Concordia College is proud to announce the launch of its new Equitable Access Course Materials Program called ACHIEVE. In partnership with eCampus.com, a leading provider of higher education technology solutions, the program will provide all students with access to all required course materials for one affordable fee per semester.
This innovative program is part of Concordia’s ongoing commitment to reduce the financial barriers that many students face when purchasing course materials. Under the program, all undergraduate students will pay the same low-cost fee, making it possible to significantly reduce course material expenses.
Students will automatically receive all required course materials, including textbooks and digital content, according to their class schedules, on or before the first day of class. Textbooks are delivered directly to campus for convenient pickup, with digital content automatically delivered through Concordia’s learning management system or eCampus.com’s personalized digital bookshelf.
"We are thrilled to add another tool that sets our students up for success,” said PJ Hines ’90, director of the Concordia College bookstore. “By collaborating with eCampus, students will have all the course materials they need right away and without any sticker shock. The affordability and convenience factors fall right in line with how we want to provide for our students.”
In addition to addressing the rising costs of education, the ACHIEVE equitable access solution also supports academic success and retention by ensuring students have the necessary learning tools to improve outcomes. As an all-inclusive course materials model, faculty are encouraged to seek out best-fit content while also considering the benefits of open educational resources (OER) content and other low-cost alternatives.
Concordia students will have the option to opt-out of the program if desired. eCampus.com will support opt-out students with an individual student purchase model. Students have also been given an extended time period to return materials if they decide to drop a course.
“That will give our students an opportunity to try a course without the burden of additional textbook costs,” Hines said.
"eCampus.com is excited to partner with Concordia College on this innovative program and to support its commitment to equity and opportunity in the classroom for all students," said Matt Montgomery, president and CEO of eCampus.com. "We believe that all students deserve access to affordable course materials on day one and applaud Concordia’s forward-thinking vision to level the academic playing field through an equitable access model.”
The ACHIEVE program begins in Fall 2023.