<%@ page import="org.jasig.portal.security.provider.*" %> <%@ page import="org.jasig.portal.security.*" %> <%@ page import="java.util.*" %> <%@ page import="com.pipeline.bom.Person_3" %> <%@ page import="com.pipeline.bom.PersonManager_3" %> <%@ page import="com.pipeline.bom.BomManagerFactory" %> <%@ page import="com.pipeline.web.WebUtil" %> <%@ page import="java.net.*" %> <% //Check to see if this is the Google search appliance String googleApplianceAgent="gsa-crawler"; String userAgent = request.getHeader("User-Agent"); //index will be greater than 0 if the GSA is detected int index=userAgent.indexOf(googleApplianceAgent); //pass-through authentication ------------------------------------------------------ if (index < 0){ //if this is not the Google search appliance String username = ""; try{ SimplePersonManager doriPerson = new SimplePersonManager(); IPerson i = doriPerson.getPerson(request); String uid = (String)i.getAttribute("urn:sungardhe:dir:loginId"); //out.println(uid); username = uid; }catch (java.lang.NullPointerException e){ //user not logged in - redirect to login String theRedirectURL = "/cp/home/displaylogin?goto=" + URLEncoder.encode(request.getRequestURL().toString().replace("http://", "https://")); %> <% }catch (Exception e){ out.println("Error: " + e); } } //END pass-through authentication ------------------------------------------------------ %>
<% //put content in school frame if this is not the Google search appliance if (index < 0){ %> <% } %>

Leadership Student Resource Center

Textbooks and Pre-week Assignments


5 weeks before the official course start date, you will gain access to a Blackboard course site named “PRE-WEEK ASSIGNMENT/TEXTBOOK LISTING FOR SLPA”. Here, you can view course textbook requirements and tips to purchase your books.

3 weeks before the official course start date, the “PRE-WEEK ASSIGNMENT/TEXTBOOK LISTING FOR SLPA” Blackboard site will be updated with mini-syllabi that provide *pre-week assignments.

To Access Your Information:

  1. Login to Blackboard using your MultiPass credentials
  2. Select the "Courses" tab
  3. Select "Pre-Week Assignment/Textbook Listing for SLPA".
  4. Select "Book Lists" (left-hand menu) to access textbook requirements
  5. Select "Textbooks & Mini-Syllabi" (left-hand menu) to access pre-week assignments.
    Note: Be sure to choose the correct course prefix, course number, and section number for the course(s) you are registered. If you are unsure, contact your academic advisor.

For illustrated instructions, view “Textbook Requirements and Mini-Syllabi”.

*Note: The pre-week period for online courses usually begins on the Monday preceding the course start date (unless there is a holiday on that day). Online course sites are made available to students at 4:30PM Eastern at the start of the pre-week. You are expected to log in to your course site during the pre-week period.

Before Making Textbook Purchases:

  • Verify all required textbook information, including the ISBN number, author, and edition by cross-checking it with the information found in the “PRE-WEEK ASSIGNMENT/TEXTBOOK LISTING FOR SLPA” Blackboard site.
  • Pay attention to estimated shipping times. If a book is on back-order and not currently in stock with a vendor, you should to consider other purchasing options. Early success in your course(s) can be affected by the date by which you receive your books. Students are expected to have their books prior to the start of the pre-week period.

Order your Books through The Duquesne Barnes & Noble Online Bookstore

The Duquesne Barnes & Noble Bookstore is the official textbook vendor for Duquesne University courses. You are not required to purchase your books through this book seller, however most students choose this option. You can visit the book store on campus, or order online by following these instructions:

  1. Visit the Duquesne Barnes & Noble Bookstore website
  2. Term - Leadership term (e.g. Leadership Fall 12)
  3. Department - 4 letter prefix of the class (e.g. MLLS, CLDR, PLGL, etc.)
  4. Course - 3 digit number following the department letters
  5. Section - 2 digit number following the course number (e.g. 55-5) (The -5 designates that it is a Term 5 course)
  6. Add Course button
    (repeat steps 1-5 to add books for additional courses)
  7. View Textbook List button
  8. Follow the prompts to order your books for the desired section or sections

Other Purchase Options

In most cases, you are able to purchase books from your vendor of choice. SwoopThat combs the internet and displays prices for new, used, and rental books from a variety of vendors.

Ebooks Available Through Gumberg Library

Gumberg Library owns or subscribes to over 100,000 electronic books, and all are available online. Some books can even be downloaded temporarily to your mobile device, although licensing agreements vary by distributor. Most ebooks will be displayed when you conduct a regular search using DuCat (the link above); a URL to the book will appear in the item's catalog record. You can search the full text (i.e., using keywords, subject terms or exact phrases) in over 70,000 ebooks in the ebrary database. EBSCOhost's ebook collection is also robust. A smaller number of ebooks are available through the Gale Virtual Reference Library; many of them pertain to topics in business, leadership and management. The Sage E-Reference collection has many encyclopedias available in electronic format, and the Oxford Handbooks Online collection contains numerous e-titles in the Business & Management category. To search for ebooks in all Gumberg collections, use the Guided Search option in DuCat - then select one of the "electronic book" options from the "Media Type" drop-down menu.

Books Available in the Public Domain

Many older, classic works are in the public domain and may be available for free through a site such as ibiblio or collections such as Project Gutenberg, The Internet Public Library, The Universal Digital Library, Online Books, Eldritch Press, FullBooks.com, or questia, etc.

Book Rental

Several vendors now offer textbook rental (in digital and/or hard copy format). When choosing this option, be sure to verify when access privileges expire (digital rentals), or when you must return materials by (hard copy rentals). Popular vendors for the rental of textbooks include Amazon Textbook Rental (digital format), Barnes & Noble Textbooks (digital format), Chegg (hard copy rental), and Campus Book Rentals (hard copy rental). Many Publishing companies also offer rental options as well. These vendors have been listed for your convenience. Duquesne University and The School of Leadership and Professional Advancement do not endorse any of these vendors. When making a purchase use caution. Check ISBN and edition numbers to ensure that you are ordering the appropriate materials as assigned in your course(s).

Lending Library

If you live in Pittsburgh, you are welcome to stop by the SLPA office (210 Rockwell Hall) and borrow books from our lending library. The lending library is operated by SLPA students. Students place their used books in the library and borrow books placed in the library by other students.