January 2004
“My company is prepared to offer you $4,000 for reviewing an introductory textbook. If you accept this offer, you will be required to adopt the textbook for your course. Will you please accept our offer? We look forward to hearing from you.”
What would you do? Oh, you say, that’s easy–reject the offer. Wait a minute–not so fast. What’s wrong with adopting a textbook that you have reviewed and might very well feel is acceptable for your course? Moreover, you need the dough.
This dilemma is real; it is not fiction. A recent article published in The Chronicle of Higher Education (see June 27, 2003, p. A8) documents this practice and goes on to point out that accepting the publisher’s offer is not unethical. As one professor explained, “The $4,000 is twice what I make in a month take-home pay. I bought a house in June, and I needed a washer and dryer. I had decided to use a textbook and–poof!–all the stars aligned and I got this letter in the mail.” When asked if she understood that she was adopting a textbook for money, she replied “yeah.”
Can professors be “bought off?” Yes. Is this a widespread practice? Probably not but no one knows for sure. The same might be said for academic departments that adopt a common textbook for mass enrolled introductory courses in which the publisher returns a royalty or, as some might suggest, a kickback to the department. Are these ethical issues? You decide.