College delays textbook program

Students won’t see an increase in tuition this fall for the textbook program, which has been delayed, according to an email sent Monday morning from Provost Christopher VanOrman.

The new system would have provided students with textbooks through a third-party provider called Slingshot, paid for by small tuition increases. To fund the program, the college said it would gradually raise tuition over the next four to seven years to a total increase of approximately $900.

VanOrman said the college will reconsider the program.

“We will set up both student and faculty information sessions to better understand the program and its potential benefits, as well as address concerns,” VanOrman said in the email. “After those are completed, we will make a recommendation for the future of this program.”

Chairman and Professor of Mathematics Thomas Treloar said the program, while well-intentioned, was flawed.

“Textbook acquisition experts’ working with external contractors cannot obtain or negotiate the best textbook prices for students,” Treloar told the Collegian in an email. “A free market approach helps keep the costs down – see any Hillsdale economics class – at least somewhat.”

Doug Banbury, vice president for admissions and business development, previously told the Collegian the proposed increases in tuition would not have affected current seniors. Freshmen would have seen the most additional cost added to their tuition.

“I’m glad they delayed it,” freshman Luka Stanic said. “I think the fact it only took them days to decide to delay the program shows that the people in the administration recognize clear and obvious issues with it. I don’t want them bringing it back.”

Many students questioned the additional benefits the college said the program would provide. 

Freshman Catherine Graham said she isn’t in favor of the new program.

“I was happy that the college allowed me to use some resourcefulness to find ways to get books on a budget, and I don’t think there’s any reason in the students’ best interest to change that,” Graham said.

Graham said she bought her $160 math textbook from another student for $20. She also saw savings on her most expensive purchases.

“I personally buy all of my textbooks used from Amazon, or sometimes from other students,” Graham said. “This semester, although my anatomy and physiology textbook was my most expensive one, I still saved a substantial amount as compared to the list price from the college bookstore.”

Junior Aruna Harihara said the program could lead to textbooks going to waste since each student would receive their own.

“I think it would unnecessarily add a bigger financial burden on students, especially since a lot of students buy or rent their books from Thriftbooks or Amazon,” Harihara said. “Additionally, I feel like it would be a waste of resources, as a lot of books get passed down from people who have taken the course before.”

Harihara said she spent $140 purchasing and renting textbooks this semester. She said she is also using a textbook from last semester that costs $300 and is borrowing books from friends.

Treloar said the program could incentivize faculty to require more book purchases than necessary, adding to the cost of the program.

“For example, if my students are paying a flat fee for textbooks and it helps them to require an additional book for my class, then I will now adopt the second book,” Treloar said. “This will be a widespread occurrence and would ultimately raise the cost of the program. Will it lead to rationing with a ‘textbook acquisition expert’ informing me that I need to keep my textbook costs down?”

Other faculty are concerned the program won’t be better for students. 

“I support any kind of program if it can reduce the total cost,” Associate Professor of Biology Sang-Chul Nam said. “However, I am not sure whether this new program costs less than Amazon’s textbook rental.”

The college has not announced how or when information sessions will be conducted.

“The only students who will save money after this policy change are the ones who buy all their books from the school anyway,” freshman Aidan Christian said. “Frankly, people with that kind of laissez-faire attitude about their money deserve to lose it.”