be placed on library reserve or in a place of easy student access. If you have received a complimentary copy, please consider donating your copy to Student Academic Support Services in the GEB.
For more information on the VolShop Online Faculty Adoption program, contact Shirley Streeter at 865-974-1047 or sstreete@utk.edu.
Thank you in advance for placing your book orders now and for considering providing your examination copies to the Office of Student Academic Support Services.