Students in large lectures may think their professor is not concerned about them.

But students in Psychology 333 found the opposite to be true.

Professor Gary Phye, who has been teaching the course for several years, learned from his students that their books cost about $20 more than the price he was quoted from Prentice Hall, the book’s publisher.

Phye decided to investigate. “I owed it to my students to at least make an effort,” he said.

Phye called and e-mailed the Prentice Hall representative to ask why his students paid $61, instead of the $39 price quote.

Apparently, the publishing company quoted Phye the retail price, not the student price that he requested.

Although he was sympathetic to the misunderstanding, Phye said he was still disappointed. “I was very much disturbed because I thought the students were being used,” he said.

As a result, Phye told Prentice Hall officials that he would consider not using their textbooks in the future. That was enough.

Soon Phye was notified by Prentice Hall that his students would be refunded the difference between the book’s actual price and the price he was quoted.

Phye said he believes that many students think their teachers do not care, but, he said, “A lot of times, we do care.”