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 will need. When students have accurate textbook information prior to registration, they have time to evaluate formats (used copies, rentals, digital editions, interlibrary loans) and make choices that fit their budgets. For many students and families, that planning window makes a critical difference. 

Submitting your adoptions through the Fordham Bookstore also gives the campus bookstore team the lead time necessary to work on your students' behalf: 

  • Sourcing lower-cost editions (used, rental, and digital) before national inventory depletes. 
  • Securing publisher licensing for required digital access codes and courseware. 
  • Ensuring financial aid eligibility can be applied seamlessly to required materials. 

Federal Compliance (HEOA) 

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 13-digit ISBNs and retail pricing) available to students at the time of course registration. Meeting the adoption targets below automatically satisfies that legal requirement. 

Adoption Targets (Prior to Student Registration) 

To align with student registration and federal transparency standards, course material adoptions should be completed prior to the start of registration for each term: 

Term 

Target Submission Period 

Goal 

Summer Term 

March 15 

In place before Summer registration opens 

Fall Semester 

April 15 

In place before Fall registration opens 

Spring Semester 

October 15 

In place before Spring registration opens 

Note: Even if you are finalizing your syllabus, submitting your course materials or selecting "No Materials Required" ensures your section is compliant and ready for student enrollment. 

Getting Started: Ordering Textbooks via My Apps 

The Textbooks app (powered by Follett Discover) is Fordham’s official tool for researching, adopting, and managing course materials. It is fully integrated with our Single Sign-On (SSO) system and accessible directly via My Apps in the Fordham portal. 

Quick Access 

  1. Log in to the Fordham Portal at my.fordham.edu. 
  1. Open the My Apps dashboard. 
  1. In the Course Tools section of MyApps, click Textbooks. 

Step-by-Step Interactive Guide 

To make the adoption process as straightforward as possible, we have prepared an interactive, visual walkthrough showing every screen and click: 

📖 An Instructor's Guide to Ordering Textbooks (Interactive Scribe Walkthrough) 

Please review this guide before submitting your adoptions. It covers: 

  • Verifying the upcoming term in your dashboard dropdown. 
  • Adopting materials using 13-digit ISBNs for exact edition matching. 

Managing and Reviewing Submitted Adoptions 

Need to review your submitted orders, check fulfillment statuses, or make adjustments? Follow our companion guide: 

📋 Managing the Fordham Bookstore Textbooks/Materials You've Ordered 

For Departmental Administrators: "Concierge" Access 

Departmental administrators and chairs can review and submit adoptions across an entire academic department or sections with unassigned instructors. 

  1. Request Concierge Access: If you do not yet have Concierge permissions, email the Campus Bookstore Manager at [email protected]. 
  1. Access the Concierge Portal: Once approved, log in directly at fordham.follettdiscover.com to view courses, track departmental compliance rates, and submit materials by Department or CRN. 

Contact & Campus Support 

Our bookstore team and Strategic Sourcing office are available to answer questions, assist with publisher custom packages, or help with portal navigation: 

  • Rose Hill Campus Bookstore: 
    • Location: O'Hare Hall 
    • Phone: (718) 817-3400 
  • Lincoln Center Campus Bookstore:
    • Location: Lowenstein Building (Ground Floor)
    • Phone: (212) 636-6080 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

  • After submission, adoptions are reviewed by the campus bookstore team to verify publisher availability, pricing, edition changes, or bundled digital components. This review typically takes 2–3 business days. Once marked "Processed," material requirements sync automatically with the Fordham student registration system (Banner) overnight.

  • Yes! The system has built-in support for OER titles. By formally logging your OER selection or marking zero-cost materials through the portal, you signal that your course carries $0 course material cost, which supports university-wide affordability tracking and transparency initiatives. 

    • Required: Essential for course completion. Students may apply financial aid toward these items. 
    • Recommended: Supplementary or optional reading. Helpful for students, but not mandatory. 
    • Choice: Used when students must select one of several acceptable alternatives (e.g., choosing between an interactive digital platform OR a physical print book). 

  • If you require an online access code (e.g., McGraw-Hill Connect, Pearson MyLab, Cengage MindTap), designate the item as "New Only" in your adoption notes so the bookstore secures individual digital licenses rather than used textbooks without working access codes.

  • 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.