Timely Accessibility of Instructional Materials

As per Academic Senate Resolution AS-654-07 "Resolution on Timely Accessibility to Instructional Materials" (approved 5 July 2007):

Cal Poly has a commitment to ensure all students have access to instructional materials (printed textbooks and coursepacks) in a timely manner. Textbooks and coursepacks are often required courseware and must be available to all students at the same time. Conversion and processing of campus-wide requests of textbooks and coursepacks to accessible formats by the Disability Resource Center takes several weeks.

Departments are required to inform the university bookstore of textbook and coursepack selections for all courses requiring textbooks or coursepacks at least six weeks prior to the start of the academic quarter.

Documented course exceptions to the six week deadline are permissible with justification by the Department Chair.

For as many courses as possible, departments will establish standing textbook selections with El Corral Bookstore.

Any changes to standing textbook selections will be made at least six weeks prior to the start of the academic quarter.

Departments will establish processes to monitor and remind faculty who do not have their instructional material selections placed at least six weeks prior to the start of the academic quarter (e.g., use of faculty or staff instructional material coordinators).

Faculty are encouraged to choose course materials from publishers who provide accessible content.

Compliance to this plan will be annually reviewed by the Provost or designee, and if satisfactory compliance is not demonstrated, the Academic Senate will revisit this issue to recommend further action.  

 

As per Academic Senate Resolution AS-945-22 "Resolution on Timely Adoption of Courseware in Support of Affordability and Transparency" (approved 15 December 2022):

Deadlines for ordering course materials shall comply with the HEOA [Higher Education Opportunity Act], which supersedes the language of AS-654-07:

“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.”

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.

 

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: 7/7/2025