Program Participation
What does opt out mean?
Opting out—done through the Course Works Shelf—means that a student declines access to some or all materials in the Course Works program before the opt-out deadline (see Important Dates page above).
Course Works Complete students can:
- Opt out of Complete and into Select
- Globally Opt Out and find materials on their own
Course Works Select students can:
- Globally Opt Out and find materials on their own
Opting decisions will create charges and credits to the student account.
When am I charged for the Course Works program?
Course Works charges begin showing up on your student account when other tuition and fees appear. Usually this is about a month before the semester begins. The charges will be labelled as either Course Works Complete or Course Work Select.
As you make opting decisions during the opting period, new charges and credits will appear on your student account. So, for example, if you opt out of Course Works Complete, you will see a refund of the flat-rate fee, usually within a week.
As you opt out or in to individual materials in Course Works Select, these opting decisions also will create charges and credits to your student account, usually within a week.
If you choose the Global Opt Out, all Course Works charges will be credited back to your student account.
How do I opt out of the Course Works program?
Opting must take place within your campus opting period (see Important Dates page above).
Opting actions take place within your Course Works Shelf. After navigating to your Shelf, click the blue "View Opting Plans" button in the top right corner. This will show the program options that are available to you. Visit the "How It Works" page to view a Shelf demo video, which shows the opting process.
It is important to note that the materials and pricing you see on your Shelf may change as items are added or or removed by faculty/instructors. It is recommended that you wait to make your opting decision until closer to the end of the opting period.
Even if you choose the Global Opt Out, certain materials are still available to you on the Shelf (like U of M Libraries ebooks and open educational resources) at no cost.
I’ve opted out, what can I expect and how do I purchase textbooks?
When you opt out of the Course Works program or individual materials, you will lose reading access and receive a credit to your student account. Note that library materials and OER will remain available to you on the Course Works Shelf, at no cost, regardless of which program you are opted into.
Please be cautious in opting out of courseware, which are publisher homework systems (e.g., McGraw Hill’s Connect, Pearson’s MyLab or Mastering, WileyPlus, etc). Check with your instructor before opting out as completing the homework assigned in the courseware may be critical to succeed in the class.
If you have opted out of a material and change your mind, you can opt back in on your Shelf, even after the opting period has closed. For eBooks, your access should be restored immediately. For courseware, there is often a delay, while the publisher reinstates your access.
If you opt out the program or individual materials, you are free to pursue getting them on your own elsewhere.
If I opt out, will I still have access to ebooks and publisher courseware?
If you choose to opt out of the Course Works Complete program, you can select which materials you wish to purchase on a material-by-material basis through the Course Works Select program.
For each material you choose to opt out of in the Course Works Select program, access will be removed for that material. Open Educational Resources (OER) are always available, regardless of participation. Similarly, most Library materials are also available regardless of participation.
Please note: If faculty/instructors are using the homework tool within publishers' courseware, opting out of that courseware may cause you to lose the ability to submit your homework via your class Canvas page. You are encouraged to consult your faculty/instructor before opting out of courseware.
I opted out but changed my mind, can I re-enroll?
Yes. As long as you do so within the opting period, you can opt back into the Course Works Complete program within the Course Works Shelf.
If you are in Course Works Select, you can opt in to individual materials at any time, even after the opting period has closed. Doing so will create a charge to your Student Account.
I’m a part-time student. Do I participate in Course Works?
Yes. Part-time degree-seeking undergraduate students are opted in to Course Works Complete automatically like full-time degree-seeking undergraduates. Both have the opportunity to opt out and move into Course Works Select, or to opt out entirely.
Part-time students who are not eligible for Complete—that is, part-time students who are not degree-seeking undergraduates—will start in Select and can choose to participate in that level of the program, or choose to opt out entirely.
All of my courses use Library and OER materials. Do I need to pay for Course Works Complete?
If your Shelf contains only free materials (OER, Library eBooks), no opting action is required. The University will automatically refund your Course Works Complete fee after the opting period has closed.
Do graduate and professional students participate in Course Works?
Graduate and professional students are enrolled in Course Works Select, while only degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for Course Works Complete.
Course Works Select students should check their Course Works Shelf to see which materials they are automatically enrolled in (opted in) and which they are not (opted out).
- Opt in = student account charge
- Opt out = no student account charge
Opting decisions in Course Works Select are made item by item, or students can opt out entirely through the Course Works Shelf. Students have until the opt-out deadline to make opting decisions.
I am a PSEO student. Do I participate in Course Works?
Yes. PSEO students are automatically enrolled in Course Works Select. You will not be responsible for the cost of your materials, those are paid by the PSEO program.
Which students are in Course Works Complete and which students are in Course Works Select?
Course Works Complete students:
- Degree-seeking undergraduates
Course Works Select students:
- Course Works Complete students who opted into Course Works Select
- Non-degree undergraduates
- Graduate students
I am a College in the Schools student. Do I participate in Course Works?
No. CIS students should contact their faculty/instructor for information about how to access their course materials.
Accessing and Using Materials
What academic materials are covered by this program?
Course Works includes required course materials. Optional course materials are not included.
As a general rule of thumb, materials with ISBNs are included in Course Works (some exceptions apply).
Required course materials (whether digital or printed) include:
- Books
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Course packets from Printing Services and Libraries
- Library materials like eBooks, journal articles, and streaming media
- Courseware (publisher homework systems)
The followings items are not included and will need to be purchased separately:
- Course supplies: lab coats, art supplies, calculators, goggles, etc.
- Art and science kits: architecture, design, electronics, horticulture, etc.
- Items with access or availability issues
- Many software applications
- Stand-alone assessments, tests, and certifications
- Optional materials
How do I access my digital course materials?
To access digital course materials, simply log in to Canvas and click the Course Works tab located on the left hand navigation bar. This will launch you into your Course Works Shelf. Most digital materials can be accessed from your Shelf, others may be accessed on your instructor's Canvas course page.
If you experience any issues viewing or launching your textbooks, please reach out to [email protected] for assistance or contact RedShelf at https://solve.redshelf.com.
How do I access my course materials if I opt out of the program? Can I still purchase them from the campus store?
If you choose the Global Opt Out option, you will be responsible for acquiring materials on your own. You will, however, retain access to Library eBooks and OER materials (at no cost) on your Course Works Shelf.
Check with your campus store for purchasing options outside of Course Works by emailing us at [email protected].
Will all textbooks be provided in a digital format under this program?
No. Traditional print textbooks will be supplied when a digital option is not available, a specific request is made by a faculty member or instructor, or a student requires print due to a disability accommodation. In some cases the campus store may have a print upgrade available at a discount for students who stay opted in to the digital program; but there is an additional cost and is subject to availability on a title by title basis. Eligible lab manuals and other course materials that are traditionally printed may remain in print as part of the program. If you have questions about accessibility and using digital content or need accommodation, please contact your campus Disability Resource Center for assistance (see navigation for links to campus-specific resources).
What do I do if the Course Works tab in Canvas is blank?
Please email [email protected] for assistance.
What do I do if a course material is on my syllabus but it isn’t showing up on the Course Works tab in Canvas? Do I need to buy that material separately?
All required textbooks, coursepacks, and homework access are included in the program. If you are an undergraduate student who is in Course Works Complete, you should not have to purchase those materials separately.
If there are required materials listed in your syllabus that you don’t see on your Course Works Shelf in Canvas, please let us know and we’ll work to get them added ASAP (once verified). Email a screenshot or copy of your syllabus showing the materials to [email protected]. This will help ensure that all required materials for eligible students get included in the cost of the program.
What do I do if I need academic accommodation due to a disability?
Students with questions about accessibility, using digital content, or accommodations should contact their campus Disability Resource Center for assistance (see navigation for links to campus-specific resources).
How can I access lab manuals and coursepacks?
Lab manuals and coursepacks will be distributed to participating students through the campus store during the start of the semester. Students will receive an email when their materials are ready to be picked up or this information can be found on their Course Works tab in Canvas.
Students who have opted out of the Course Works program and need to obtain a lab manual or coursepack may place an order at their campus store.
Will optional course materials be included in the program?
No. Only required materials are included as part of the Course Works program.
Optional materials suggested by your faculty or instructor may be ordered from the campus store.
Students who need assistance acquiring optional course materials may contact [email protected].
Will this program allow me to retain access to my course materials after a course ends?
Digital access varies by publisher and title. Typically 50% or more of ebooks at the university have between 5-year and perpetual access. 6-month ebook access is also common among publishers. Access to our Libraries ebooks should be available throughout the student’s academic career. When publisher courseware is assigned (e.g., Connect, MyLab, WileyPlus, MindTap), access is typically limited to the length of the class.
Are there situations where I would be required to return my printed textbooks?
Students who are participating in Course Works Complete and who drop a course for which they have already picked up printed materials are required to return those materials no later than the opt-out deadline (see Important Dates page).
Students who opt-out of Course Works Complete entirely, but have already picked up printed materials, are required to return those materials no later than the opt-out deadline (see Important Dates page).
Non-returned print materials will be charged to your student account at the publisher’s listed new book price.
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions about returning printed materials.
Can I have physical books shipped to me?
Are any scholarships or forms of financial aid eligible to cover Course Works costs?
Course Works costs may be paid by your financial aid if you have funds leftover after your tuition & fees have been covered.
Can I download ebooks? Or use without internet access?
The e-reader is fully device agnostic, scalable, and allows simultaneous usage across multiple devices. Further, content downloaded to the ereader app can be accessed in offline situations if it was downloaded prior to loss of internet connection. As for saving as a file, copyright laws can restrict licensed content from taking form as redistributable files. Allowing content to only be downloaded within the ereader puts the onus on the provider to protect copyright and relieves the University of associated risks.
How do I know if I have physical materials to pick up?
You will receive an email at your umn.edu address when you have physical materials ready for pick up.
Physical books and their status are also located in Canvas. Log into Canvas and click on the Course Works tab on the left-hand navigation. If physical materials are listed, they will display a running person symbol if they are ready for pick up; a pause symbol or hourglass if they aren't ready; and a checkmark if they have been picked up.
Can I access my Course Works materials on my phone?
Our digital provider, RedShelf, has the RedShelf eReader Mobile App. Not all of the functionality of Course Works materials is available through the app. However it can be used for reading eBooks through the RedShelf Reader. See these instructions for how to download and navigate the app.
You will not be able to access your course materials through the Canvas app, as it does not support the Course Works Shelf.
Course Enrollment
If I add/drop a course, how do I get access to my materials?
When adding a course, the course materials will become available on Canvas if you are participating in Course Works Complete. Course enrollment changes can take up to 48 hours to be processed, though most times materials will appear within a matter of hours. If printed materials are required for your new course, you will receive an email from the campus store at your umn.edu address when it's time to pick up any required materials.
When dropping a course, any digital course materials access will be removed in tandem with your enrollment drop (except library and OER materials which are always available, regardless of participation). If you drop and have printed course materials that were provided to you by the Course Works program, you must return those print materials to the campus store no later than the opt-out deadline. Non-returned print materials will be charged to your student account at the publisher’s listed new book price.
Will I have access to the program course materials if I’m waitlisted for a course?
Waitlisted classes will still appear in the Course Works tab.
Under this program, do undergraduates need to pay for course materials for graduate courses?
Generally, no. As long as the materials are already available and delivered through Course Works, then it doesn't matter that it's a graduate-level class.
If you are a degree-seeking undergraduate in Course Works Complete, and the materials show up on your Shelf, then the materials are included in the flat-rate price.