Bookstore FAQs for Faculty

Textbook Adoption Due Dates:

Fall Semester
April 15
Spring Semester
October 15
Summer Semester
March 15

IMPORTANT NOTE: These dates pertain to traditional semester time periods. Non-traditional semester book orders should be turned into the bookstore six weeks prior to the beginning of a class. Books can be ordered and received in time two weeks prior to the beginning of class. HOWEVER, the bookstore cannot guarantee these orders arriving in time. Also, additional freight charges for late-ordered books could end up being charged to the department ordering late textbooks.

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Why do I have to turn in my textbook orders so early?

There are two main reasons. The first is that prompt return of a textbook adoption allows the bookstore ample time to research and resolve any problems with the order and notify the faculty of these problems.

The second—and most important—reason is USED BOOKS. Because of the high cost of textbooks, there is a tremendous demand by students for used books. Unfortunately, there is only a limited supply of used books available, and only a few book suppliers offering used textbooks. This shortage of supply creates a tremendous demand and competition for used books because every college bookstore in the country contacts used book suppliers prior to the beginning of a semester in the hope of securing used books for their students.

As soon as the bookstore receives your book adoption, we begin to search for any available used textbooks requested by you. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that we receive your book adoptions by the traditional semester due dates or at least six weeks prior to the beginning of a non-traditional class.

Also, receiving your book adoption by the semester due date helps us prepare for the textbook buyback period which begins at the end of a traditional semester time period. Many of the same textbooks are used for every semester. If a student sells back a book that’s being used for an upcoming semester, the bookstore pays that student at least half of the original price of the textbook. If a student sells back a book that’s not being used for an upcoming semester, the bookstore pays anywhere from 0%-30% of the textbook’s original price. In other words, the sell back price of a textbook is based on NEED. YOU, the faculty, have tremendous influence over how much money a student is paid when the student sells back a textbook to the bookstore at the end of a semester. The bookstore WILL NOT pay additional money for a textbook UNTIL we have confirmation from the faculty via a book adoption that a book will be used for an upcoming semester.

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How do I order a textbook?

There are four ways you can order a textbook:

  1. Fill out and return a book adoption form to the bookstore. These forms are distributed to the faculty several weeks prior to the traditional semester due date. If you haven’t received a form prior to a semester due date, ask your department head or contact the bookstore.
  2. E-mail your book adoption to the bookstore email address: concordia@bkstr.com. Include as much of the following information as possible for each book ordered: author, title, publisher, edition, ISBN, and estimated quantity. Also, be sure to include the Course Name.
  3. Go to the Bookstore Web site and follow the prompts for performing an "Edoption". (See accompanying instructions).
  4. Fax your book request to 503-280-8656.

We do require some form of written confirmation for a book adoption. However, in an emergency, we will accept an adoption via phone. Keep in mind that phone requests are less reliable and the bookstore cannot guarantee such requests will be filled with the same level of accuracy as written requests. The bookstore phone number is 503-280-8502.

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