As AUIers use their cash wallets for all the transactions on campus, the book fees adjustment is usually students’ last hope to prevent being penniless by the end of each semester. However, exclusively in Fall 2020, the books’ adjustment process took a longer time than usual to be completed. Even worse, it involved multiple issues that engendered confusion within the community.
The importance of books’ adjustment at AUI:
It is important to recall that the books’ adjustment is not just a simple procedure done at the Business Office; it means much more than that for most AUIers. Indeed, for the past weeks, a plethora of students raised questions regarding the timing of such a process. The Student Community Facebook group was flooded by the number of posts reflecting this concern. The main reason AUI students look forward to the books’ adjustments with such enthusiasm has to do with their budget management. A significant number of students plan their cash wallet budget consumption with book fees refund in mind.
Thanks to the book adjustments, I can now afford a real meal at Newrest 🙂
Chaymaa Chbouk
The price transparency in books’ adjustment
We need more transparency in book fees. The point of e-books is to mitigate the overpriced hard copies, but some of us were very shocked by the price of e-books for Fall 2020. Do we even use them?
Hicham Ouahbi
We argue that one of the major complaints about the books’ adjustment is the lack of transparency about the price of each book. Students didn’t receive any detailed report or bill stating the specifics of the purchased books. Therefore, students are still kept in the dark concerning an essential aspect of their finances. Moreover, since Fall 2019, students had high hopes regarding the transition from hard copies to e-books in the sense that this would lower their costs. However, their expectations were not completely fulfilled as many students were surprised by the unreasonable amounts of money that were deducted from their balance. Some even had to pay for books they did not use or access just because the system declared their courses.
With the delay that the Bookstore has taken with the process, the least they could do was to ensure that what goes in and goes out is accurate. With the current circumstances that we now live in, the last thing that I would accept is to be sent from the Bookstore to the business office on multiple occasions
Saad Elrhidani
The policies of the Bookstore and the Business Office have been there for the longest time; it is fair to question whether they are customer-friendly or not. Despite that books are rarely used in the classes, the prices are up to the sky–more than 1000dhs for one book in some cases. Students are not allowed to buy used copies from other students, though they still have the ability to use their siblings’ books. Above all, they’re not given transparent information about the money lost from their balance. Thus, these policies must be revised in a way that guarantees more freedom and reliability to students.
Finally, the book adjustment fees constitute a real financial asset for AUIers. These fees are sometimes the last resort for many when it comes to financing the rest of their semester. Understanding the process that it underwent is crucial for transparency and dialogue between both students and the administration. It would allow many to grasp where their money goes and the way it runs at the university.
