Textbook Policy

1. Each department/discipline will have the option of determining the required instructional materials for part-time instructors, emergency hires, and full-time faculty who have not submitted an adoption by the deadline. With the prior written approval of the department chair, a part-time instructor may choose to utilize their own materials.
2. The instructional materials for a course may only be standardized when required for accreditation. If accreditation mandates standardization, all instructors teaching the course must use the designated materials.
3. Any decision to standardize the materials for a specific course must be revisited by the department/discipline at least once every two (2) years.
4. Receiving compensation, other than royalties, contingent on the adoption of textbooks and/or other materials that are not identified as Open Educational Resources (OER) may be unprofessional and/or unethical and is unacceptable. Receiving nominal remuneration for the review of textbooks or course materials is acceptable.
5. If a discipline committee is designated to select standard textbooks and/or supplements, faculty members who are authors of materials being considered or who are related to an author as defined by institutional policy may not serve on the committee.

1. Take student cost and input into consideration when selecting from among different textbooks/supplement options and, where possible, consider lower-cost, high-quality options such as online materials, eBooks, open educational resources, and 3-ring binder formats.
2. Make an effort to use the same textbooks/supplements for at least 2 years.
3. Consider using the approved learning management system to deliver material electronically in compliance with fair use and copyright laws.
4. Take into consideration the choice of textbooks and materials used by other instructors teaching the same course.
5. Take into consideration the use of textbooks and materials for sequential courses.
6. Ensure all adopted textbooks and materials will be used during the delivery of the class.

Faculty requiring their own text or supplemental materials for class:

Pursuant to the Board of Regents Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 12 and Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 281.230, faculty are encouraged to create their own scholarly works and are eligible for corresponding remuneration.

The practice of contributing to a body of knowledge by faculty members in their chosen fields of study through the development of educational materials, e.g., textbooks, case studies, custom books, workbooks, is a practice that is not only acceptable, but actively encouraged and supported by peers, division directors, and vice presidents.

To manage any conflict of interest, an instructor of record at the College must inform the appropriate director or their designated representative/committee before requiring students to purchase educational materials that have been written, co-written, or edited by them, and from which they shall receive royalties of any kind. The director or designee will review the required material to ensure that it is consistent with the requirements in this policy.

In order to avoid such conflict, or the appearance thereof, it is strongly recommended that faculty submit self-authored course materials that will be required for students' purchase or peer review prior to assigning the textbook to such faculty member's students.

The peer review should be conducted by at least three tenured faculty members. If a majority of the faculty members determine the assignment of the faculty-authored textbook or other course material is appropriate given the subject matter of the course and the content of the faculty-authored material, the College will presume that a conflict of interest does not exist.

Course material adoptions of this nature must be consistent with the following:

1. The faculty member's direct supervisor must approve the use of self-authored materials.
2. Faculty must submit and obtain the requisite approval using the form in Attachment B prior to submitting book orders. The approving authority shall retain the approval form for two (2) years, so it will not be necessary for faculty to complete a form for the same book/class more often than every two (2) years.
3. Where applicable, materials must be properly copyrighted by the authors or corresponding publishers.
4. If students are required to purchase the materials, they must also be available for sale to any interested party.
5. CSN faculty are prohibited from making sales directly to students.
6. Faculty members who create their own scholarly works are encouraged to make them accessible via OER, and, if appropriate, utilize CSN Printing Services and sell the materials at cost in the CSN Bookstores.