First of all, I am a student at SMC and teachers are good and I am very grateful for the learning experience. However, I have always been bothered on how the people in charge of setting up the books needed for each class act in favor of the book vendors and don't care to screw up the students with the cost. For instance, same classes might use different books, when in fact it would benefit the student if the same classes would use the same book, it would be easier for students to interchange, drop or add the same classes and not worry about getting a different book. For example when students for any reason need to choose the same class on a different schedule. Other issue I have noticed is that sometimes from one semester to the next the book for the same class is changed, why? Just so students now have to buy a new book and not use a cheaper book from the last semester? I was thinking the book vendors need more profits, maybe that's the reason. Again, screw the students and make them pay more. Yep, that makes a lot more sense $.
That's not the only way students get screwed up. Here is another way: Some classes now have the so called "web assignments", set up for the class. That is in order to complete the assignments for the class the student is FORCED to log in to a web site where he/she can access the homework, which means that if the student did not buy a book for the class he/she has to buy a code to access the homework online. Such codes cost almost the same as the book. It is really an easy way to increment profits, one has to buy the book or the code or risk not passing the class. It should be up to the student to decide to buy the book for the class. Some students sometimes decide to buy a used cheaper book, or the book from the last semester will do in most cases, and yet others can pass the class with class notes, internet and books from the library. But I suppose the students' way to save a buck is not a good idea for those producing the books. Really, I don't think creating a web site for class assignments is not with the intention to help the student, it's just to profit themselves. It would so much easier just to take the class and all I need it's my book and do my homework, but with this online setup I now have to have internet access, another expense. And how about when the students buy an expensive book for over $100? Just to sell it back at the end of the class for $40? What a rip off!!! Sure, it would be sold back to student for at least double the $40. I always thought students were to be helped, but...
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