Making the Reorganization of the Former U.S.S.R. Look Easy: Faculty Participation in Textbook Selection.

Faculty members who want a voice in textbook selection but whose schedules are already overburdened with meetings can still participate in textbook selection. A 7-stage process for involving all faculty in the textbook selection process has been used effectively twice in a large communication fundamentals course program at a state university and once in a small program at a private college. Steps in the process are: (1) the director of the textbook selection committee prepares a clear course description; (2) the director solicits ideas from all faculty members about the characteristics they find important in the textbooks; (3) the director develops a tentative list of criteria for selection and circulates it among faculty members; (4) the director assembles the textbooks that are viable choice; (5) the director evaluates all the books against the basic criteria; (6) the texts remaining are identified for all committee members; and (7) the director schedules a meeting at which all faculty involved in selection discuss the relative merits of the texts. The final selection is one which includes input from all affected faculty; and their strong voices in the actual selection increase the likelihood that they will be satisfied. (Sample faculty surveys of textbook criteria and text features, and a textbook review form are attached.) (RS)