Mr. Dev Sinha, mathematics, announced that he has become aware of a number of students complaining about textbook prices. From 1994-2004, the wholesale price of textbooks went up 62% and general books went up 25%. The UOÕs OSPIRG student group has been recommending for faculty to use open source and open access textbooks whenever possible. He noted that faculty can modify or add sections of text that become part of the text (Mr. Sinha provided a more detailed explanatory paper handout). With the ever-increasing price of textbooks in mind, Mr. Sinha asked for the creation of an ad hoc sub-committee to consider textbook pricing issues and to provide the senate with some recommendations. Mr. JQ Johnson, library, is willing to be a member of the committee which Mr. Sinha would chair. The intent is to produce a White Paper that makes the issues clear. On a final note, Mr. Sinha opined that faculty produce academic materials, research, and literature, and then have to pay too much to have access to what they have produced. President van Donkelaar indicated that he would move forward to form such a committee. In brief, the committee would produce a White Paper summarizing our understanding of this area for the UO community; identify examples of best practices regarding textbooks, both on our campus and other campuses; consider ways to encourage use of lower-cost textbooks; consider whether it would be worthwhile to devote any university resources to this area; consider the capabilities of the Duck Store to help ease the adoption of lower-cost textbooks; and consider reaching out to other campuses, presumably through their faculty governance structures, in order to coordinate efforts and save costs.
Ad Hoc Open Source Scholarly Communication Committee. Mr. Dev Sinha, mathematics, reported on the work of the committee, saying that as textbooks get more and more expensive the committee is interested in initiating a campus discussion about ways to mitigate the ever-increasing expense of studentsÕ textbooks. He said that faculty can be quite creative in addressing the textbook cost issue (for example, ÒbankingÓ older homework problems for studentsÕ use). The committee hopes to engage the faculty in a creative discussion to combat escalating textbook costs. Culminating in the report are six recommendations: (1) be mindful of textbooks costs (encourage use of Òopen textbooksÓ available on-line); (2) encourage reuse of textbooks; (3) encourage use of lecture notes and supplemental materials on-line; (4) find better venues for faculty to share teaching materials, in particular, question ÒbanksÓ; (5) negotiate regularly with publishers; and (6) encourage production of open textbooks. Mr. Sinha encouraged everyone to read the committeeÕs report and for the time being to think about how to save money for students now, while the committee will continue to develop and expand the ideas generated so far, including perhaps starting a working group to look at creating open source texts. (See http://www.uoregon.edu/~uosenate/dirsen089/TextbookWhitePaper.pdf for the full report.)
Senior Vice Provost Russ Tomlin supported the idea of exploring a means by which the open source textbook idea can get off the ground. He said he would look into starting a small group to create a sustainable business model to provide some incentive and return for faculty to engage in this type of activity. Mr. Gilkey then moved to endorse and accept the report of the committee; the motion passed unanimously.
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