Yes, for certain materials. Many of the digital textbooks in Bookshelf may be downloaded to a device and read after the term is over by using the Bookshelf app. Digital textbooks that are a part of a homework manager or courseware are only usable for the quarter during which they were originally provided; unless otherwise noted, access to these materials expires once the term is over.

You may also keep any physical textbooks you receive under Equitable Access so long as you stay enrolled in the program and the course. If you opt out of Equitable Access or drop the course, you’ll need to return the books.

1. You can opt yourself out of Equitable Access by visiting the Equitable Access Program page or by using the link on the left side of the screen in the “Announcements” section on your MyBill student accounting page.
2. View your course materials and if you wish to opt out click the button on the top right side of the screen.
3. Confirm your selection.
4. Once you have opted out you will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] stating your opt out has been received and your refund will be processed.

From the time you get your quarterly bill until the day it's due, you can opt yourself out of Equitable Access using the link on the left side of the screen in the “Announcements” section on your MyBill student accounting page. Doing so by this deadline will add a credit to your student account before it is due. If you miss this date (the day your bill is due), you can still opt yourself out of Equitable Access using the link on the left side of the screen in the “Announcements” section on your MyBill student accounting page up until the Sunday before classes start. In this instance, you are required to pay the Equitable Access fee but will receive a $169 credit in your student account (called BKST Equitable Access Wavier) within two to five business days. As per Student Accounting’s policy, any credit on your account will be dispersed at the end of the month.

If you would like to opt out of Equitable Access after classes begin, you can still do so until the 20th day of instruction. You will need to email [email protected] and request to opt out. If you’re on campus, you can go to the main campus bookstore and request to opt out at the guest services counter or the text floor help desk. In this instance, you are required to pay the Equitable Access fee but will receive a $169 credit in your student account (called BKST Equitable Access Wavier) within two to five business days. As per Student Accounting’s policy, any credit on your account will be dispersed at the end of the month.

Yes. Prior to the Sunday before class starts, you can opt back into Equitable Access using the link provided in the email you received when you opted out. Once you are in your student textbook portal, simply click the button to opt back in. Your student MyBill account will be charged $169. If you’d like to opt back in after that date, you can either email [email protected] and request to opt back in or visit the main campus store and opt back in at the guest services desk or text floor help desk. Your student MyBill account will be charged $169.

The financial model for Equitable Access is similar to the UC Davis Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP), where all participating students pay the same rate for coverage, regardless of individual medical needs and costs. Unitrans uses a similar model, whereby all students pay the same fee, no matter how many times each student rides the bus. With Equitable Access, all students pay the same rate, regardless of individual textbook costs. Surplus funds from students whose textbooks cost less than $169 are used to cover students whose textbooks exceed $169. This helps create equity and ensure textbook access for all undergraduate students.

As a non-profit department within the Division of Student Affairs, UC Davis Stores directs surplus funds back into the Equitable Access program in two ways: by lowering the price of the program and/or awarding full textbook grants to the lowest-income UC Davis students. In 2021-22, we were able to lower the program rate from $199 to $169 and award 3,000 grants totaling $507,000. Feedback from the Equitable Access Student Advisory Council showed support for continuing to use surplus funds for textbook grants for low-income students. In the 2022-23 academic year, we were able to provide over 4,000 grants totaling $700,000 to students in need.