Textbooks

The HEOA is a federal mandate that, inter alia, requires institutions of higher education to display textbook information at the time enrollment opens. AACRAO has additional information on textbook policies relating to the HEOA.

The Act specifies that we display the textbook title, price, and ISBN identifier. This means that in the new academic year, textbook information must be available to students no later than these dates:

  • August 1 for Autumn Quarter
  • October 24 for Winter Quarter
  • February 6 for Spring Quarter

The Stanford Bookstore accepts textbook information from faculty or administrative staff via the web (see below), fax, email, campus mail, or walk-in.

The Bookstore guarantees that any textbook submissions made by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the opening of enrollment will be available to students via Axess on the day of enrollment. Those dates for this academic year are:

  • January 31 for Spring Quarter

Regardless, the bookstore will continue to accept textbook information until classes open in any quarter.

In addition, there is a student interface between Axess and the Stanford Bookstore (eFollett). As a student enrolls in courses via Axess, s/he will be able to link directly to the eFollett web site to see assigned course materials including price and ISBN identifier.

eDoption at the Stanford Bookstore

The bookstore has created a new web site "eDoption" that enables faculty members or their administrators to communicate their textbook selections. On the Stanford Bookstore home page, select the "eDoptions" link from the top banner choices. On this site, faculty or staff create an account, then enter textbook information for each class through the eDoption interface.

Syllabus or Expanded Course Description

Faculty may also comply with the Act on their own by submitting a syllabus or expanded course description to https://syllabus.stanford.edu. In order to comply with the HEOA, each textbook must be accompanied by price and ISBN identifier. The Bookstore can supply you with this information.

The "expanded course description" option is offered for those who may not wish, or are not yet ready, to publish a full syllabus. An expanded course description must contain:

  1. course objectives
  2. information on how students will be evaluated
  3. materials for the courses including any fee information.
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