As we approach a new year and new semester, it’s time to focus on innovative new ideas and initiatives.

One initiative that gained strength in 2022 was Equitable Access, the course material model that bundles the cost of textbooks with the cost of tuition. While room and board, meal plans, and facility fees have long been paired with tuition, the concept of bundling textbooks into the cost has historically been met with resistance. With a rising need to think outside the box to drive enrollment, embracing change initiatives may be the key to success.

Whether you’re just starting to explore a first-day course materials model or you’re in decision-making mode for the upcoming semesters, our most-read resources from 2022 will provide valuable information for your consideration.

National Louis University is one of Chicago’s oldest universities with a history that dates back to 1886. They offer over 70 undergraduate and graduate programs across their multiple colleges and support a student population of over 10,000 students. They recently partnered with Akademos, an online bookstore solution, to support the Winter 2023 term.

One of the themes consistently mentioned in our conversations with colleges and universities is – schools are looking for creative new ways to increase enrollment and drive student success.

When change is hard, communicating the right information to the right audience is key to getting your team on board. 

At the root, Equitable Access is the bundling of books and course materials with tuition, but when you dive into the details, Equitable Access is so much more. 

Equitable Access is:

They’re no strangers to new technology, which is why Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the four-year, private university in Western New York transitioned its bookstore online to the Akademos platform. The transition ensures a course material platform, driven by technology, is available to their nearly 16,000 students. The most popular disciplines for students at RIT are engineering, computer and information science, and engineering technologies. 

Mercy College of Health Sciences (MCHS) students can now access their course materials through a college-branded bookstore website powered by Akademos. With a single sign-on option, designed for convenience, students have the ability to view their enrolled courses and adopt required course materials. They can also choose to purchase from multiple options including new, used, digital, and through the Akademos Marketplace.