Faculty Course Material Adoptions

Helping Your Students Succeed Before the Semester Begins 

One of the most practical things faculty can do for students happens well before the first day of class: letting them know what course materials they'll need. When students have accurate textbook information at registration, they have time to weigh their options (used copies, rentals, digital editions, interlibrary resources) and make choices that fit their budgets. For many students and families, that planning window makes a real difference. 

Submitting your adoptions through the Fordham Bookstore also gives the Bookstore team the lead time it needs to work on your students' behalf: sourcing lower-cost editions before the national market runs dry, expanding rental and buyback programs, and ensuring financial aid can be applied to required materials. 

Additionally, timely adoptions keep Fordham in compliance with the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, which requires institutions to make course material information (including ISBNs and pricing) available to students at the time of registration. Meeting the deadlines below satisfies that requirement automatically. 

Adoption Deadlines 

To remain compliant with federal law, adoptions are due prior to the start of registration for each term: 

  • Summer Term: March 15 
  • Fall Semester: April 15 
  • Spring Semester: October 15 

 

Getting Started with Follett Discover 

Follett Discover is Fordham's official tool for researching and adopting course materials. It is fully integrated with our Single Sign-On (SSO) systems. 

For Faculty: Adopting for Your Own Courses 

  • Navigate to the Tools tab and click the Fordham Bookstore (Follett) link. 
  • Enter any of your current courses. In the course menu, select Follett Discover (if not visible, add it via the "Tool Link" option). 
  • Search & Select: Use the 13-digit ISBN to ensure the correct edition. You can also "Quick Re-Adopt" from previous semesters. 
  • Confirm "No Materials": If your course uses OER (Open Educational Resources) or no paid materials, you must still click "I have no materials to adopt for this course" to mark your section as compliant. 

 

For Departmental Admins: "Concierge" Access 

Departmental administrators can submit adoptions on behalf of an entire department or sections with unassigned instructors. 

  • Request Access: If you do not have Concierge access, please email the Bookstore Manager at [email protected]. 
  • Submit via Portal: Once approved, you can log in directly at fordham.follettdiscover.com to manage adoptions by Department or CRN. 

Contact & Support 

  • Rose Hill Campus Bookstore: (718) 817-3400 | O'Hare Hall 
  • Lincoln Center Campus Bookstore: (212) 636-6080 | Lowenstein Building 
  • Email Support:  [email protected]  
  • Strategic Sourcing: Alessandro Mazzotta ([email protected]) 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

  • Adoptions are reviewed by the bookstore team to check for edition changes or out-of-print status. This usually takes 2–3 business days. Once "Processed," the data syncs with the Fordham student registration system (Banner) overnight.

  • Yes! Follett Discover has a built-in OER library. By adopting OER through the portal, you signal to the University that you are using a $0 cost material, which helps us track affordability initiatives.

    • Required: Necessary for the course. Students may use financial aid for these. 
    • Recommended: Helpful but not mandatory. 
    • Choice: Used when a student must pick one of several options (e.g., "Digital OR Print"). 

  • Yes. While late adoptions hurt affordability, the Bookstore will process them as quickly as possible. Please note that students may have already purchased the wrong materials if the information was not available during registration.