Textbook information needed for Summer and/or Fall 2020
March 4, 2020
From: Dr. Linda M. Lemiesz, Adjunct Faculty Services
Dear Colleagues:
Just a reminder that CUNY requires all faculty members to submit their textbook information to CUNYfirst. With registration beginning on Monday, March 16, now is the time to submit textbook information for those teaching in the summer or fall of 2020!
CUNY uses this record of your textbook data to comply with the Higher Education Act passed in 2008. The Act requires that students be given access to this information in advance of registration for their courses.
While I appreciate that textbook entry is a very cumbersome process made worse by the design of the interfaces in CUNYfirst, I ask you to remember the purpose of Higher Education Act is to protect the student consumer. Early submission of your information helps students to locate the best prices, and improves access to the rental market for textbooks and to the second hand book market. In that light, compliance with the law can be seen as fulfillment of Baruch’s mission to improve access to higher education. Once again: registration begins on Monday, March 16, so please submit your entries before then.
Textbook entry:
This link provides information on the various means of uploading textbook information into CUNYfirst:
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/cunyfirst/faculty.html
There were many problems with this process this spring. Some faculty members could enter the information only for one course; this is a problem that should be reported to the BCTC helpdesk at x1010. Other faculty failed to shift the button in the middle of the screen from “pending” to “complete.” This error produces a notification to the University Registrar that the faculty member is non-compliant. Likewise, a failure to mark “no textbook required” even for independent study, internships, and labs will result in notification to CUNY Central.
Unfortunately, some faculty members who properly noted “no textbook required” still appeared on the noncompliance list. Thus, I ask people who are listing their course as “no textbook required” to send me a screenshot.
Bookstore
The Baruch Bookstore is willing to serve as a resource for textbook information. Please contact Jasmine Brown, the Textbook Manager, for assistance at tm8065@bncollege.com or at extension 4854. Note that the Bookstore cannot submit information to CUNYfirst on your behalf.
Linda M. Lemiesz, Ph.D., J.D
Adjunct Faculty Services
650 Information Technology Building
Baruch College, CUNY
NY NY 10010
646 312-1204