Frequently Asked Questions

Accessing Your ECU First Day Materials

What is the ECU First Day program?

ECU First Day is part of the First Day^® Complete textbook and course material rental program offered by Barnes & Noble College (BNC), operated on campus as ECU Dowdy Student Stores. 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 are conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and access to digital material is directly within the Canvas platform.

The cost is $20 per credit hour, which is billed to students’ accounts. This is seen on the billing statement for the semester. Students have a window of opportunity to select delivery method for physical books or to opt out of the program if desired. ECU First Day covers all courses in a semester, so students with few or no books may prefer to opt out.

How does the program work?

Approximately 30 days before classes start, you will receive an email to your ECU email address outlining your schedule and course materials, and requesting your delivery preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you). A time period is designated for you to decide if the program benefits you. During this time you must indicate your delivery preference or opt out of the program.

Participants will receive a confirmation email when the order of any physical books is ready for pickup or when it ships. Digital materials will be delivered within Canvas and will be accessible when the instructor opens the Canvas course.

Students who register for courses late will still be automatically enrolled in the program and will receive email notifications after registering for courses.

Who has access to ECU First Day materials?

Only undergraduate students will have access to ECU First Day.

Students excluded from the program include the following:

Graduate, certificate-only and doctoral students
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
IECHS Early College High School students
Exchange students and study abroad students
Summer session students

Students may opt out from the program beginning 30 days before the first day of class until two business days after the drop/add deadline for fall and spring semesters. (See the academic calendar.)

The spring 2025 deadline is January 22, 2025. Summer sessions are not included in the program.

What is included in the ECU First Day materials?

The program provides required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbooks.

What is NOT included in the ECU First Day materials?

Supply kits of any kind (e.g., drafting kits, dissection kits, art kits)
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.

See your personalized course materials list in your ECU email from Dowdy Student Stores.

What if my book is backordered?

You will be notified if a book is backordered, and when the book is available for pickup or shipping.

What happens if I drop or add a class and need different materials?

You will receive an email reminding you to return your materials if you drop a class. Materials must be returned by the posted return deadline. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, you will receive an email reminding you to confirm your course materials for the newly added course and to return the material(s) for the course you dropped. The bookstore will exchange the required textbooks and/or access codes.

How do I change my opt-out status?

To change your opt-out status and opt into the ECU First Day program, visit the First Day website during the selection window, or follow the instructions found in your opt-out confirmation email. Please note that you must make your final selection by two business days following the official drop/add date.

The spring 2025 deadline is January 22, 2025.

Ordering and Payment

What is the cost of the ECU First Day materials?

The charge for ECU First Day is $20 per credit hour enrolled. For example, if you are enrolled in 15 credit hours, you can expect to pay $300 for all course materials, typically saving an average of 35% to 50%.

The course materials charge is billed to your ECU student account. Spring 2025 statements will begin posting November 18, 2024.

Financial aid may be used to cover some or all of the cost of course materials, when applicable. If you are enrolled in courses with few or no required materials, please review whether the program presents a cost savings to you. If it does not, consider opting out for the semester. You cannot opt out of individual courses.

Examples of Savings

Discipline	Dept	Course	Credit Hours	Regular Bookstore Price	ECU First Day Price	Savings
Accounting	ACCT	2401	3	$137	$60	$77
Mathematics	MATH	45	3	$107	$60	$47
Health	HLTH	1000	2	$89	$40	$49
Kinesiology	KINE	1000	3	$75	$60	$15
Spanish	SPAN	1001	3	$187	$60	$127
Management Information Systems	MIS	3063	3	$214	$60	$154
Total				$809	$340	$469

How can I view the retail cost of my required textbooks?

Visit ECU Dowdy Student Stores’ Check Retail Prices page and use the drop-down menu to see the retail price of your materials.

Under the “Term” field, select the semester with the semester name and “OPT OUT” label. Select the department, course number and section you are enrolled in. Then select “Retrieve Materials” to display your course materials with the listed retail prices for the available course material formats.

If my instructor/course requires low-cost or Open Educational Resources (OER) materials or doesn’t require a textbook, do I still have to pay the ECU First Day materials fee?

Yes. If you wish to remain in the program for your other courses, you must pay the ECU First Day fee for all courses you are enrolled in for the semester. However, if you decide to opt out of the program, the fee will be removed from your student account, and you will be responsible for purchasing or obtaining your course materials.

How do I opt out of the ECU First Day materials?

ECU First Day may yield significant benefits for most students.

However, students may opt out within a window of time beginning 30 days before the start of classes through two business days after the official drop/add date.

Please note that when opting out of the program, you will be opting out of all courses for the semester. You may not opt out on a course-by-course basis. It will be up to each student to evaluate their required course materials and determine whether remaining in or opting out of ECU First Day is financially beneficial.

You can opt back in if desired, by visiting the link in your opt-out confirmation email or by using the link above, as long as it’s before the opt-out deadline.

If you opt out of ECU First Day, you will lose access to the digital materials and any physical materials covered by the program. You will be responsible for purchasing your course materials separately through Dowdy Student Stores or elsewhere.

Once the opt-out period begins, you may opt out of ECU First Day online. You will log in with your ECU Pirate ID credentials.
Select “I want to opt out” at the bottom of the page.
A pop-up will appear. Select “I want to opt out.”
Please enter a reason for opting out, and select “Submit.”
A confirmation screen will appear.

Please allow a few business days for the course materials charge to be removed from your student account.

How do I purchase materials if I opt out of the program?

Students are responsible for purchasing required course materials through any bookseller.

If students opt out, access to digital course materials available within Canvas will be removed and students are responsible for purchasing required course materials unless the students select to opt back in before the identified deadline.

To purchase materials online through Dowdy Student Stores, follow the bookstore link.

Select “Course Materials & Textbooks” from the top navigation.
From the dropdown, “Find Course Materials” you will use the form to select your courses. Under “Term” select “Spring 2025 Opt Out” for each course.
Using the “Retrieve Materials” button your course materials will be displayed including the cost.
You can select your materials and complete your purchase.

How do textbook rentals work under this program?

ECU First Day is part of a textbook and course material rental program. Students will receive email reminders with deadlines for returning their textbooks. Make a note of this date to avoid penalties! Students will have the option to buy their rented textbook at a reduced price at the end of the semester.

What happens if I never verify my order?

Students will receive emails from the bookstore to remind them to verify their order. If a student does not opt out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

If I never pick up my books, will I still get charged?

Yes. If the student does not opt out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

Will my financial aid cover my course materials through this program?

Financial aid can be used to cover all institutional charges including the ECU First Day book charges.

Can I keep my course materials?

You will have the option to purchase your materials for a reduced rate at the end of the semester. Barnes & Noble College will email students prior to the end of the semester to remind them when books are due back. Pricing to purchase materials at the end of the semester will also be included in these communications.

When and where can I pick up my course materials?

You will be sent a confirmation email when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships. If you selected pickup, the email will contain the dates and hours at ECU Dowdy Student Stores, located in the Main Campus Student Center.

Your digital materials will be delivered within Canvas and will be accessible when your instructor opens the Canvas course.