The Open & Affordable Education Committee (OAEC) is committed to fostering change in the current course materials environment by making it easier for instructors to find, evaluate, and adopt more affordable materials for their classes. In addition to supporting the use of OER, the OAEC is also proud to support Course Reserves, Immediate Access, and other options available for making your course more affordable for students.
What is Immediate Access ONE? | What is Course Reserves? | Learn More about Other Options
What is Immediate Access ONE?
Iowa State’s Immediate Access program is a collaborative program between the ISU Book Store, faculty, and publishers by negotiating a reduced rate for course materials that students are given access to on the first day of class. Immediate Access ONE goes one step further and provides a flat charge of $259 per semester for each undergraduate student to access their course materials. On the first day of classes of every semester, students can access required course materials by logging into their Canvas account.
How does Immediate Access ONE work?
After instructors select and submit adoption information for their required course materials, the materials will be made available for students through Canvas. To pay for this access, all undergraduate students' U-bills will be automatically charged $259 at the beginning of the semester, unless they opt out.
Note: Even if no course materials are required for a course or if a course is using free materials, it is still important to submit this information every semester to the Book Store so that the student booklist will show that your course has either no materials required or that it is using no-cost materials.
Can students still complete their homework and access if they opt out of Immediate Access ONE?
If a students' combined course material costs would be less than $259, they are recommended to opt out of the program and to purchase access to their required materials individually instead.
Students can purchase individual eBooks and courseware by selecting the Compare and Purchase option on the item in Canvas. Once they complete the purchase, digital activation instructions will be provided to them via email. Students can also purchase directly from their booklist on the ISU Book Store webpage.
Where can I find more Immediate Access information?
- Learn more: ISU Immediate Access ONE website
- Contact: ISU Book Store Immediate Access team, immediateaccess@iastate.edu
What is Course Reserves?
ISU Library’s Course Reserves service works with instructors to make available required course materials for current classes. Instructors work with Library staff to create course lists of these materials, the majority of which are available full-text or streaming online and can be accessed by students 24/7. This allows students to access online course lists and required materials easily.
Why should I consider Course Reserves?
Course Reserves offers flexible access to both online and physical reserves for students. If you need to ensure that your students have access to online articles, streaming videos, or just a physical copy of your textbook, Course Reserves is a great choice.
Where can I find Course Reserves?
- Learn more: Course Reserves overview
- Contact: University Library Course Reserves Department, ereserve@iastate.edu
Other Affordable Options
Your teaching materials don't have to be open educational resources to be affordable (or even free)! Check out the following options to see if one of them fits your teaching or learning needs best:
- Make a course packet of select readings and activities to replace a longer book list.
- Incorporate student-centered or student-created assessments in place of paid homework software. For examples, visit our Open Pedagogy page.
- Share a YouTube video or PhET simulation to build on other materials shared in class for free!