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Department of Chemical Engineering
Auburn University
August 14, 2003
Policy Regarding Textbooks
Textbooks represent the primary learning aid in our undergraduate courses. Apart from the
lecture presentation, the textbook represents the main “point of contact” for the student in
learning the required subject matter. Professors and students alike need a framework on which to
build and textbooks definitely provide this. The use of appropriate textbooks assists us in
meeting our program outcomes. Textbooks also represent a valuable reference for students as
well as a refresher when studying for various progress assessment and graduate school and
professional exams. It is for these reasons that textbooks need to be carefully selected and
appropriately used in our courses.
The following is the policy of the Department of Chemical Engineering regarding the selection
and use of textbooks:
Selection of Textbooks
Role of the faculty and course committee: Textbooks should be selected keeping in mind
program educational outcomes and program objectives as well as how well the textbook
supports meeting published course outcomes. In this latter case, the process is obviously
iterative (course outcomes may influence the selection of a textbook and visa versa).
Annual review of the textbook needs for all core courses should be done by the
appropriate course committees. “End of Course Faculty Surveys” should be consulted
for concerns about the textbook as well as follow-up discussions with those faculty
actively teaching the course. In the case of technical elective courses, the review process
is best handled by the faculty recently teaching the course. After reaching a consensus,
recommendations should forwarded to the UPC chair for consideration by the CAPAC
committee.
Role of the CAPAC committee: The CAPAC committee will review the
recommendations made by the course committees (and individual faculty in the case of
technical electives) in light of the total program needs and stated program and course
outcomes. The CAPAC committee will inform the appropriate course committee and
faculty about the outcome of the decision, and in the case of approval, update the
department’s official textbook list and appropriate course outlines.
Special consideration of Faculty Authored Textbooks:
The following is the policy of Auburn University regarding the use of Faculty Authored
Instructional Materials as approved by the University Senate on March 4, 2003.
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Preamble: The University, through its internal Audit has identified the need for a Policy regarding faculty-authored
material required for student purchase. In the spirit of shared governance, the University requested that the Senate
develop and forward such a Policy.
If a majority of the Senators voting are in favor of the Policy, it will be forwarded. If a majority of the Senators voting
are opposed to the Policy, the responsibility to develop the needed Policy will be assigned elsewhere.
Selection and production of instructional materials by faculty is essential to providing quality instruction. The freedom
to choose instructional materials is central to the principle of academic freedom. Auburn University encourages faculty
to publish instructional materials through reputable publishers that are marketed and used nationally. If such materials
produced by a faculty member are appropriate for use in the faculty member’s classes and if the sale of such materials
produces financial gain for the faculty member or his immediate family, faculty may (a) assign the material and choose
not to accept financial gain that might result from royalties or other income generated by the sale of such materials by
students enrolled in the faculty member’s class, or (b) turn the decision for selecting teaching materials over to an
alternate responsible entity (e.g. a department chair or a departmental committee) qualified to determine if the materials
are appropriate.
The production of instructional materials such as workbooks, answer sheets, or custom texts intended for use either
exclusively or primarily at Auburn University shall be considered part of the faculty member’s assigned duties. It is
expected that such shall be provided to the student at departmental or university expense, or at most, the cost of
reproduction through a commercial reproducer.
In keeping with this policy, the department chair shall oversee the “donation of
royalities” or other forms of income derived from the use of a faculty member’s textbook
in our courses. These monies shall be contributed to the department’s undergraduate
scholarship program or other programs and projects directly benefiting the department’s
students. This procedure will be done once a year with appropriate documentation
provided by the faculty to the department chair.
Use of Textbooks
In keeping with the careful selection of textbooks and reference materials, it is the policy
of the department that faculty actively employ the approved textbook both in daily
reading assignments and to the extent appropriate in assigning homework problems. This
policy is not intended to restrict a faculty from bringing to the attention of the class other
relevant printed material or to restrict a faculty from assigning additional problems from
other textbooks. More specifically, this policy is intended to assure that faculty actually
use the textbook of record and do not substitute “personal favorites” in lieu of the official
textbook. In no case may a faculty member request directly the bookstore to order a
different textbook than that on record.
A faculty may request directly from the CAPAC committee that a “tentative textbook” be
employed for a “trial period” (not to exceed one year) before making a final decision on
the textbook.
Approved by Department of Chemical Engineering Executive Committee: August 14, 2003
Approved by Department of Chemical Engineering Chair: August 14, 2003