Digital textbooks are the default option. Traditional textbooks will only be supplied when a digital option is not available. Lab manuals and other course materials that are traditionally printed will remain the same.

All of your digital and print textbooks are displayed in your Student Portal or Bookshelf. To request a link to your Student Portal, enter your student ID and a link to your Student Portal will be emailed to your UC Davis email address.

In your Student Portal and Bookshelf, required textbooks will be displayed with icons indicating if the textbook is digital (computer screen icon), or print (open book with a bookmark) as illustrated below.

Required print textbooks may be picked up by students participating in the Equitable Access Program at the Campus Bookstore or shipped if you are unable to pick up your books in person. If you are in or near Davis and able to do so safely, we highly recommend that you pick up your books from the Campus Bookstore location beginning the week prior to the first day of class (please check store hours). Because shipping companies are currently experiencing delayed delivery times due to COVID-19, we recommend in-person pick-up if possible.

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.

Yes. You can choose to opt out each quarter. However, if you choose to opt out you will need to purchase your textbooks at current retail or resale prices either by special ordering from the Bookstore or from an outlet of your choice.

You may opt out up until the 14th day of instruction.

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 $199 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 14th 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 $199 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.

You can easily purchase individual digital textbooks and other digital course content within your Canvas Bookshelf. For courseware (depending on the platform) you may purchase an access code within Bookshelf or directly through the publisher.

UC Davis Stores will not be selling in-stock undergraduate print textbooks to those who have opted out of the Equitable Access program; those books have been purchased at lower prices based on the subscription model per our contract with the publishers. However, you can special order print textbooks from the special order desk in the lower level of the Campus Bookstore at current retail prices.

Custom faculty-created lab manuals and readers from Reprographics will still be sold at the Bookstore; these are included in Equitable Access and may also be purchased individually by those who have opted out of the program.

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 $199

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 $199.

Students that need assistance with their Canvas or Bookshelf account may contact Vitalsource 24/7 via live chat or email.

The first year of the Equitable Access pilot program will only include undergraduate students. Our goal is to be able to include graduate students in the future.

Faculty will always have full academic freedom under Equitable Access and the textbook adoption process will remain the same.

We have worked closely with the Student Disability Center (SDC) during the development of Equitable Access. If you have questions about accessibility and using digital content or need an academic accommodation please contact the SDC for assistance.

All UC Davis students pay the same rate for tuition, fees, and health insurance, regardless of major, but financial inequity has remained when it comes to textbooks and other course materials costs. By modeling the textbook charge after other costs of attendance, Equitable Access will reduce this financial inequity so that every student has access to the same academic opportunities, regardless of the field in which they choose to study.

If you choose to remain opted in to Equitable Access, required printed textbooks are included and are yours to keep. If you opt out of Equitable Access or if you drop any course for which you receive printed textbooks, you are required to return those books. If not returned or shipped back to the Campus Store by the 25th day of each quarter, the replacement cost for outstanding textbooks will be billed to your student account.