We have an exciting undergraduate Immediate Access update coming in Fall 2024.
What is Immediate Access ONE?
This is the next stage of the ISU Book Store's successful Immediate Access program. This is a digital-first, flat-rate course materials program launching Fall 2024 for all undergraduate students, designed to boost your success.
Immediate Access ONE provides a predictable cost of $259 per semester for all undergraduate students, regardless of your major. On the first day of classes of every semester, you can easily access and start using your required course materials by simply logging into your Canvas account.
ACCESSIBLE
- First-day access to required courseware and eBooks
- Digital Materials delivered directly through Canvas
- Prepared for learning to start on day one
COST-SAVING
- Fall/Spring Semester:
$259 per semester - Summer/Winter semester:
$69 per term - Covers all physical & digital books regardless of major
TIME-SAVING
- Auto-charged once at the beginning of the semester
- Saves hassle of multi-site price comparison
- Easy bookstore pickup for all print materials
PREDICTABLE
- Full transparency with no hidden charges
- Same cost for all undergraduate students
- Covers all required digital and physical textbooks
Unmatched Student Benefits
Retail Digital + Print | Immediate Access ONE | |
---|---|---|
Required Digital + Print Materials | ||
Fixed Price Per Semester | ||
All Required Materials | ||
Day-one Access | ||
Convenient Auto-pay | ||
ISU Book Store Support |
Student Speak
Frequently Asked Questions
Immediate Access ONE is a new program and it is natural to have questions about it. Check the frequently asked questions below to learn more about the program or use the "Question not listed" tab if your question is not present in the section below.
If your question isn't covered here, you need help, or want to learn more about the Immediate Access ONE program, please contact us at immediateaccess@iastate.edu.
Due to the University’s security protocol or content restrictions, some digital content may not be able to be included in Immediate Access ONE. To learn about what content is currently not able to be deployed through Immediate Access ONE, please view “What is included and not included in Immediate Access ONE?”
There is no signup necessary! When you sign up for undergraduate courses, you are automatically enrolled in Immediate Access ONE. The charge is sent directly to your U-Bill to pay for it as you would with your tuition and fees.
Any required books, eBooks, coursepackets, and lab manuals are included in Immediate Access ONE. Homework platforms (Connect, MyLab, Advantage, PackBack, etc.) and access codes are included, too.
What's not included:
Course supplies such as lab coats, goggles, art supplies, lab supplies, and certain access codes (TK20) are not included but can be purchased from the ISU Book Store. Lab Archives, a required digital content, is not able to be included in the flat rate and will be charged separately to the student’s U-Bill. Select Perusal content, Kindle eBooks without an ISBN, and Marvel Unlimited subscription will need to be purchased with a debit/credit card from the content provider. Optional materials are not included and can be purchased from the ISU Book Store.
Immediate Access ONE is for every undergraduate student. Regardless of major! All graduate-level courses will continue to utilize the Immediate Access Program or purchase print books.
If you are taking an undergraduate course and a graduate course, you will have required textbooks and expenses for Immediate Access ONE and the individual charges for the graduate course.
Your personal book list can be found in your Canvas account. You will be able to see which materials are digitally delivered and which ones you need to pick up at the ISU Book Store. Any course supplies or merchandise will also be listed as available for separate purchase. (see “What is included in Immediate Access ONE” for details).
All textbooks with a digital match will be delivered digitally through Canvas, unless requested otherwise by the instructor. Digital formats cost less, improve accessibility, convenient, and don't require students to source printed copies. Supplemental Immediate Access loose-leaf book may be available for some titles.
Not necessarily. Immediate Access ONE is a Digital-First course materials program. If a required course material isn't available digitally or the professor requests print, a printed copy will be provided.
To access your digital content/textbooks for any given course, log into the course page in your Canvas account.
1. Click on the “Immediate Access” link on the Canvas course navigation menu on the left side of your Canvas course page.
2. You should see a title card for all of your digital and physical titles that have been requested for the course.
3. You will receive an email with directions on how to access the digital content from Iowa State University Book Store (no-reply@verbasoftware.com).
Required print materials are available for pick-up at the Iowa State University Book Store located in the Memorial Union. You can also have them shipped from ISU Book Store (shipping charges apply).
Financial aid can be used to cover textbook expenses. Contact financialaid@iastate.edu for specific questions regarding your coverage.
Yes, you have the option to opt out of Immediate Access ONE via Canvas within the first 10 days from the start of classes. If you opt out during this period, you will receive a refund. If you change your mind, you can also re-enroll in Immediate Access ONE via Canvas within the first 10 days of classes.
You will be opting out of Immediate Access ONE for ALL your classes, not on a class-by-class basis. Opting out of Immediate Access ONE does NOT drop you from your classes.
If you opt out of Immediate Access ONE, you will be able to purchase your required books individually either from the ISU Book Store or from the retailer of your choice. You are not automatically enrolled in any digital materials.
If you're taking a course that requires courseware (such as McGraw Hill Connect) to do homework or take tests/quizzes, check with your instructor to see if the courseware is mandatory. Courseware is included in Immediate Access ONE’s flat rate. However, students who choose to opt out of Immediate Access ONE will lose access after the opt-out date and will need to buy the required courseware another way. Buying courseware directly from the publisher may cost more and can’t be charged to the U-Bill, so please weigh that when deciding whether to opt out of Immediate Access ONE.
To Opt Out:
The flat rate of $259 for Immediate Access ONE will be credited to your U-Bill account within 7 to 10 business days of successfully opting out.
Take a look at your book list, which also features the online price comparison tool. Both print and digital requirements will be available for individual purchase. After you checkout, digital items will be emailed to you with activation instructions. Print textbooks can be picked up in store or shipped.
Yes, During the first 10 days of classes, you are free to drop and add Immediate Access ONE as many times as you like. After that time, you will need to contact immediateaccess@iastate.edu.
We understand that every student has different learning and study techniques. If you feel that you would rather have physical than digital materials, you can opt-out of Immediate Access ONE (see "Can I opt-out of Immediate Access ONE"). You can then purchase physical copies of your books on your own. CAUTION: Some materials can only to delivered digitally and do NOT have a physical version. If you are unsure if a material has a physical format, please contact immediateaccess@iastate.edu.
Digital items are automatically activated and deactivated in your Canvas account as you change courses. Approximately 24 hours of your course change, you will gain/lose access to those textbooks.
Print textbooks will need to be returned for dropped courses to the ISU Book Store to avoid being charged a replacement cost. For added courses, review your course material requirements in Canvas to see if you need to pick up a print book from the ISU Book Store.
Most eBooks that students read in VitalSource Bookshelf can be downloaded to a device and read after the term is over by using the free Bookshelf app. eBooks that are part of a homework platform or courseware are only usable for the semester they were primarily provided unless otherwise noted, access to these materials expires once the term is over. Students keep any print materials they receive. Students can sell these books back to the ISU Book Store for Textbook BuyBack.
If you received an email stating that you have a print book to return to the ISU Book Store is because of one of the following reasons:
1. If you dropped the class that required a print book or opted out of Immediate Access ONE, you need to return any printed materials provided.
2. The instructor has made a change to the material for the course. The instructor may have changed editions or the digital version is being used instead.
Immediate Access ONE only covers the most current requested material and format. So if you are issued a material that is later changed, the material you were issued must be returned. If you do not return the book before the return date or the book is returned damaged, a fee will be charged to your U-Bill to replace the print book.
If you do not pick up the printed books/materials assigned to you, they will be forfeited and returned. To find what book(s) you need to return, please read through the email sent to you and review each material to find the Print Material Status:
You will continue to work with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS). If you have questions about accessibility and using digital content or need an academic accommodation, please contact the SAS for assistance.
If you are listed in the “Student” role in Canvas, then you will have access to the Immediate Access ONE course materials and will be charged. If you wish to audit a course and not pay for the materials your professor will need to list, you as an “Instructor” in Canvas.
If you are enrolled in a course does not require any course materials and doesn’t utilize Canvas, you will get an email from Iowa State University Book Store no-reply@verbasoftware.com on how to opt out (make sure to check your Junk folder as well!). In this email is a link you can click on to confirm you are opting out of the Immediate Access ONE program. However, if you are enrolled in at least one course that requires course materials, you will see an opt out button on the Canvas course you can click on to opt out. It is up to you to decide whether to optout of Immediate Access ONE or not.
All Immediate Access ONE communications to students are listed below for reference: