For Academic Departments
Please note, updated info from Barnes & Noble College is on its way. Stay tuned for the most up-to-date information! And in the meantime, feel free to contact the store/text rental directly at 715-346-3431 with questions.
Text Rental
The primary textbook usage on the UWSP campus is through Textbook Rental, a self-supporting service financed through student text rental fees. The Text Rental service is similar to a library system, where students check out most of their course books and return them at end of the semester.
(UWSP has been operating a "text rental" system since its beginning in 1894.)
Supplemental Books
Additional supplemental books for courses, are generally “purchase” books for students. i.e. Study guides, workbooks, consumable items, etc. The UWSP University Handbook includes that, "Faculty shall observe a $75 limit on the cost of supplemental books a student is required to purchase for any one course". (Exceptions to the $75 maximum may be granted in writing by the chairperson of the instructor's department.)
Rental Rate
The current rental rate, which is included in undergraduate student segregated fees, is $6.32 per credit, up to a maximum of $75.84 for 12+ credits.
*Graduate courses are not assessed text rental fees and are therefore not eligible to utilize the text rental program. Graduate students enrolled in slash courses, however, are assessed text rental fees and may rent books for those courses.
Text Rental Advantages
• Saves students up to $500 or more per semester.
• Entire inventory available to students for reference after the 3rd week of the semester.
• Surplus books for sale at reduced prices one or two times a year so students may start their professional libraries.
ADA's & USA's
ADA's or USA's are responsible for entering course rental book, supplemental books for purchase, and course supplies needed each semester by the published due dates.
Course Textbook and Supply Requests website.
Book Requests Due
• Winterim & Spring term requests due October 1st
• Summer & Fall term requests due March 1st
Rental Usage Guidelines
Current Text Rental Guidelines can be found in the Chapter 5 of the University Handbook. Some highlights include:
• One rental book per course.
• 100/200 level courses have a 3 year rental book commitment before a new adoption is selected.
• 300/400 level courses have a 2 year rental book commitment.
• New rental guidelines went into affect in fall 2016. Textbooks adopted prior to this semester are subject to the guidelines they were adopted under. Contact Text Rental for more information.
Exceptions
Exceptions to the Text Rental guidelines may be granted upon submission of the "Request for Special Topics Course Textbooks and Exceptions to Text Rental Guidelines."
Slash Courses
If an undergrad course has a grad component to it, please enter the desired rental book for both levels. i.e. 300 Sec 1 AND 500 Sec 1. If you fail to enter the rental book request for the grad level, grad students will be unable to get the book and their enrollment will not be included in the total # of students enrolled. (Hence, we may not have enough rental books for both 300/500 students.)
Added Sections
Remember: if a section is added, you will also need to add the rental book request, supplemental book request and/or supplies needed info for the new section.
Instructor Desk Copy
Teaching Faculty are required to obtain their own copy of the textbook needed for their course. (UWSP rental books are for student use only.)
Lookup Book Requests
ADA's/USA's can view both rental & purchase books requested for a specific curriculum, term, and course at the textbook requisition website.
HEOA Compliance Information
HEOA compliance information on our Text Rental program is available here.
Store and Text Rental Contacts
Katy Horn, Store Manager: kahorn@uwsp.edu
Dale Dickson, Text Rental Manager: dadickso@uwsp.edu
Erin Raikowski, Merchandise Buyer: erraikow@uwsp.edu
715-346-3431
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