Submitting textbook adoptions on time isn’t just a deadline, it is a game changer for student success and affordability. When faculty meet adoption timelines, campus stores can source low-cost materials, maximize textbook buyback, and prevent frustrating backorders. But faculty often see adoptions differently, so it’s crucial to explain why deadlines matter and how they directly impact students.
3 Ways On-time Textbook Adoptions Lower Costs
- Lower Student Costs
Early adoptions give your store time to find affordable options, including print, digital, rentals. This allows students to choose what works best for their learning style. Late or last-minute changes? They lead to higher prices, backorders, and students scrambling to buy from online competitors.
- Higher Buyback Value
On-time adoptions mean students earn more for their current textbooks. Once your store knows which books will be reused, it can offer higher retail buyback prices instead of wholesale rates. Plus, those buybacks reduce next term’s costs, creating greater affordability.
- Fewer Backorders and Delays
Late adoptions create supply chain headaches. Stores need time to source and ship materials. Last-minute changes often mean higher costs, shipping delays, and limited availability. Backorders push students to online sellers, where they risk wrong editions, long waits, or counterfeit books.
Ideas for communicating with faculty
Lowering student costs is a team effort. Here are practical ways to share the message:
- Handouts: Simple adoption timelines for faculty meetings.
- Data: Show cost differences between on-time and late adoptions.
- Email Campaigns: Short, clear reminders about why deadlines matter.
- Quick Check-Ins: Ask if faculty want to reuse previous materials.
- Backup Plans: Work with department chairs or deans if needed.
What strategies have worked for your store? Share your best practices!
