University of North Texas 
Inclusive Access Program 2018-2019
Access Day One (AD1) was one of several student-centered, faculty driven, and administratively supported approaches at the University of North Texas to address the challenges students face in order to get access to course materials. The goal of AD1 was to both give students access to course materials beginning the first day of their course, and to reduce the cost of textbooks and other course materials. AD1 allowed the instructor to use textbooks and other course materials beginning on the first day of class and to help reduce the cost of course materials. A small pilot study was conducted in the fall of 2018. Based on the positive results of the smaller pilot study, AD1 was implemented for fall 2019 in test phase. AD1 is currently under review based on the results of the test projects.
AD1 attempted to address a couple of ongoing challenges at UNT. Many college students go without access to textbooks and course materials during the first few weeks of classes (and in some cases longer) in an effort to save money. This presents challenges for faculty in how they teach courses and can disrupt the learning experience for students. That's why it's important to get affordable course materials to students on the first day.
AD1 was modeled after several very successful "first day" initiatives around the US. Other institutions in Texas are implementing the same model and UNT will collaborate in order to provide the absolute best version to UNT students in the future.
- Digital course materials provided and synced through Canvas.
- Students access materials on day one of their course.
- Faculty will have increased feedback, more interaction, and better information about student use of materials to better inform their teaching.
- Students pay reduced prices for course materials.
- Print options can also be made available at reduced cost.
AD1 conducted a small pilot study at UNT during fall 2018 with four undergraduate courses in different disciplines (Accounting, Biology, Communication Studies, & Physics), where sections were offered with traditional textbooks and with AD1 in order to understand what impact students and faculty experience through their participation.
Based on the positive results shared below, AD1 conducted a larger pilot during the fall of 2019 with substantially more faculty and students involved.
Faculty Perspectives
After participating in the pilot, faculty members shared their experiences:
- "It is comforting to know that 100% of the students have access to the text, even those few students who have delayed access to financial aid or would otherwise need to wait to purchase the text." ---Dr. Joseph McGlynn, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies
- "At first, I was quite skeptical but have now become convinced that in a class where online assignments and homework are part of the course, AD1 is the only way to go. This is because those with access on the first day learn how to access digital resources, do homework the first week, and as a result do not get behind before they even get started. In the regular access sections, most students did not buy the books or the access code until the homework was due." ----Samuel Ogden, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences
- "I believe AD1 saves time and organizes teaching tools for instructors and teaching assistants. It is very easy access for students and a majority of students were pleased to have textbook access anytime and anywhere." ----Dr. Ali Khademian, Department of Physics
Student Perspectives
Students were polled with anonymous surveys to ask what their experience was like:
- When asked if students believed having access to the digital textbook since the first day of class made a difference in their overall performance, 87% reported yes.
- When asked if students believed they accessed the digital textbook more frequently than if they only had a print version, 64% reported yes.
- 78% of students in the traditional textbook sections reported that cost was a factor in deciding whether or not to purchase the book for the course.
Some students said:
- "Its easier to read anywhere without having to carry the big weight of a physical textbook."
- "The access is easier and quicker than regular textbooks."
- "AD1 provided me with everything I need right in the palms of my hands through my smart phone."
In the Fall of 2019, several UNT faculty members opted-into having their course participate in Access Day One. Publishers and the office of AD1 negotiated course material costs to be competitive and significant for students. The cost of the materials was included as a course fee posted to students' accounts after registering for an AD1 course. The course fee was significantly less than market value of the textbook which helps students gain access to affordable course materials. AD1 courses were described in the Course Notes section during the student registration process. After registering for an AD1 course, students received an email providing further details about AD1 at UNT. Additionally, the email correspondence included information regarding the opt-out process that students could choose through their Canvas course.
After students login to Canvas and enter their AD1 course, students were instructed to select Course Materials in the menu which provides information about the cost of the traditional textbook and displays the negotiated and lower cost of current course materials. Student are also able to opt-out of participating at this time. Students who opt-out of AD1 are not able to access their course materials digitally and were issued a credit to their student account. Students who chose to continue having access by not opting out are able to access their course materials digitally through Canvas for the term. During fall 2019, students could change their status to opt-in after opting out if done before the 12th day of class (census date).
Key Facts
- Approximately 7,864 students registered for an AD1 course during the fall 2019 academic term.
- Approximately 6,551 students remained in AD1 and received digital course materials through Canvas.
- Approximately 1,313 students opted-out of AD1 through Canvas.
- Approximately 300 students were included in the “opted-out” estimate due to circumstances precluding them from participating in AD1.
- Individual average student savings is $78
- Collective student savings for fall 2019 AD1 is approximately $518,000
Student Feedback
The AD1 team developed an anonymous survey administered through Qualtrics for each participating course. The survey was sent to 7,294 students and 172 students completed the survey. Each survey shared specific information about their course and the approximate savings on their course materials. Students were asked the following questions:
- How would you describe your experience participating in AD1 during the fall 2019 semester? (scaled response from extremely satisfied to extremely dissatisfied).
49% reported "extreme satisfaction"; 19% reported "somewhat satisfied"; 13% reported "extremely dissatisfied"; 13% reported "neither satisfied nor dissatisfied"; and 6% reported "somewhat dissatisfied".
- Do you think having access to your course materials digitally helped you succeed in your course? (single choice response: yes, no, unsure with text option)
70% reported "yes"; 19% reported "no"; and 11% reported "unsure"
- Are you interested in participating in another AD1 course at UNT? (single choice response: yes, no, maybe with text response option)
54% reported "yes"; 23% reported "no"; and 23% reported "maybe"
Survey respondents who indicated 'extreme dissatisfaction' or 'somewhat dissatisfied' were collected and the following themes appeared: Opt-out process, refund difficulty, technology difficulties, not the "cheapest" option on the market, preference for a physical copy, unaware of program, and wanting access to course materials beyond the term.
How does this impact a department's textbook adoption process? If an instructor or department does not participate in AD1, they will continue to adopt textbooks through the process in place today. They also always have the option to pursue other options for textbook affordability, such as adopting an open textbook or other open educational resource (OER).
Why should UNT implement AD1? On the student side, the cost savings can be meaningful, and there is a likely direct relationship between using course materials and student success. There are also implications for student success at the institution level: we believe that increasing student access to course materials will have a robust impact on course retention which in turn impacts overall student retention. This could be particularly valuable for some of UNT's challenging core courses.
How does the student opt-out process work? By federal law, students are able to opt-out of any AD1 incidental fees; however, historical data has shown that students rarely opt-out because the price of acquiring a new or even used copy of the textbook can be high. UNT works with Barnes & Noble and UNT Student Financial Services to manage the process for students opting out of the fee. This is done in the Canvas course once the semester begins. See the "Student Guide to AD1" section of this website for full details.
How can faculty/courses participate? If you have interest or need more information, contact Jordan Rogers (jordan.rogers@unt.edu or 940-369-6173).
When will AD1 be offered again at UNT? The fall 2019 pilot data is being reviewed and changes to make the program stronger are currently underway. Updates will be added to the website as necessary to reflect the changes. During the spring 2021 semester, the President of UNT announced several affordability initiatives aimed at addressing the cost of higher education. Visit the OER and Curated Course Materials sections of this website to learn more!
- Digital course materials provided and synced through Canvas.
- Students access materials on day one of their course.
- Faculty will have increased feedback, more interaction, and better information about student use of materials to better inform their teaching.
- Students pay reduced prices for course materials.
- Print options can also be made available at reduced cost.
AD1 conducted a small pilot study at UNT during fall 2018 with four undergraduate courses in different disciplines (Accounting, Biology, Communication Studies, & Physics), where sections were offered with traditional textbooks and with AD1 in order to understand what impact students and faculty experience through their participation.
Based on the positive results shared below, AD1 conducted a larger pilot during the fall of 2019 with substantially more faculty and students involved.
Faculty Perspectives
After participating in the pilot, faculty members shared their experiences:
- "It is comforting to know that 100% of the students have access to the text, even those few students who have delayed access to financial aid or would otherwise need to wait to purchase the text." ---Dr. Joseph McGlynn, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies
- "At first, I was quite skeptical but have now become convinced that in a class where online assignments and homework are part of the course, AD1 is the only way to go. This is because those with access on the first day learn how to access digital resources, do homework the first week, and as a result do not get behind before they even get started. In the regular access sections, most students did not buy the books or the access code until the homework was due." ----Samuel Ogden, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences
- "I believe AD1 saves time and organizes teaching tools for instructors and teaching assistants. It is very easy access for students and a majority of students were pleased to have textbook access anytime and anywhere." ----Dr. Ali Khademian, Department of Physics
Student Perspectives
Students were polled with anonymous surveys to ask what their experience was like:
- When asked if students believed having access to the digital textbook since the first day of class made a difference in their overall performance, 87% reported yes.
- When asked if students believed they accessed the digital textbook more frequently than if they only had a print version, 64% reported yes.
- 78% of students in the traditional textbook sections reported that cost was a factor in deciding whether or not to purchase the book for the course.
Some students said:
- "Its easier to read anywhere without having to carry the big weight of a physical textbook."
- "The access is easier and quicker than regular textbooks."
- "AD1 provided me with everything I need right in the palms of my hands through my smart phon
In the Fall of 2019, several UNT faculty members opted-into having their course participate in Access Day One. Publishers and the office of AD1 negotiated course material costs to be competitive and significant for students. The cost of the materials was included as a course fee posted to students' accounts after registering for an AD1 course. The course fee was significantly less than market value of the textbook which helps students gain access to affordable course materials. AD1 courses were described in the Course Notes section during the student registration process. After registering for an AD1 course, students received an email providing further details about AD1 at UNT. Additionally, the email correspondence included information regarding the opt-out process that students could choose through their Canvas course.
After students login to Canvas and enter their AD1 course, students were instructed to select Course Materials in the menu which provides information about the cost of the traditional textbook and displays the negotiated and lower cost of current course materials. Student are also able to opt-out of participating at this time. Students who opt-out of AD1 are not able to access their course materials digitally and were issued a credit to their student account. Students who chose to continue having access by not opting out are able to access their course materials digitally through Canvas for the term. During fall 2019, students could change their status to opt-in after opting out if done before the 12th day of class (census date).
Key Facts
- Approximately 7,864 students registered for an AD1 course during the fall 2019 academic term.
- Approximately 6,551 students remained in AD1 and received digital course materials through Canvas.
- Approximately 1,313 students opted-out of AD1 through Canvas.
- Approximately 300 students were included in the “opted-out” estimate due to circumstances precluding them from participating in AD1.
- Individual average student savings is $78
- Collective student savings for fall 2019 AD1 is approximately $518,000
Student Feedback
The AD1 team developed an anonymous survey administered through Qualtrics for each participating course. The survey was sent to 7,294 students and 172 students completed the survey. Each survey shared specific information about their course and the approximate savings on their course materials. Students were asked the following questions:
- How would you describe your experience participating in AD1 during the fall 2019 semester? (scaled response from extremely satisfied to extremely dissatisfied).
49% reported "extreme satisfaction"; 19% reported "somewhat satisfied"; 13% reported "extremely dissatisfied"; 13% reported "neither satisfied nor dissatisfied"; and 6% reported "somewhat dissatisfied".
- Do you think having access to your course materials digitally helped you succeed in your course? (single choice response: yes, no, unsure with text option)
70% reported "yes"; 19% reported "no"; and 11% reported "unsure"
- Are you interested in participating in another AD1 course at UNT? (single choice response: yes, no, maybe with text response option)
54% reported "yes"; 23% reported "no"; and 23% reported "maybe"
Survey respondents who indicated 'extreme dissatisfaction' or 'somewhat dissatisfied' were collected and the following themes appeared: Opt-out process, refund difficulty, technology difficulties, not the "cheapest" option on the market, preference for a physical copy, unaware of program, and wanting access to course materials beyond th
How does this impact a department's textbook adoption process? If an instructor or department does not participate in AD1, they will continue to adopt textbooks through the process in place today. They also always have the option to pursue other options for textbook affordability, such as adopting an open textbook or other open educational resource (OER).
Why should UNT implement AD1? On the student side, the cost savings can be meaningful, and there is a likely direct relationship between using course materials and student success. There are also implications for student success at the institution level: we believe that increasing student access to course materials will have a robust impact on course retention which in turn impacts overall student retention. This could be particularly valuable for some of UNT's challenging core courses.
How does the student opt-out process work? By federal law, students are able to opt-out of any AD1 incidental fees; however, historical data has shown that students rarely opt-out because the price of acquiring a new or even used copy of the textbook can be high. UNT works with Barnes & Noble and UNT Student Financial Services to manage the process for students opting out of the fee. This is done in the Canvas course once the semester begins. See the "Student Guide to AD1" section of this website for full details.
How can faculty/courses participate? If you have interest or need more information, contact Jordan Rogers (jordan.rogers@unt.edu or 940-369-6173).
When will AD1 be offered again at UNT? The fall 2019 pilot data is being reviewed and changes to make the program stronger are currently underway. Updates will be added to the website as necessary to reflect the changes. During the spring 2021 semester, the President of UNT announced several affordability initiatives aimed at addressing the cost of higher education. Visit the OER and Curated Course Materials sections of this website to learn more!