Q. What does every college student need most?

A. EXTRA MONEY!!!

That is exactly what a student at Rend Lake College will receive if he or she chooses to use the newly established textbook rental program that has been implemented on campus. The option allowing students to rent rather than purchase textbooks is expected to save a student several hundreds of dollars.

A typical student who takes 12 credit hours or four classes may spend over $400 on four books during one semester at purchase price. When the student sells the textbooks back, he/she may receive only $100 in return for the texts. Over a two-year period, this can amount to $900 or more for books under the purchase system (still an option).

TEXTBOOK RENTAL PROCEDURE

Prior to the start of each semester, dates and times in which textbooks will be available for either rental or purchase will be announced and proper notice will be given to students regarding these dates. Pell grants or scholarships may be applied to book rental or purchase. Textbook rental increases the value of grants and scholarships. Textbooks charged to a student under the rental system may be returned if classes are dropped, added or changed within the first two weeks following the beginning date of classes for fall and spring semesters or within the first week of summer classes.

Textbook rental fees will be assessed to the student on a per book bases. In all cases, the rental of textbooks will require a pre-established deposit charged to the student at the time of rental. The current fee of $60 per book includes a $20 deposit fee which will be refunded upon proper return of the rented text. If a student chooses to purchase his or her textbooks, all sales will be final. Purchased texts will not be accepted for return and no reimbursement will be made after two weeks following the beginning date of classes for fall and spring semesters or one week after the beginning date of summer classes. Students will be required to be registered for classes prior to the rental of textbooks and must bring a course schedule and student ID with them at the time of text rental or purchase.

TEXTBOOK RETURN POLICY

Students can return rented textbooks at any time during the semester. Textbook deposit fees will be processed by the Bookstore and returned to the student in the form of cash if the student's account is clear.

The last day to return rented textbooks will be the Tuesday following final exams. After the return period ends, rented textbooks are no longer returnable.

Students who do not return their textbooks by the deadline, or if their books are lost or stolen, will be charged the retail price for the text; this charge will be placed on the student's account with the college.

Rented textbooks which are returned will be inspected by the Bookstore staff to determine a reasonable condition for return. Torn covers, torn pages, water damage, etc., may mean returned textbooks will not be accepted and deposit fees will not be returned to the student. Reasonable highlighting is allowed in rented textbooks, but writing in rented texts is not. Final determination of the condition of rented textbooks will be made by the Vice President of Finance and Administration.