Course Materials Access
Choose the Best Fit for Your Semester!
Course Materials Access is the UNM Bookstores program designed to provide you with the most convenient and affordable way to get your course materials. With three flexible tiers, you can choose the option that best fits your needs each semester. Explore your choices:
COMPLETE
You can access all your required course materials for a flat rate of $279 per semester.
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SELECT
You can opt to purchase only specific digital or print course materials for your registered courses.
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OPT-OUT
You can opt-out entirely of Course Materials Access and purchase your course materials on your own.
Learn more
Eligibility: All degree-seeking undergraduate students whose home campus is Albuquerque are automatically enrolled in the Complete option. All other students served by this bookstore are enrolled in Select.
Complete option:
As an Albuquerque campus undergraduate student, you will automatically be enrolled in the Complete option, ensuring you receive all required digital and physical course materials, including required kits for any program, such as art and architecture, at a fixed price of $279 per semester for the 2025-2026 academic year. The materials will be ready by the first day of the semester.
How do I access my course materials?
All digital course materials will be delivered via the RedShelf platform on Canvas. You’ll have immediate access on the first day of classes through the My Shelf link in Canvas. Print books included in the program will be made available for pick up at the UNM Bookstores.
How will the rate of the Complete option appear on my Bursar’s Statement?
The Complete flat rate will appear as a "Bookstore Charge" on your Bursar’s statement. All charges will be in real time as you register for classes.
What materials are covered by the Complete option rate?
All course materials adopted through the UNM Bookstore that are required for a course are included. Recommended materials and supplies are not covered and must be purchased separately.
What if I take courses at multiple UNM campuses?
If you are enrolled in courses at both the Albuquerque campus and branch campuses, you may incur additional costs for materials from non-participating branch campuses. Students in this situation may choose to opt out of the Complete option to better manage their costs.
Can I get physical copies of the materials?
If you are enrolled in the Complete option and it shows you need physical textbooks through the My Shelf link in Canvas, you can pick them up from the UNM Bookstores when they are available.
Are students who are opted in the Complete option required to return printed textbooks at the end of the semester?
Students may keep any print-format materials they receive.
Will students retain access to digital course materials after a course is over?
Yes, for certain materials. Many of the digital textbooks may be downloaded to a device and read after the term is over. However, digital courseware such as McGraw-Hill Connect or Pearson MyLab are usable only for the semester during which they were originally provided. Unless otherwise noted, access to these materials expires once the term is over, but the bookstore is working with instructors when possible to adopt unlimited duration digital materials.
How do I know if the Complete option is the best option for me?
A price comparison tool will be available through the My Shelf link in Canvas that allows you to compare the Complete option, the Select option, and purchasing materials individually. This will help you make the most cost-effective choice.
How do I opt out of the Complete option or change my participation plan?
To opt-out, log in to Canvas in a browser and go to Account → My Shelf. There, you will be able to select your preferred plan until the opt-out deadline, which will be the last day to drop courses without penalty.
When am I charged for the Complete option?
If you stay opted into the Complete option, you will see the flat-rate charge on your first university bill of the semester. You have until the last day to drop a course without penalty to opt out of the program and the charge would then be reversed. This gives you the maximum amount of time to make choices about your schedule.
Can I use my financial aid to pay for the Complete option?
Yes, you can work with the Bursar's office to apply your financial aid toward this program. However, please note that New Mexico Lottery and Opportunity Scholarships do not cover the cost of course materials.
I opted out but now want to rejoin the Complete Program. Is it possible?
Yes, you can re-enroll in the Complete Program through Canvas, as long as it is before the opt-out deadline.
How do I obtain required textbooks that are not available in digital format?
If your My Shelf in Canvas lists required print books, you can pick them up at the Central UNM Bookstore starting Aug. 11!
Please note that print materials are ordered once faculty confirm them as required for the course. In some cases, later additions may result in a slight delay in availability.
I have a disability and need academic accommodation. How does this work?
RedShelf eReader is available through Canvas and has been built with accessibility in mind and has a help function for accessibility issues. Any needs not met by the eReader can be directed to coursematerialsaccess@unm.edu to determine what further actions need to be taken.
Are both required and optional course materials included in the Complete option?
No, only required materials adopted through the UNM Bookstore are included in the Complete option. Optional materials suggested by your instructor can be special ordered and purchased separately from the UNM Bookstore.
I am waitlisted for a course. How do I get access to the program course materials?
Waitlisted classes will still appear through the My Shelf link in Canvas, giving you access to the materials for those courses during the add/drop with 100% tuition refund period. Access will disappear after that date unless your status is reclassified as “enrolled.”
Are Open Learning and Continuing Education courses covered by the Complete option?
No, only courses within the traditional academic calendar are covered. Materials for Open Learning or Continuing Education courses would need to be purchased separately.
I am an undergraduate student taking graduate classes. Do I need to pay additionally for the course materials for these classes?
No, students registered as undergraduates will have all required course materials included, regardless of the type of course. This means that materials for graduate-level courses will also be covered alongside your undergraduate courses.
Will course materials still be available at the UNM Bookstore?
Yes, if you're opted into the Complete option, your print textbooks will be available at the bookstore. If you need recommended titles, you can order them for additional costs from the UNM Bookstore. Course Materials will still be at the UNM Bookstore for graduate and professional students.
What if I add/drop a course? How do I get access to my materials?
- When adding a course: The course materials will be made available to you in Canvas. If printed materials are required, you will receive an email with instructions to pick them up at the UNM Bookstore.
- When dropping a course: Digital course materials access will be removed from Canvas, and you will need to return any printed materials provided by the program.
Please note that course enrollment changes may take up to 48 hours to be processed.
What is the difference between Equitable Access and Course Materials Access Complete?
The Complete option of the Course Materials Access program is the UNM branded name for the industry term Equitable Access.
I only want to keep one item from my Complete plan. How?
If you wish to retain access to at least one item, but don't wish to participate in the Complete plan, you need to move into the Select plan, and then opt out of individual eBooks. Note that opting out of required Courseware (such as Connect, MyLab, Mastering, Achieve, WebAssign, etc.) will remove your ability to complete essential course work, so be certain you do not need the code before opting out of these items.
Please note that when Course Materials Access plans are changed, a refund is generated for the material you are removing. If any new items are selected, you will be charged for that. It typically takes two business days for the changes to be reflected on your Bursar account if you make your changes by 4pm MDT.
Select option:
You can choose to purchase only specific digital or print course materials for your registered courses. If you are a graduate student, a Taos student, or if your course materials are billed through a third party or covered by an Athletics scholarship, you will automatically be enrolled in this option.
How do I access my course materials?
All digital course materials that you decide to get through the UNM Bookstore will be delivered via the RedShelf platform on Canvas. You’ll have immediate access to them on or before the first day of classes through the My Shelf link in Canvas.
How will the Select price appear on my Bursar’s Statement?
The course materials you will purchase through the bookstore will appear as a "Bookstore Charge" on your Bursar’s statement.
Can I get physical copies of the materials?
Optional print upgrades for select courses in the Select option will be available for purchase at additional costs from the UNM Bookstore.
Will I retain access to digital course materials after a course is over?
Yes, for certain materials. Many of the digital textbooks may be downloaded to a device and read after the term is over. However, digital courseware such as McGraw-Hill Connect or Pearson MyLab are usable only for the semester during which they were originally provided. Unless otherwise noted, access to these materials expires once the term is over.
Opt-out:
You can opt-out entirely of Course Materials Access and purchase your course materials on your own.
How do I opt out of Course Materials Access?
You can opt-out through the My Shelf link in Canvas, until the opt-out deadline (see below).
What is the opt-out deadline?
The opt-out deadlines coincide with the Registrar’s “Last Day to Drop Without a ‘W’ Grade and 100% Tuition Refund” on LoboWeb. For more details, visit the Registrar’s Deadlines.
When will I be refunded?
If you drop all your courses, your refund will be initiated the day after the add/drop deadline. This timing ensures you have the flexibility to re-enroll without losing access to the Complete or Select programs. Once initiated, refunds typically take about two business days to appear in your Bursar account.
I opted out but now want to rejoin the Complete option. Is it possible?
Yes, you can re-enroll in the Complete option through Canvas, as long as it is before the opt-out deadline.
Will course materials still be available at the UNM Bookstores?
If you opt out of both the Complete and Select options, you can still special order and purchase print textbooks or eBooks (if available) directly from the UNM Bookstores.
What if I purchased a multi-term code through Inclusive Access in a prior semester?
Do not opt out of the program if you purchased a multi-term code through Inclusive Access at UNM in a prior semester, if that code is still within the valid period for the duration of your current course. You will not be charged this term. If, however, the code expires during your current course, you could be charged again.
I want to keep one of the items on MyShelf. Should I choose Global Opt-out and then add it back?
No. If you want to keep at least one item but do not want to stay in the Complete plan, you should switch to the Select plan rather than using Global Opt-out. In Select, you can opt out of the individual eBooks you do not need while keeping the ones you do.
How to Change Your Option
Option Change Deadlines:
Full term: February 6
1st Half: January 30
2nd Half: February 6 (to be included in the Complete option, these courses must be registered no later than Feb. 6)
Full term: February 6
1st Half: January 30
2nd Half: April 3
Please note: opting out means that you don't pay for a specific material in the Select plan, or all materials in the Complete plan. It is important for you to know that your access to any content from which you have opted out will disappear after the add/drop period has passed for that course. Before you opt out, please be certain that you do not need an eBook or access to Courseware in order to submit your assignments, take your tests, or otherwise pass the course.
If you have been given a one-time exception to the opting deadline in any term, you must meet the opting deadlines in the future.
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