At the beginning of each semester, the same complaints can be heard from students coming out of The University Bookstore. Mostly that the prices are too high and far out of their price range. Despite constant cries for change, the Follett Higher Education Group, which was contracted by John Carroll University in 2004, and its publishers, refuse to offer cheaper prices.
Follett has been unavailable to answer questions pertaining to the prices of books at JCU. The Carroll News feels that Follett should become more progressive and begin to offer books at a lower price and in other forms. For example, the store could rent books to students at a cheaper price. It would still receive a profit while at the same time pleasing the students. Follett could also begin to offer select chapters of books online so if the professors know they won’t use the entire book, students could purchase only required sections.
Professors could also help the students save money. We feel that the professors should reevaluate what is absolutely necessary for their courses and possibly cut back or provide some of the material, such as posting documents on Blackboard or making sure that the texts are available at the Grasselli Library or other public libraries. If instructors know that they may not use a certain book, then they shouldn’t require students to buy it until the time arises. Additionally, professors could release their list of required texts further in advance than at the beginning of the semester so students have time to find the books for less money.
Students could also do more to find less expensive ways to purchase books. The Carroll News thinks that students should continue to buy books from Amazon.com, rent books from sites like Chegg.com, and use programs like OhioLINK to attain their books.
Each of these three parties can take part in helping to lower the cost of buying books. We feel that through these viable options the end goal of saving money can be achieved.
