Minutes of February 14, 2002

Noon, Burling Library Conference Room

Attending: Todd Armstrong, David Harrison, Lee Sharpe, Doug Caulkins, John Stone, Victoria Brown, Christopher McKee, Bill Ferguson, John Kalkbrenner, Helen Scott, Gail Bonath

Discussion of delivery of course materials to students:

There are many ways to provide course materials to students. The committee began a discussion of all the issues raised by all these ways of delivery in order to recommend what works best for faculty, students, and the institution as a whole.

John K. and Gail distributed a handout that outlined ten means of distribution and the pros and cons of each. The ten means were Books, Course packets for purchase at Bookstore, Course packets on reserve at the library, Course reserves (paper), Course reserves (electronic), Blackboard, Course web pages, Copies made by Copy Connection, Copies made by Faculty, and Faculty loaning personal copies to students.

Lead-time is an issue with Course packets-three months standard:

  • Faculty member gives request to Academic Support person.
  • Academic Support finalizes request and submits it to the Bookstore.
  • Copyright Clearance Center contacts Academic Support person with proposed cost.
  • Academic Support person contacts faculty member for final approval.

  • The cost and availability of copyright permission have an impact on course planning and syllabi.

    Course packets on reserve: Questions have been raised about compliance with copyright policy and about costs.

    Course reserves (paper and electronic): Permitted for the first semester without copyright permission. This falls under the fair use clause. In subsequent semesters, the material needs to be in a course packet or on electronic reserves with copyright permission. Students print documents from e-reserve in order to have the appropriate text in class for discussion; ISC will look into issues of costs, which are continuing to increase, of student use of printers on campus.

    Blackboard: Has a controlled access. Materials may fall under fair use for the first semester. If used for more than one semester, copyright permission must be obtained.

    Course web pages: No controlled access. Violates copyright law. Web pages are similar to Blackboard if access is limited to on-campus use only.

    Copy Connection: Faculty members may or may not have copyright permission. Materials may or may not fall under fair use.

    Faculty members copy articles: May or may not fall under fair use. The College pays for duplication.

    Faculty members loan personal copies: May or may not fall under fair use. The student pays for duplication. This is the most inefficient option.

    ISC will continue the discussion of delivery of course materials to students at its next meeting.

    Respectfully submitted,
    Terri Phipps