Fall course materials available through ECU First Day

Published Jun 20, 2024 by

Crystal Baity

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East Carolina University is introducing a new textbook and course material program designed to save undergraduate students time and money this fall.

Students listen during a literature class in Bate Building. (Photo by Rhett Butler)

ECU First Day is offered by Barnes & Noble College and operated on campus by Dowdy Student Stores. The program will ensure that eligible undergraduates will have required physical textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbooks by the first day of class Aug. 19.

Graduate, certificate-only and doctoral students as well as part-time online and summer session students are excluded from the program. Additional information and exclusions can be found on the website’s FAQ.

Students who are eligible will be automatically enrolled in the program during class registration. Accounts will be charged $20 per credit hour. For example, students who are enrolled in 15 credit hours can expect to pay $300 for all course materials, saving an average of 35-50% off the regular cost at the student store.

Students who have an internship, classes without books or free course materials should review cost savings information on the First Day website to determine if they want to stay in the program or opt out. Students will receive an email and must respond to confirm enrollment or opt out between July 15 and Aug. 27 for the upcoming semester. Students will be required to take action by two business days following the official drop/add date.

Participants will receive an email when their course materials are ready for pickup at Dowdy Student Stores or when shipped. Digital materials will be delivered through Canvas.

The ECU First Day website also has an FAQ for faculty and staff. Additional questions can be emailed to first-day@ecu.edu.