The term "koofers" originated in the 1940's, and refers to permanently returned materials, stored for use by future students as study aids. The term "Koofers" originated from the "coffers" in which the materials were often stored, and has been commonly been used to reference past exams, quizzes, and study guides. Koofers.com expands on the concept by including any historical academic information that serves the needs of university students and instructors.
Koofers.com?
Koofers.com is an interactive community that serves the academic needs of users through information sharing. The service provides users with vast amounts of information (instructor ratings, grade distributions, past exams, quizzes, study guides, etc) with the intention of facilitating collaboration and "leveling the playing field" for all students.
Why?
Our service is intended to ensure that ALL users have equal access to the SAME study materials. Members of various organizations that "stockpile" koofers have access to literally decades of materials covering hundreds of classes and professors, while other students have access to almost none. The concept of koofers.com is based on "leveling the playfield," by providing users with access to koofers that would otherwise only be available to select groups, while facilitating instructor collaboration and awareness of the materials.
The vast majority of universities recognize the need for equal access to study materials, and have policies in place that encourage a "level playing field:"
From the Virginia Tech "Graduate Honor System Constitution"
"By permanently returning graded materials, a faculty member or instructor demonstrates the intent that these materials should be accessible to all students."
From "Teaching at the University of Virginia: A Handbook for Faculty and Teaching Assistants"
"Section IV. Evaluating Students' Work; Academic Honesty and the Honor System:
- Reduce the temptation to cheat. Create entirely new exams, and distribute previous exams so that students have equal access to your format and style."
From "Rutgers Faculty Responsibilities"
"For closed book essay examinations it is important that faculty familiarize students in advance with the format of the examination and the likely structure of the questions. Because some students may have access to previous exams in the same course while others do not, leveling the playing field is often a good idea. To do this, distribute copies of previous exams to the class and use it as a guide in discussing the format and structure of the exam. It is also a good idea to provide structured sub-questions to at least one of the previous year's exam questions. This helps a student understand what it is that constitutes an excellent answer."
Unfortunately, aside from materials on reserve in the library, and those published on disparate websites, there is little parity in study materials available to students. The materials are often out of date, not catalogued appropriately, or unavailable when needed. Student-run repositories (such as those maintained by organizations) tend to contain newer materials, and are better managed - but are not available to all students.
Koofers.com and Academic Integrity
A core principle (and key differentiator) of our business is that we make every attempt to work with individual universities to integrate these new technologies while recognizing and supporting the academic integrity of the communities we serve. The very fundamentals of our business (such as the decision to offer our service free of charge, and not provide any compensation for contributing materials) are based on numerous university honor codes and policies. Koofers, Inc. has membership pending in the Center for Academic Integrity (http://www.academicintegrity.org) and we are a product of the Virginia Tech business incubator program (http://www.vtknowledgeworks.com).
Compliance with University Honor Codes
The distribution of previous exams and permanently returned graded materials to ensure equal access to study materials is a policy called for by many university policies and instructor handbooks. Policies regarding the use of koofers can vary by university, department, course, and instructor. Koofers.com is not affiliated in any way or form with any university; therefore we encourage all of our members to know, understand, and adhere to all policies and/or Honor Codes that govern them.
We at koofers.com strongly suggest you refer to each syllabus that you receive in every class. If you have any questions about the acceptable use of koofers, ask your instructor for clarification. If you are still unsure, do not hesitate to contact your Honor System. Links to the Honor Codes of universities we support can be found here.
Can Instructors Also Register? Why?
Yes. We allow (and encourage) instructors to register with our service. Many instructors actually distribute koofers to their students. We invite instructors to upload these materials to make them easily accessible to all students (Instructor uploaded koofers are identified in search results). Instructors are also able to view all documents on the site.
What are the Differences Between a Student and Instructor Account?
The only difference between account types is that "Instructor" accounts allow uploaded koofers to be prioritized and identified [as "instructor koofers"] in search results.
I am an Instructor - How Do I Receive an Instructor Account?
The option to register as an instructor is offered on the registration confirmation page (after you click the link in your confirmation e-mail). If you forgot to request an instructor account during the confirmation process, you may submit a request for instructor status. Please note that your e-mail MUST be validated as an instructor e-mail BEFORE we will grant "instructor" status. Koofers.com reserves the right to contact you or the university to verify your instructor status.
Contact Customer Support by phone: 559-70-BOOKS (i.e., 559-702-6657)
(Our phone lines are staffed 9am to 5pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday. If one of our support representatives doesn't answer your call immediately, please leave a voicemail and we'll call you back as soon as we can.)
Textbook Center FAQ
General
What is the Koofers Textbook Center?
The Textbook Center is the newest addition to Koofers' suite of free offerings for the academic community. Through the Textbook Center, you can shop for the best deals on your textbooks from national vendors, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eCampus, Textbooks.com, Chegg, Bookrenter.com and others. The Textbook Center allows you to find the best prices on both New and Used books and even has Rental options.
Why is Koofers selling textbooks?
Koofers helps students find the cheapest textbooks available for them by comparing prices from our network of well-established, trusted book retailers. Koofers does not sell textbooks directly. Instead, we help students connect with retailers who provide high quality textbooks at the lowest price. Our goal is to save our users time and money through this process.
Can I trust Koofers with a purchase like this?
Yes. Our network of book retailers includes only well-established and prominent vendors. Koofers does not have access to any payment or billing information you provide to these vendors. You purchase your books directly from the retailer.
Do I have to provide Koofers with my credit card or payment information?
No. Koofers does not receive or have access to any of your payment or billing information. You purchase your books directly from the retailer.
Can I SELL my used textbooks through Koofers?
Not yet. But we're working on it - Check back at the end of the semester!
Buying Books Online
How much money will I save by buying my books through Koofers?
Online prices are generally significantly less than the textbook prices you see in your local bookstore. Sometimes, students can save hundreds of dollars by buying or renting their textbooks online. The exact amount of your savings will depend upon how many books you buy and which online vendor you select. But the total savings should be considerable.
If I buy my books online, how quickly will they arrive?
Usually, within a matter of days. Online vendors realize that students need their textbooks quickly, so they process your order as fast as they can. And most vendors offer several shipping options, so you can control how quickly you get your books. Most vendors even offer overnight delivery if you really need your books in a hurry.
Will I have to pay for shipping?
It depends on the vendor you select and how quickly you want to receive your books. Several vendors provide free shipping options. And some others allow you to pay for rush delivery. You must check the shipping options available from the vendor you select.
How do I track the shipment of my books?
Each of the vendors available through the Textbook Center provides a tracking mechanism so that you can track the shipment of your order.
What if I have a problem with my purchase?
Purchases are made directly with the retailer you select, so your best choice for support will be to contact the retailer directly. If you have further questions, or are unsatisfied with the level of service you receive from your retailer, please contact us at: support@koofers.com or by calling us: 559-70-BOOKS. (559-702-6657) and we will be happy to assist you as much as we can.
Can I return books that I buy online?
Yes. Most online vendors have a process for returning books that you purchase, subject to certain restrictions. Check the return policy of the vendor you select.
Some of my books aren't carried by any of the online vendors, how come?
There are several reasons why a vendor might not have one or more of your books. First, not all vendors carry all textbooks. If the textbook you're looking for is uncommon, a vendor may choose not to carry it. Or, alternatively, even if a vendor carries a book you want, the vendor might currently be out of stock on that item. Another possibility is that your instructor may be using a custom book packet for your class - and, unfortunately, custom book packets are generally only sold through the local bookstore at your school.
What is textbook "renting"?
"Renting" a textbook is similar to renting an apartment. You get to use the textbook for a semester or quarter. At the end of the semester or quarter, you will receive shipping materials and/or instructions from the company to send your books back to them. Very Simple! "Renting" textbooks is generally a LOT less expensive than "buying" textbooks.
If I rent - how do I return my books at the end of the semester/quarter?
The rental vendors will generally provide you with shipping materials and/or instructions to help you ship the textbooks back when the semester ends. Rental vendors make this process simple and easy.
Product
When I click on the "BUY" or "RENT" button in the Textbook Center, am I committing to a purchase?
No. The BUY or RENT button will direct you to the vendor site that you have selected and should populate the shopping cart on that site with your textbooks. However, once you arrive on the vendor's site, you will still have the opportunity to review your purchase before making any commitment. To complete your purchase, you will need to provide payment and shipping information to that vendor. Or, if you choose not to proceed with that vendor, you can always return to the Koofers Textbook Center and choose another vendor instead.
What are "Quick Add Books"?
Normally, when you use the Textbook Center, you first identify the classes you are taking in the upcoming semester and then identify the books you need for those classes. However, if you wish to (i) skip the process of entering your classes, or (ii) add a book to your purchase that isn't related to one of your classes, you can use the "Quick Add Books" feature. The Quick Add Books feature enables you to quickly add any book (using an ISBN number or book Title) to the set of books that you are shopping for. It's very fast and convenient. Try it out.
What if I don't have the ISBN number for my book?
If you don't have the ISBN number for a book you need, you can search for that book by its Title using the book lookup feature within the Textbook Center. Please remember that many textbooks can have similar titles, so take care to confirm that you've found the right book for your class before you buy or rent it. Wherever possible, it's always best to confirm that you have found the right book by checking its ISBN number. Most instructors provide the ISBN numbers for required textbooks in the class syllabus.
I cannot find my book when I search using the "Quick Add Book" function - now what?
The Quick Add Books search feature accesses a vast listing of available textbooks. It should recognize any valid ISBN number. If you're searching by Title, but having trouble finding your book, we strongly recommend you search by the ISBN number instead. If you're searching by ISBN and still having trouble, please double-check the ISBN number to make sure it is correct.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Contact us at: support@koofers.com or by calling us: 559-70-BOOKS. ( 559-702-6657) and we will be happy to assist you as much as we can.
