Thursday, February 3, 2022

Bookstore Woes, from Wombat of the Copier

I need advice.

Before COVID we had nearly 1000 students in our service courses, so we use an online homework package.  It's pricey but it comes with textbook access.  I felt that for what the students pay for it, we shouldn't just thoughtlessly throw some random problems at them - but we should make the absolute best use of it.  I devoted an entire winter break a few years ago to testing all of the bells and whistles and coming up with a new course design that, for the same price they were already paying for run of the mill problem sets, could be used to give them a great, interactive, experience where things done in one part of the course (lecture, lab, peer workshop...) would work synergistically with other parts.  I made self-assessments that students could use with flow-charts to help them figure out if they've nailed a topic, or need more practice, and if so, what part of the program should they try next etc.  I even watched upwards of 50 hours of supplementary videos and played with supplementary animations/simulations/manipulatives etc. to provide students with descriptions and time stamps of what each of these features were.  If we're going to tell them we'd like them to buy a $100 access code - I wanted to make sure they got $200 worth of education out of it.

But our bookstore manager is the worst.  Every fall until Nov and every spring until April, I have students getting the run around about "back ordered" course codes.  A few years ago me and a few colleagues put the publisher link in our course outline and bookstore manager sent us aggressive cease and desist orders claiming we have a contract and that we're violating it.  HE violates it by not providing the students with course materials.  He claimed it was a communication issue and my department fails to tell him to order an adequate number of codes.  Every year we increase the request by 10% of what we asked for the last semester - and since covid our enrollment is actually down (like everywhere else) and he STILL runs out of codes before the first week.  I wouldn't mind but there's more.  He still lets the bookstore take orders - he continues to take money from the students and tells them they'll get a call when the codes come in.

But he never calls them.

We have 2 reps from the publisher and they tell me this is all bullshit in the first place.  There is no such thing as being "backordered".  There isn't some ship in the middle of the Suez holding all the cards.  If the bookstore manager calls and requests more codes, they hit a button, a computer generates a few dozen more codes, and they send them instantly.  

They've even told me "stay by your e-mail - we're sending codes to your bookstore right now and we'll let you know when your students can get them on campus" and STILL when the students show up he claims they're "backordered".

So I've pleaded multiple times with my chair to take this to the University and every semester he says ok next semester.

I wouldn't mind that he can't provide the codes if he didn't threaten me - but now I'm afraid - I try to be covert about it but it gives me massive anxiety.

If this is how he runs the bookstore can I really be sued, as he claimed?  I can't get my chair to talk to the university about what is actually in that contract - I'm SURE the bookstore voids the exclusivity by not being able to provide the course materials.

What would you do?  Any advice?  

I mean in what universe do students actually work this hard to get their materials?  They usually blow it off - and I've managed to convince them that they should try to use the recommended course materials.  I'm actually pretty proud of what I've done with this course - and this guy is just screwing the students and lashing out at the faculty.  I am just very frustrated and hoped someone might have a good idea.  

--Wombat of the Copier

1 comment:

  1. First, I would document everything--numbers, spreadsheets, emails from publishers, entreaties from you, lies he has provided you. Then I would compose a report with all attachments, provide it in draft form to the instructors in your teaching the course and get buy in.

    After that, I would send the draft to the chair. I would tell them that this is the email attahchent you, the front line professors with direct knowledge of the problem, are sending to the Provost. I wouldn't at all imply the chair isn't doing their job but just pretend those previous conversations with chair didn't happen. The front line instructors would like to add you, dear chair, as a signatory. I'd add that, assuming we are talking about a corporate bookstore, corporate will need to know about the manager's behavior and loss of revenues if this isn't straightened out for next semester.

    That's what *I* would do, given the way my college operates and the personalities involved. Whether that will fly in your university you obviously know better than I do.

    What I recall from first year contracts in law school years ago is that breach and refusal to correct the breach where time is of the essence on his side means that you can cover on your side. But there may be notice required and arbitration clauses in the contract. Additionally, if the bookstore is corporate, B and N or whoever would, I assume, be displeased with this manager when the underordering is so easily solved in the case of access codes. Our bookstore chronically underorders as well (seems to be better with our new manager), but apparently with the access codes, that shouldn't be any obstacle. But I personally would get the university to shield me by going through official channels.

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