Reviewing textbooks is an easy way for professors to find course material and make some extra money on the side, MSU officials say.
The university does not deal with North West Publishing, which has recently been criticized for its policy of contractually obligating professors to make the reviewed textbook mandatory for their classes.
But other publishing companies have engaged MSU professors to comment on its latest textbooks.
"Individual faculty are approached by a whole set of people to do critiques before they are written," said June Youatt, assistant provost for undergraduate education.
"There frequently is some payment."
But it is the professor who decides whether or not they will use the reviewed textbook in his or her classes.
"Faculty have the right to select any appropriate textbook - they are not restricted to a set of publishers," Youatt said.
On North West Publishing's Web site, it says professors who review books for the company have the choice when it comes to using the textbook in their classes, but those that do choose it as course material have a better chance of being selected.
"Publishers know that if a faculty member has never seen their book the faculty member is very unlikely to adopt it," said Charles Ballard, an MSU economics professor.
"When I do a review for one of these companies, it puts the book in the running, but it doesn't mean it will win."
Publishing companies often send free copies of new textbooks that some professors may find relevant for their classes.
But companies also can solicit professor's comments during the review process, Ballard said.
"I imagine a lot of faculty members have done a few of them," Ballard said.
The university does not have the exact number of faculty who have reviewed textbooks for outside publishing companies, said Bob Banks, assistant provost for academic human resources.
"The forms for all outside work are kept at the college level. We don't see them here," he said, adding department chairpersons are in charge of reviewing and approving outside work for pay requests.
University policy states a faculty member may only work an average of eight hours a week for outside work.
"It's a very standard practice," Banks said. "It allows faculty to give a contribution to their field of expertise."
But reviewing a textbook does not always mean a professor will be paid a large sum of money.
Ballard said he looked over an outline of a new book a few weeks ago, but was only paid $50 for his services.
"It's not like I'm going to quit my job and just do textbook reviews," he said.
Professors at other Michigan universities were offered thousands of dollars by North West Publishing to review entire textbooks and require them for classes.
"I've told publishers no hundreds of times," Ballard said. "Ultimately, I'm going to choose a book that's best for the students."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
