Faculty Frequently Asked Questions
Student / Faculty Instructions for Accessing Digital Materials
Faculty, using digital materials for your course?
Please Download and follow the Instructor’s Guide to Canvas (PDF) so your students will have access to digital content.
What instructions can I provide students about accessing digital course materials for my class(es)?
Please provide these suggested instructions on your syllabus or in class:
Student Instructions:
This course is part of the campus’ course material delivery program. The digital required materials for this course have been integrated with Canvas and can be found in the Course Materials link in your Canvas course. Please sign into Canvas to access your course and course materials.
For Technical Assistance with digital materials in Canvas
- Open a ticket online for the Customer Care Team
- Email the Customer Care Team
- Call the Customer Care Team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)
Program Information
What is ECU First Day?
ECU First Day is a course-material model offered by Barnes & Noble College (BNC), operating on campus as ECU Dowdy Student Stores. The bookstore will provide each undergraduate student with conveniently bundled course materials at a lower cost than traditionally purchased books.
The program ensures that students have access to required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbooks prior to the first day of class. Physical books provided to students on a rental basis, and access to digital material is directly within Canvas. The cost is $20 per credit hour, which is billed to their student account.
Is this program for all ECU students?
No. Only undergraduate students will participate in the program, with some exceptions.
Students excluded from the program include the following:
- Students enrolled in only 0-credit-hour courses
- Students who have not returned ECU First Day materials from previous semesters
- Some part-time online students, such as Project Kitty Hawk or microcredential-course participants
- Summer session students
- Graduate, certificate-only and doctoral students
How do students participate in the program?
An email is sent to students approximately 30 days before the first day of classes. The email will be personalized with their schedule and course materials. This will allow students to decide if the program benefits them. ECU First Day covers all courses in a semester, so students with few or no books may prefer to opt out.
Students are provided with a link to make their selection within a window of time. For fall 2024, it is July 15–August 27. They can also find a link on ECU First Day website. They must go to the website and make their selection of pickup, shipping, or opt out of the program, either using the link on the web page or via their email.
How can we be sure that this will lower textbook costs for our students?
Barnes and Noble College is committed to lowering the costs of course materials to our students, and with their integrated supply chain and economies of scale, the ECU First Day program offers an average 35-50% reduction of textbook costs for students who enroll in courses with textbooks. ECU First Day program brings a new, convenient way to provide an innovative and affordable solution for students.
How does BNC ensure that students are getting their required course materials?
Approximately one month before classes start, students will receive an email instructing them to select their fulfillment preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly). A second email notification will be sent when the student’s order is ready for pickup or when it ships. Any digital materials delivered via Canvas will be available when the student has access to their course.
What is included in the program?
The program provides the faculty-selected version of required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital materials to eligible students.
What is excluded from the program?
- The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned and reused
- Reference books
- Supplies such as calculators, art supplies, goggles and lab coats
- Books identified by faculty as “recommended”
- Some books that are used for a series of courses over multiple semesters, such as some nursing textbooks for first year, second year, etc.
Faculty Role in Program
How can I contribute to the success of the program?
Faculty contribute to the program’s success by submitting their course material selections into the bookstore before the adoption deadline each semester. If there is no textbook required, please indicate this in the bookstore’s adoption system. You should provide the course material needs for each class you are assigned.
Will I have to change the course materials currently being used?
No. There are no restrictions to the course materials you select for your course. Required course materials from any publisher, in your preferred format are included in the program.
Why not work directly with publishers?
Publishers do not have the ability to provide all the different formats of content that faculty request at the lowest price possible.
What happens if I need to change my course material adoption?
If a faculty member changes their course material adoption, faculty should notify the bookstore of the new adoption as soon as possible and the store will ensure that students receive the corrected course materials.
What if my teaching assignment changes (e.g., I was scheduled to teach one course but later assigned to another)?
The bookstore is committed to helping as they normally do in those situations. The store will work to update the textbook adoption platform with the new materials as soon as possible.
If I adopt Open Education Resources (OER) or don’t require a textbook, what is my role in the course adoption process, and do my students still have to pay the fee?
Faculty must still complete the course adoption form and indicate no textbook required. Students will pay for the total number of credits taken in a semester, not by the number of courses utilizing the program. Students can select to opt out for all classes in their term. Students cannot select individual courses to participate in the program.
Questions My Students May Have
Will all my students have access to the digital materials for my course?
All students registered in the course will have access to the materials through the end of the opt-out window (for Fall 2024, this is August 27). After the opt-out window has closed, students who elected to opt-out will have their access to the digital content revoked by the publisher and will be prompted to provide an access code to continue using the digital content. This access code will need to be purchased by the student.
How do we ensure course materials in the ECU First Day program are accessible to students with accommodations?
The bookstore can accommodate students with accessibility needs by calling the store, 252-328-6731 or emailing first-day@ecu.edu.
Will students be able to keep their course materials once they have completed the course?
The program provides students with the option to purchase textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.
Getting Assistance
For General Questions
- Call Dowdy Student Stores, 252-737-1888 or 252-328-6731
- Email first-day@ecu.edu
- Visit Dowdy Student Stores, Main Campus Student Center
For Technical Assistance with digital materials in Canvas
- Open a ticket online for the Customer Care Team
- Email the Customer Care Team
- Call the Customer Care Team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)