Beginning Fall 2017, Kennel Bookstore and academic publishers offered students and faculty the most up-to-date delivery of eBooks and adaptive learning platforms.

This is the first academic year for the “Immediate Access” pilot program, which includes nine Fresno State courses with approximately 1850 students enrolled. This direct digital distribution model saves time and money and makes course materials accessible from desktop, laptop and mobile devices prior to the first day of class.

Current partnerships with McGraw Hill and Pearson Education have resulted in a cost reduction of up to 70% off the price of a new print textbook with adaptive learning platforms. Students enrolled in Fall 2017 Immediate Access courses have saved a combined total of approximately $145,000 off the price of traditional course materials used in these classes.

In collaboration with University Accounting Services, the charge for Immediate Access is billed directly to the students’ Fresno State account prior to the class start date, but has an option available to opt out of the program and find their materials elsewhere. For faculty, the program offers academic freedom to choose when to use the program and gives control over what modules are activated for use. Additionally, Immediate Access allows faculty to facilitate learning beyond the classroom with interactive online assignments, multimedia presentations, virtual tutoring, dynamic studying and self-assessment tolls, professors can now have the most advanced educational tools available at their disposal.

The pilot will continue for Spring 2018.

Fresno State is the third CSU campus to offer this low cost textbook alternative with great success.