FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for Faculty

If you don’t see the answer here—give us a call! 573-651-2737 or email us at Rentabook@semo.edu

How long am I required to use the textbook that I have requested for this course?

Two calendar years, per University Policy.

Does everyone teaching the same course have to use the same textbook?

Yes – all sections of a course must use the same textbook, per University Policy.

How many textbooks per course can I put in the Textbook Rental system?

One textbook per course, additional books can be sold at Southeast Bookstore.

Do we have to change books every two years or can we keep them longer?

The policy is a minimum of two years; you may keep the adopted book as long as we can still obtain the book if needed from our vendors. If the book becomes out of print, we will recommend that a newer edition be considered.

When are textbook requisitions due?

Three weeks prior to the first day when students are able to register for classes for the upcoming term.

What is the HEOA law and why do I need to know?

HEOA stands for Higher Education Opportunity Act and please see our About Textbook Rental page for a full description of the law.

How do I get a desk copy?

Contact the publisher or publisher rep. They will provide them free of charge. Textbook Rental is not allowed to obtain instructor copies. Please contact Textbook Rental if you need publisher contact information.

Why can’t I use a book from Textbook Rental as my desk copy?

We only maintain enough inventories for our undergraduate students; our books are reserved for only those students who are enrolled in the course. If we have enough extra copies, we will be happy to loan a book until you receive your desk copy from the publisher. However, books on loan cannot exceed one semester or they will be charged to your faculty account or department account.

I borrowed a book from Textbook Rental and I cannot find it, will I be charged for the book?

Regrettably, we will have to charge you for the replacement cost of the book.

Can I buy a current textbook book from Textbook Rental?

If the book you are interested in is no longer available as a desk copy, you may purchase a copy from our inventory. Please contact us for pricing information and let us know whether it will be a purchase on your faculty account or department account.

What if a CD or DVD comes with the textbook?

Let Textbook Rental know if you would like for the students to have access to the CD as well as the textbook. This can be noted on the textbook requisition form or you can contact Textbook Rental at ext. 2538.

What if I would like to have a custom textbook for my class?

As long as all the faculty teaching the same course are in agreement and everyone uses the same textbook for the required two calendar years, this is a great option in Textbook Rental. However, custom textbooks require a longer process time from the publisher; please submit these requests as soon as possible.

If I want to order a custom book, do publishers have a minimum number of copies you have to order?

The faculty member needs to discuss this with the publisher, as each publisher handles this situation differently.

I would rather send students to a direct online website to purchase textbooks?

Textbook Rental is by far the best money can buy for Southeast students. It would be difficult to find a textbook for less than $25.94. Many Universities across the country are starting rental programs to save students money. There has also been federal legislation encouraging Universities to do this as well. We work very hard to keep prices as low as possible for the students and the operation contributes back to the University in the form of scholarship support. Therefore, it is important to keep the money on campus as publishers and other vendors are not contributing to the University.

I teach at a Regional Campus - how are textbooks handled there?

Rental textbooks are shipped to the regional campuses for students to check out.

I am teaching a webinar type courses, are there specific software and/or hardware required for them?

According to the University website (www.semo.edu/online/courses.htm) "Students can log into a webinar class from anywhere as long as they have a high-speed internet connection, a web camera and a headset microphone." It makes no mention of software; this is probably a question for CSTL.

Are EBooks allowed in the Textbook Rental system?

It is not possible to rent an EBook. Textbooks in EBook formats have an expiration date – unlike trade books and can’t be used by multiple users. If you would like an EBook format please contact the bookstore.

What if I have other books or materials I would like for my students to purchase?

The request for additional books or materials will need to be requested directly to Southeast Bookstore.

How does buy-back at the bookstore work?

Please contact the Southeast Bookstore for detail information regarding buy backs.

How do I know what the retail price of the textbook will be to the students?

Often publisher reps will quote the cost of the textbook, not the retail selling price. For accurate pricing contact Laurie at ext. 2538, you can also go to the undergraduate course book lookup.

Why are the retail purchase prices of textbooks so high?

There are several reasons for the high prices for textbooks, one being that there is a relatively small market compared to general books, also there are many contributors who include copyright material within the text. The bookstore uses industry wide standard markups on textbooks. This standard markup has not increased in 20 years. The pricing from the publishers has risen 60% in the last 10 years.

Can graduate students rent textbooks?

The Textbook Rental system is for undergraduates only. Graduate students must purchase their textbooks, with the exception of graduate students who are taking pre-requisite undergraduate courses (100-499).

A student is taking an incomplete in my class; do I need to inform Textbook Rental so the student can keep their book?

Students who are taking an incomplete can keep their book without being charged another rental fee as long as we receive a confirmation email from the instructor. Please include in the email the student’s name, their S0#, the course number that they are completing and when you expect them to finish. Once we receive your email confirmation, we will change their book rental status to incomplete.

How much does it cost for a student to rent a textbook?

The rental fee is $25.94 per course regardless of the number of textbooks for that course.

When do the students have to return the textbooks?

By 4PM the Monday after finals week, all textbooks are due. Students who do not return the textbook by the deadline are charged the purchase price of the textbook.

Can a student purchase a textbook they have rented from Textbook Rental?

Yes, students may purchase any of their textbooks during the semester and the rental fee is applied to the purchase price of the textbook.

One of my students has a question regarding textbooks – where can I send them for answers?

Students may contact us through email, rentabook@semo.edu, or call 573-651-2236, or they can visit our website www.semo.edu/textbookrental