|
Faculty
Senate lectured on book-buying economics
By
Matt Kelly
First-year
student Roger Ronald Mayhew Jr. told Faculty
Senate members at their meeting April
19 that when they fail to order books on time, it costs students
more money.
Senators
also heard recommendations for research computing, an update on
the dean search and an explanation of the new University logo.
Mayhew,
a representative on Student Council, said only 275 of 1,500 fall
faculty orders and 500 of 1,400 spring book orders were turned
in to the U.Va. Bookstore by the deadline.
Mayhew
said the bookstore could pay 50 percent of the cover price for
used books if store management knows the instructor will require
the text again. Without that, students receive 10 to 40 percent,
which Mayhew said hews closer to 10 percent. Many delayed faculty
orders are turned in after students have already unloaded their
books at lower prices.
The
student suggested that departments funnel their book purchase
orders through a single person, such as the department secretary,
for greater efficiency and that faculty and students work together
in evaluating books in courses. He also said that getting orders
in on time would reduce the last-minute shipping and handling
costs.
Several
faculty members fired their own suggestions to Mayhew, suggesting
the bookstore could e-mail them a reminder of the deadline and
a copy of their previous semester’s orders, that students
establish a process to sell the books directly to each other or
have students purchase books online.
One
faculty member suggested the students calculate how much a teacher
cost them through delayed book orders and bring it to his or her
attention. Another suggested getting book retail giants such as
Barnes and Noble involved in the textbook sales to reduce price
and streamline the process. Others questioned how to handle books
for courses that skip semesters.
Mayhew
took down their ideas and said he would try to incorporate their
ideas in his plan.
The
Senate also received 28 recommendations under 11 categories for
research computing presented by W. Otto Friesen on behalf of the
Research Computing and Information Task Force.
Among
the recommendations were plans to:
•
develop a mass storage strategy;
•
invest in maintaining internal and external bandwith;
•
creating uniform and consistent network facilities;
•
create additional security systems and support;
•
establish a separate budget for software purchases;
•
expand support for digital library resources.
In
his remarks to the senate, President John T. Casteen III said
searches for the Arts & Sciences dean, the provost and the
police chief were nearing completion.
Casteen
also talked briefly about the University’s new logo, saying
it was part of the University’s effort to position itself
with a more consistent mark in the education marketplace, where
Jefferson’s Rotunda had come to symbolize education itself.
Casteen
also spoke briefly on the recent athletic restructuring report,
saying the Board of Visitors
would work on it at its next meeting.
In
other business, the Senate:
•
Heard reports from the Academic Affairs Committee, the faculty
Grievance Committee, Research and Scholarship and ROTC Affairs
committees.
•
Architecture students Steven S. Reinemund and Andrew E. Burdick
presented a report on the proposed new student center, which Reinemund
said would have space in it for a faculty dining room.They displayed
renderings of the building, which they described as a “vital
public place.”
•
Houston G. Wood III and Michael Smith were nominated for the chair-elect,
while Kathryn Neeley was the sole nominee for the secretary post.
Stephen Wilson, Gabriel Robins, Robert O’Connell, Daphne
G. Spain, David Brautigan, Nancy McDaniel, Ellen Contini-Morava
and Karen Ryan were nominated for two slots on the executive council.
Senate members will vote by mail.
|
