Timely Accessibility of Instructional Materials
In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) was signed into federal law, and states: “To the maximum extent practicable, each institution of higher education receiving Federal financial assistance shall ... disclose, on the institution’s Internet course schedule and in a manner of the institution’s choosing, the International Standard Book Number and retail price information of required and recommended [course materials] for each course listed in the institution’s course schedule used for preregistration and registration purposes.”
The CSU Chancellor’s Office has restated the expectation that “Campuses are to provide students access to course material information and costs associated with the schedule of classes for each term, no later than the first date of registration. These requirements are, as noted in the HEOA, ‘To ensure that students have access to affordable course materials by decreasing costs to students and enhancing transparency and disclosure with respect to the selection, purchase, sale, and use of course materials.’”
Deadlines for ordering course materials shall comply with the HEOA.
By the fourth Friday of January each year, the Registrar’s Office will notify faculty and publish on its website a calendar of course material adoption deadlines for all terms of the approaching academic year.
Source:
Academic Senate Resolution: AS-945-22 "Resolution on Timely Adoption of Courseware in Support of Affordability and Transparency" (PDF). Approved 15 December 2022.
References:
CSU Executive Order: EO 1111 "Disability Support and Accomodations Policy". Revised 28 March 2022.
CSU Coded Memo: AA-2006-41 "Accessible Technology Initiative Policy". Revised 25 January 2023.
U.S. Federal Law: 110-315 "Higher Education Opportunity Act" (PDF). 14 August 2008.
CSU Office of the Chancellor Memorandum: "Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI)" (PDF). Sent by Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Fred E. Wood to CSU Presidents, 8 March 2021.
CSU Office of the Chancellor Memorandum: "Compliance with the Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) through disclosure of course material information" (PDF). Sent by Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Fred E. Wood to CSU Presidents, 21 April 2021.
Updated: 7/11/2025