Flat Rate Access FAQs

In the Nursing program, students buy a comprehensive textbook their first year and use it until they graduate. Not every textbook is purchased each semester for the nursing program. The college continues to work with the nursing program to explore the best and most cost-effective way for students to purchase textbooks. Currently, for Nursing students, the best approach is Student Choice – online ordering.  

EICC wants all students to be able to access and afford textbooks and course materials. This program makes that easier on students, which increases their success in your classroom. 

Flat Rate Access charges students a flat fee of $22 a credit hour regardless of how much the textbooks cost

Faculty select and submit the course materials they want to use. Akademos sources the materials in physical and digital formats. 

When a student registers for classes, their books are automatically ordered. Physical textbooks are shipped for free, and we email students access information for digital materials.  

The $22 per credit fee is then added to their account and covered by financial aid. If they have a tuition payment plan, their books get added in and they pay for them across the semester.  

Students have until the first day of the term/semester to opt-out of the program and purchase course materials on their own. For Fall 2024, that deadline is Aug. 26. 

Yes. If they opt-out, they will need to purchase textbooks at current retail or resale prices from the online Student Choice bookstore or outlet of their choice. They can also easily opt back in. They can view the list of required materials by logging into eicc.textbookx.com. The opt-out deadline is the first day of the term/semester. For Fall 2024, that date is Aug. 26. 

No, this program is all-in or all-out for each term/semester. 

It’s unlikely students will be able to purchase all course materials for the semester for less on Amazon due to the economies of scale and direct purchase nature of the program. 

The program fully supports OER and takes open educational resource classes into consideration. Using OER will decrease the overall costs for students. 

No. You select the content you feel is best. The only adjustment may be the date adoptions are due. 

No. This program does not limit textbook or format choices. Akademos sources both physical and digital texts. The format often depends on the selected items and their availability. 

Yes. All course material adoptions are supported. You are not required to change your content. 

Go to eicc.textbookx.com and login. You’ll see the courses you are scheduled to teach or oversee. Using the search tool, type an ISBN or title, then follow the steps to add details and submit it to Akademos. You can also message EICC’s client success manager through the website if you have special textbook settings or requests.  

Faculty retain academic freedom. You select the materials you feel are best for your class, including traditional textbooks, OER materials, or non-textbook items. Digital materials can be more affordable and provide students with immediate access. The Akademos website and client success manager can also provide tools, analysis, and information so faculty can review textbook costs before adoption.

Adoptions are due 90 days (about 3 months) before the start of each term. For Akademos to deliver all print and digital materials to students on the first day of class, faculty must submit adoptions on time. From there, Akademos reviews them to ensure the materials are available and the lowest cost formats are sourced. If there are any availability issues, similar titles, or alternative formats, alternative materials may be suggested. 

Yes, you can indicate that when selecting your adoption. Once it is approved by an administrator, Akademos will deliver the item(s) in physical formats.

If you’ve created materials that include selections of traditional texts, library resources, PowerPoint slides, etc., you can submit those through the website, and they will be provided as a course pack.

We recommend using current editions. It may not be possible to acquire sufficient copies of old and out of print editions for the class. 

No, students pay for the total number of credits taken each semester and cannot opt out for one class.

Yes. They pay based on the total credits each semester, not on the number of courses using the program. Students can choose to fully opt-in or opt- out of the program each semester. 

All required course materials, designated by the faculty member, are covered. 

Yes. The bookstore works with the publishers to provide students with required materials in the format faculty request. 

All adoptions need to be completed 90 days before the start of the class. 

Yes. Any materials required for each course will be available. Additional materials written by faculty and other relevant reading materials can be available through the on-campus store and/or online bookstore.