Instructors
looking for information on creating courseware?
Custom Courseware Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Custom Courseware?
- Why has my instructor decided to create courseware instead of using a textbook?
- How is the price of courseware or coursepack determined?
- What if my courseware is not in stock?
- When should I buy my courseware?
- Can I return courseware?
1. What is Custom Courseware?
Custom Courseware is a service that assists instructors in creating “coursepacks.” A coursepack is usually a print compilation of scanned material from a variety of sources such as books, journals, lab notes, textbooks, websites, etc., which an instructor has decided to use in a course. Essentially, it is like having a textbook created specifically for your course.
2. Why has my instructor decided to create courseware instead of using a textbook?
There are many reasons that an instructor may have decided to create courseware rather than using a textbook. The Custom Courseware service is able to obtain copyright permission to reproduce books and other materials that are currently unavailable or out of print, and therefore cannot be ordered for you to purchase.
It is often the case that instructors want students to read material from a variety of different sources; instead of requiring you to buy ten different books from which they will only assign one article or chapter, they put all of the required readings into one coursepack - saving you a lot of money!
3. How is the price of courseware determined?
The biggest factor affecting the cost of a coursepack is copyright. Custom Courseware obtains legal permission to reproduce all copyrighted material printed in a coursepack; original publishers of such material often charge a fee for its reproduction. After the copyright costs have been determined, the cost of scanning, printing and binding are added.
4. What if my courseware is not in stock?
Your coursepack is always available. Because it is stored digitally, we have the ability to print additional copies once the stock has run out. These additional copies are called "Print to Order" or “rainchecks.” A Print to Order coursepack can be purchased at any bookstore location. Once your order is paid for, your coursepack will be printed and available for pickup after 2:00pm in within 1 to 2 business days.
5. When should I buy my courseware?
Since coursepacks are non-refundable, it is best to wait until after your first class to make sure you get the right one. Keep in mind that different sections of the same course may have different course materials listed on the syllabus.
6. Can I return courseware?
[back to top]No. Custom Courseware is non-refundable. Unlike textbooks, the bookstore cannot return unused courseware to a publisher. Therefore, in order to keep costs down, we do not accept courseware returns.
