Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Purpose. The
purpose of this rule is to set forth the adoption, posting, and reporting
requirements for Florida College System institutions relating to textbook and
course material affordability and transparency.
(2) Textbook and Instructional Material
Adoption.
(a) Each Florida College System
institution is required to select textbooks and instructional materials through
cost-benefit analyses that enable students to obtain the highest-quality
product at the lowest available price. Pursuant to Section
1004.085(1),
F.S., the term "instructional materials" means educational materials for use
within a course which may be available in printed or digital format.
(b) The cost-benefit analysis must include
consideration of the items listed in Section
1004.085(6)(g),
F.S., and:
1. The length of time that
textbooks and instructional materials remain in use, prioritizing textbooks and
instructional materials that will remain in use for a minimum of three (3)
years.
2. Course-wide adoption,
specifically for general education courses.
(c) Prior to the adoption of the selected
textbook and instructional materials, instructors must confirm the intent to
use all materials pursuant to Section
1004.085(6)(b),
F.S.
(d) Institutions must ensure
that proposed new editions have undergone a review process to determine whether
the content revisions to the current version of a textbook or instructional
material warrant the adoption of the new edition. Institutions may request the
publisher provide descriptions of content revisions.
(e) Development, adaptation, and review of
open educational resources and instructional materials must be a collaborative
process pursuant to Section
1004.085(6)(e),
F.S.
(f) For textbooks and
instructional materials for use in dual enrollment courses, institutions must
consult with school districts as outlined in Section
1004.085(6)(f),
F.S.
(g) Institutions must have
options in place to make textbooks and instructional materials available to
students who may not be able to afford the cost pursuant to Section
1004.085(6)(d),
F.S.
(3) Textbook and
Instructional Materials Forty-Five (45) Day Posting Requirements. Each Florida
College System institution is required to publish on its website and in its
course registration system a list of required and recommended textbooks and
instructional materials as early as feasible but at least forty-five (45) days
before the first day of class for each term for at least ninety-five (95)
percent of all scheduled course sections.
(a)
The list of required and recommended textbook and instructional materials must
meet the requirements of Section
1004.085(5)(a),
F.S., and must be searchable by:
1. Course
subject;
2. Course
number;
3. Course title;
4. Name of the instructor of the
course;
5. Title of each assigned
textbook or instructional material; and
6. Each author of an assigned textbook or
instructional material.
(b) The list of required and recommended
textbook and instructional materials must be easily downloadable by current and
prospective students.
(c) Sections
where no textbook is required or no-cost open educational resources are used
must have an icon to indicate their status as zero cost. The Zero Textbook Cost
Indicator developed by the Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network may
be used for this purpose pursuant to Section
1006.73(4),
F.S.
(d) For course sections added
after the forty-five (45) day notification deadline, including course sections
with a reasonable exception under paragraph (3)(e), textbook and instructional
material information must be posted immediately as such information becomes
available.
(e) Limited exceptions
to the forty-five (45) day posting requirement are as follows.
1. The originally adopted textbook or
instructional material is no longer available;
2. A faculty member is hired or assigned to
teach the course section after the forty-five (45) day notification
deadline;
3. The course section is
added after the forty-five (45) day notification deadline;
4. The instructional modality of the course
section changes after the forty-five (45) day notification deadline;
and
5. The course is continuing
workforce education.
(4) Textbook and Instructional Materials
Five-Year (5) Posting Requirements. Each Florida College System institution is
required to maintain and publish a list of required and recommended textbooks
for the preceding five (5) academic years.
(a)
The five-year (5) list must be inclusive of the components required under
paragraph (3)(a) and must be easily accessible from the institution's consumer
information website.
(b) By May 1,
2023, each Florida College System institution must publish the textbooks and
instructional materials list for academic years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20,
2020-21, and 2021-22.
(c) Beginning
in 2023 for academic year 2022-23, and thereafter, the five-year (5) list must
be updated annually by September 1 to include the preceding Fall, Spring, and
Summer Terms.
(5) General
Education Core Course Forty-Five (45) Day Syllabi Posting Requirements. Each
Florida College System institution is required to publish course syllabi for
each section of a general education core course identified in Rule
6A-14.0303, F.A.C., as early as
feasible but at least forty-five (45) days before the first day of class for
each term.
(a) Minimally, all general
education core course syllabi must include:
1. Curriculum;
2. Goals;
3. Objectives;
4. Student expectations of the course;
and
5. How student performance will
be measured.
(b) Course
syllabi may include other information specific to the institution.
(c) Each institution is required to publish
the syllabus for each general education core course section. For general
education core course sections added after the forty-five (45) day notification
deadline, including course sections with a reasonable exception under paragraph
(5)(d), master course syllabi, where available, may be posted. Master course
syllabi include course content, learning outcomes, and requirements that must
be followed by all instructors who teach the course. Master course syllabi must
be replaced immediately as soon as final course section syllabi become
available.
(d) Limited exceptions
to the forty-five (45) day syllabi posting requirement are as follows.
1. A faculty member has not yet been assigned
to teach the course section before the forty-five (45) day notification
deadline.
2. The course section is
added after the forty-five (45) day notification
deadline.
(6)
Reporting Requirements. Each Florida College System institution is required to
report by September 30 of each year to the Chancellor of the Florida College
System, in a format determined by the Chancellor, the following:
(a) The textbook and instructional materials
selection process for high-enrollment courses;
(b) Specific initiatives of the institution
designed to reduce the costs of textbooks and instructional
materials;
(c) Policies implemented
regarding the posting of textbook and instructional materials for at least
ninety-five (95) percent of all courses and course sections forty-five (45)
days before the first day of class;
(d) The number of courses and course sections
that were not able to meet the textbook and instructional materials posting
deadline for the previous academic year, identifying those related to
exceptions provided under paragraph (3)(e);
(e) Procedures implemented regarding the
posting of general education core course syllabi for at least ninety-five (95)
percent of all courses and course sections forty-five (45) days before the
first day of class; and
(f)
Evidence of compliance with the general education core course syllabi posting
requirement.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1),
(2)(n),
1004.085(5),
(6),
1006.73(4) FS.
Law Implemented 1004.085,
1006.73
FS.
New 2-25-09, Amended 10-17-17, 3-15-22,
9-20-22.
