Bearcat Book Bundle

What is Bearcat Book Bundle?

This is what we are calling the new program wherein students may rent all of their coursebooks for the term for a flat $19 per credit hour. There is no fee for X credits.

Questions about book ordering on the faculty end

• What is included in the program?

  The program provides all required books, lab manuals, access codes and digital materials.

• What is excluded from the program?

  The program does not include consumables or non-book materials such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, art supplies, etc.

• Are coursepacks included?

  No. You should still provide students with PDFs of articles that you wish them to read on your course Canvas site.

• What about “suggested” books?

  Only required texts are included. Since students are charged a flat per-credit fee, it might be advantageous to require books rather than making them optional.

• Are there any limitations on what books I may order for my classes?

  You may order any in-print books, from any publisher, whether domestic or international. Out-of-print books may be possible, but Barnes & Noble cannot guarantee availability of a particular title or edition if it is out of print.

• Do I have to order E-texts?

  No: you may specify any available format for a book — hard-copy only, digitized only — or you may leave the choice up to individual students. Note that students who need digital copies of texts for accessibility reasons will be able to work with the bookstore to obtain what they need regardless of faculty choice.

• When do I have to place the book order for my classes?

  The same dates as usual—you will be notified by the bookstore when orders are due.

• What if I need to place a late order—even one after the beginning of the semester?

  The bookstore will work with you to make sure texts are available for your students. Ordering books late, though, may result in students not having their books on the first day of class, which is one of the advantages this program provides.

• What if I end up not using a book that I’ve ordered?

  Since students are charged a flat per-credit fee, this will not hurt them financially. They will still be responsible for returning the text at the end of the semester.

Questions about book acquisition on the student end

• What if students want the program for some of their classes, but not others?

  This will not be an option—it’s all or nothing, in any given semester.

• But what about classes that have no books, or use OER texts?

  Students will still be charged $19 per credit hour for all their (non-X, non-Y) classes, regardless of whether or not said classes use books. It thus behooves students to figure out whether this program will be advantageous for them in any given semester.

• So what if students don’t want this program? Is it opt-in, or opt-out?

  This is an opt-out program: students will have to pay attention to the multiple email reminders they receive, and notify Barnes & Noble that they do not want to participate at the beginning of each semester that they make that choice.

• What if they miss the emails? Are they still on the hook?

  Students will have up until the end of add/drop to opt out of the program if they don’t want it. You may remind your classes of the approaching deadline, if you so choose.

• How will students pay for their books?

  Students will have the book fee added to their term bill, which means they may apply their financial aid package directly to their book acquisition.

• How will students receive their books?

  Approximately one month before the start of the semester, students will be asked whether they wish to pick up their physical books in the bookstore on campus, or have them shipped to their homes. A second email notification will be sent when the student’s order is ready for pickup or when it ships. E-texts will be loaded directly to the relevant course’s Canvas site.

• What if students ignore the email and don’t specify a delivery mode?

  The default will be that students may pick up their already-bundled books at the bookstore once they arrive on campus.

• What if students change their schedules after they receive their books?

  Students will be responsible for returning any physical books they have received that they no longer need, and will be prompted by email to do so. If they do not do so within 48 hours of notification, they risk still being charged the $19 per credit hour for the dropped class. Students who are formally added to a course will receive an e-mail asking how they would like to receive their new books. Term bills will be adjusted accordingly.

• May students write in their books?

  Within limits, yes. The bookstore will use the same standards for determining acceptable condition of rental textbooks that it uses for determining condition of books sold back as used books. Too much damage, and students will be charged a replacement fee.

• What if students want to buy their books?

  Students may still choose to buy all their books for a given semester (or to rent them from other vendors). If they wish to buy an individual book they rented as part of this program, they will have the opportunity to do so at the end of the term.

• What about students who take incompletes, and need to hold onto a book to finish their coursework?

  Students with incompletes will be able to extend their book rentals, through the 4th week of the next semester, at no additional cost.

• How will this work for students with accommodations?

  The bookstore can accommodate students with accessibility needs.