WS Chronicle

Winston-Salem State University has announced that it has partnered with Barnes & Noble College to implement BNC First Day® Complete, a course material delivery model that will drive student success by ensuring all students are prepared to begin learning on the first day of class.

First Day® Complete, an innovative course material delivery model, addresses equitable access, convenience, and affordability across all courses at an institution by bundling the cost of course materials into tuition and ensuring students have all their materials for the semester available on or before the first day of class. WSSU will cover all associated expenses so that no additional costs will be passed on to students.

In addition, First Day Complete fully supports academic freedom and faculty choice. Faculty members can choose the materials that are best suited for their teaching, regardless of publisher or format. 

“We are incredibly excited to offer free textbooks to our undergraduate students this fall. This will certainly be a game changer for many of our families by eliminating a significant educational expense. First Day® Complete also allows our faculty to expand their tool kits and offer a more immersive academic experience,” said WSSU Chancellor Elwood Robinson.

WSSU will implement First Day® Complete beginning August 2021 for the fall term. Before starting the term, students will receive an email from the bookstore prompting them to select their preferred delivery method. The bookstore will prepare the materials for each student and notify them when the materials have shipped or are available for in-store pickup. Digital materials will be delivered directly through students’ learning management system. 

“We look forward to working with WSSU to enhance the student experience through this new model of course material delivery,” said Jonathan Shar, EVP, retail & client solutions, Barnes & Noble Education. “First Day® Complete will ensure students are prepared to begin learning on day one, driving greater student success while also offering a more affordable and convenient way for students to obtain their course materials. We know First Day® Complete will greatly benefit this campus community, and we are very excited to partner with WSSU on this program.”

Barnes & Noble College, a Barnes & Noble Education company, currently operates more than 770 campus stores nationwide, including WSSU’s bookstore. For more information about Barnes & Noble College’s services and locations, visit www.bncollege.com.

In addition to the Barnes and Noble partnership and to further highlight WSSU’s commitment to affordable education, the university will also offer a $500 book credit to all graduate students.