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Villanova Textbook Access Program - Faculty FAQs

How It Works

As part of the Villanova Textbook Access Program, students will pay a standard, per semester “book fee” for required textbook materials for courses, including textbook digital access codes. The program fee is billed directly to students’ accounts. This allows every enrolled student access to all required textbook materials on or before the first day of class.

Once students have selected their courses, their course list will be sent to the Villanova University Shop. The University Shop will gather the required materials. Students must check their Villanova email for details on how to access their course materials for the term.  

All students are automatically enrolled in the Villanova Textbook Access Program and the fee is billed directly to their student account.

Students may opt-out or opt back in during the drop-add period. See the below FAQ titled “Is the program required or can I opt-out of the program” for more information on how to opt-out of the program.

Once the student registers for their courses, the bookstore will get everything ready for them. Students will receive confirmation emails sharing details on how to access digital materials in the learning management system. If the student has physical materials, the campus store will communicate with them when their materials are ready for pick up

Program Benefits and Costs

The book fee will be charged to the student’s account and will be repriced annually to help maximize savings. Fees for the 2024-25 academic year will be:

  • Undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credits—Summer, Fall and Spring fee: $275
  • Undergraduate students enrolled in less than 11 credits—Summer, Fall and Spring fee: $70
  • Graduate Students enrolled in 6 or more credits (excluding Law)—Summer, Fall and Spring fee: $100
  • Graduate Students enrolled in less than 6 credits (excluding Law)—Summer, Fall and Spring fee: $55

Students will have the opportunity to opt-out of the program each semester. Details on how to opt-out will be sent to enrolled students at their Villanova email address prior to the start of each semester. 

The Villanova Textbook Access Program offers many benefits to faculty, including:

  • Continued ability to freely choose course content
  • Ensuring students have the correct book edition and can begin teaching on day one. 
  • Students can begin homework assignments on day one of class.
  • Ability to deliver digital materials directly in Blackboard. 

This program offers many benefits to students, including:

  • 20-60% lower than equivalent pricing for course materials.
  • Deferred student billing direct to student accounts. 
  • Course materials available day one. 
  • Digital platforms offer key features such as highlighting, flash cards and note-sharing.
  • Ease of finding and purchasing the correct course materials.

Yes. Students can save between 20-60% based on savings at other schools and thanks to the campus store relationships with publishing partners and bulk purchasing power. The program also streamlines the student purchasing process and provides a method to easily access, manage and use all course materials regardless of format or cost.

Materials

Depending on their classes and the course materials required by the faculty, students may receive a combination of digital course materials, printed textbooks, printed lab manual or workbooks. 

Required materials are supplied at the beginning of each term. The materials will be accessible on or before the first day of class. Students should continue to check their Villanova email for a message from noreply@follett.com before the start of each term.

Can I have my printed learning materials shipped to me?

The University Shop will ship printed materials to students enrolled in online courses. Students enrolled in on-campus or hybrid courses who need materials shipped can email the Villanova University Shop with their request for shipping. Otherwise, they must pick up their physical materials from the University Shop. 

Students may keep printed materials at the end of each term. Digital materials can be accessed for a minimum of 180 days and may be available longer based on the material adopted and the publisher's terms. 

Print or digital format is determined based on the adopted material for the specific course prior to the start of class.

Most digital copies will have a print allowance for students to print on their own (the percentage varies by publisher). The major publishers, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, Cengage, etc, offer low-cost print versions that can be ordered directly from the publisher, or that the bookstore can special order on the students' behalf in the instances where a student would need to purchase using scholarship funds or NovaBucks.

If a student has a qualified disability requiring print versions or other accommodations, they should contact Learning Support Services or the Office of Disability Services.  If the accommodation requires a print version, then the bookstore will be notified by one of these offices and the student will receive printed materials.  If there are other accommodations for the materials, these offices will assist in getting those.

Only textbook materials identified by the faculty member as “required” are included in the Villanova Textbook Access Program. All “recommended” materials will be available for purchase separately at the Villanova University Shop.

Opting-Out

While all students are automatically enrolled in the program, they may choose to opt-out. Students must take action to opt-out of the program and are then responsible for finding/purchasing their materials independently. 

Students can opt out of the Villanova Textbook Access Program at the start of each semester. Students should check their Villanova email for information on how to login to the Opt-Out Portal and review the process and specific deadlines. The email will come from noreply@follett.com, so you may need to check spam or junk folders.

Students should email the Villanova University Shop for all other questions and additional information about opting out

Students may opt-out of the program during specified periods. Students should check their Villanova email shortly before a new term begins for additional information on how to opt-out. 

For the Fall 2024 semester, the opt-out portal will open on July 25, 2024, and will close on September 3, 2024. Students must opt out by September 3, 2024–exceptions will not be made after the deadline

If the opt-out period has not ended, students may opt back in by going to the opt-out portal and choosing “Opt-In.” Students will receive a link to the opt-out portal at their Villanova email prior to the start of each term. 

Students who wish to shop outside the Textbook Access Program will need to use the search bar at the top of the University Shop website instead of searching by course or ID number. Searching by course or ID number will only display Textbook Access Program details and not individual pricing for books.

University Shop homepage screenshot with search bar outlined in red.

When students opt out, the charges will be removed from their V-Bill within 7-10 business days.

When attempting to opt out, if students see a message like the screenshot below, it means they have physical books associated with their account that need to be returned before they can opt-out. Students need to return the book to the University Shop, or if they have not yet picked up their book(s) they will need to contact by email for assistance.

Screenshot of an error message a student receives when they need to return physical books to the University Shop.

Adding/Dropping/Incomplete Courses

If a student adds or drops a course, that information is automatically transmitted to the bookstore.

  • Added courses: Within 24 hours of adding a course, students will receive an email at their Villanova email address with details to access their digital materials and/or materials are provisioned directly into Blackboard. For printed materials, students will receive an email at their Villanova email address letting them know when the new print materials are ready for pick-up.
  • Dropped courses: For courses dropped prior to the last day to drop/add/opt-out deadline, access to electronic or digital materials will be automatically disabled. Printed materials must be returned to the campus bookstore. 

If that course includes printed material, that material can be kept by the student. If that course includes digital material, the length of access is dependent on those specific materials. Please email the Villanova University Shop for details. 

Please email the Villanova University Shop team with any additional questions.