Sophomore Alyson Laurencell, a secondary education major, said she never really thought about the book she was using for her PEFWL lecture class. After some contemplation, however, she said she felt slightly cheated because she paid the same teacher twice for the class - once through tuition and a second time when she paid for the required textbook the teacher wrote for the class.
"I think it's pretty ridiculous," she said.
However, Laurencell said she understood the advantages and disadvantages of using a book the professor wrote.
Buying the textbook a professor wrote for a class the professor teaches is a good way to support the professor, Laurencell said.
"Then again, you are paying for your teacher through tuition," she said. "And some of those books are really expensive."
Laurencell is part of a large group of people who are undecided about the ethical issue. Established, older colleges and the people at those colleges discourage teaching from personal texts, but more progressive institutions say the practice is sometimes appropriate and forgivable.
Is it appropriate?
Professor Joseph Losco, chairman of the Department of Political Science, said he believes using a book he wrote would be appropriate in certain classes.
"It is likely and proper for faculty to use their own books," he said. "I think most faculty who write a text write it with the idea of 'This is how the ideal text should be.'"
Professor Sharon Burgess, assistant professor of physical education and co-author of "A Wellness Way of Life," is one of three Ball State University professors - Debbie Powers and Gwen Robbins are retired - who shares royalties from the book, which is used for Ball State University's required physical education lecture class.
The professors decided to write the book because the school was looking for a book that addressed both wellness and physical fitness, Burgess said, and no book like that was available at the time.
The department also wanted a consistent class that all students were required to take, and writing a book catered to the school's need, she said.
Some professors believe it is reasonable to use a book they wrote when it is the only one available on the market for that subject area.
Larry Smith, associate professor of communication studies, said he believes in some cases professors needed to use their own textbooks. However, Smith said he was always told never to write a textbook, and if he did write one, he assumed he would never use it in his own class.
"Old professors will say that is taboo," said Smith, who had tenure at Purdue University before he left the university to write a book about famed songwriter Bob Dylan. "It's taboo. It's like hiring your own graduates and making out with your own sister. You just don't do it."
Smith said he would use the second-best book on the market if he wrote the best book for a class, and he would use his research in his lecture.
Ken Hall, professor of history, considers the ethical dilemma of using his own textbook when he plans for his classes. For years, Hall used a common textbook in his Southeast Asian history class, and when the publisher asked Hall to revise portions of the book for an updated edition, he was glad to help.
Hall signed a contract for an upfront one-time payment, leaving all the royalties to the original author, he said. The amount he was contracted for was not comparable to the amount of money the author receives in royalties, he said.
Internationally, Hall is considered an expert on Southeast Asian history and culture, and he has written several books on the subject. However, aside from the book he helped update, Hall said he rarely uses his own textbook in his classroom because it could hamper student response and discussion.
"There is that dilemma that is there," he said. "I think the students do feel intimidated."
Smith said the same problem happens to professors in some circumstances. Smith used the example of a time he had the daughter of an author of the textbook in his class.
"It hindered me," Smith said. "I found myself [watching] what I would say because she was there."
However, senior Krystina Trimble, a marketing major, said she did not feel uncomfortable criticizing a professor's textbook.
"We were encouraged to speak about it," she said. "Most professors in the sales department encourage debate."
Laurencell also said she thought most professors were open-minded and could accept constructive criticism about their work.
Hall said he sometimes points out weaknesses in his own work so students know what to look for.
"I would hope that I'm willing take those criticisms [that students have]," he said. "Who better to do that than the students who are using that book?"
Students should have access to experts in specific fields, Hall said, and publishers agree professors who write textbooks are those experts.
Tom Stanton, director of communications at McGraw-Hill Higher Education, said all of the higher education textbooks the publishing company prints are peer-reviewed, meaning experts and other professionals in the field review the material and make comments and revisions to it.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education publishes about 400 titles a year, Stanton said.
Bruce Hildebrand, spokesman for the Association of American Publishers, said most publishing companies seek out the most recognized experts in both the subject area and in the ability to convey the issues.
"That's what faculty are paid to do," he said. "To be discerning and smart and sensitive to students' needs."
Disclosing royalties
Several years ago, the Indiana legislature addressed the possible conflict of interest that arises from using a personal text in the classroom. According to Indiana Code, a professor must disclose any conflict of interest to a government entity, in this case the Board of Trustees.
This includes teachers who require students to buy their own textbooks for their classes. For example, Burgess must disclose to the Board of Trustees that she receives one-third of the royalties for the book. However, professors who do not receive royalties are not required to file a disclosure statement with the Board of Trustees.
Hildebrand said publishers might spend millions of dollars to make a textbook. However, professors on average receive between 10 and 12 percent of the royalties on the net price of the book, he said.
The percentage is based on the level of expertise of the writer. When multiple authors are involved, one author may receive between 2 and 5 percent, Hildebrand said.
"It's not a get-rich-quick scheme," Hildebrand said.
The royalties also pay for promotion, research and other costs, he said. The money comes only from the initial sale of the book; used book sales do not add to royalties.
Whether a professor feels it is ethical or not, students who take classes with professors who use their own textbooks do feel slightly apprehensive about the prospect.
Sophomore Kyle Watson, a sports administration major, said he enjoyed having the author of his physical education textbook as his professor for the class.
"You knew that she knew what she was talking about because she wrote the book," he said.
However, he said he was initially afraid the class would be harder because the teacher wrote the book.
"It's harder to b.s. my way through class," he said.
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