Spring 2027

December 12, 2026 – January 29, 2027

What is the Hornet Book Pack program?

Hornet Book Pack is Alabama State University’s course materials program, offered in partnership with Barnes & Noble College through First Day Complete. The program is designed to provide participating students with their required course materials by or before the first day of classes.

Physical textbooks provided through the Hornet Book Pack are provided on a rental basis and are prepared by the bookstore for pickup or shipping, based on the student’s selected delivery preference. Digital course materials are delivered through Canvas. At the end of the semester, students receive email reminders from the bookstore to return rental textbooks. Consumable materials, such as certain lab manuals and workbooks, may be yours to keep.

How do I enroll in the program?

Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students are automatically enrolled in the Hornet Book Pack when they register for classes.

What is included in the program?

Hornet Book Pack includes required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes, and digital course materials for participating students.

What is excluded from the program?

Recommended course materials and supplies are not included in the Hornet Book Pack.

How does the program work?

1. Register for your classes.
2. Beginning approximately 30 days before the first day of classes, you will receive an email from coursematerials@email.bncollege.com asking you to select a delivery preference for physical course materials. You may choose in-store pickup or shipping. Shipping charges are paid to the bookstore.
3. The bookstore will begin preparing your required course materials.
4. You will receive an email when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships.
5. Digital course materials will be delivered through Canvas beginning on the first day of classes.

Can I participate for some classes but not others?

No. Participation in the Hornet Book Pack is all-in or all-out for the semester. Students cannot opt out on a course-by-course basis.

What if none of my classes have course materials?

Hornet Book Pack charges are based on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled, not on the number of course materials assigned. If none of your courses require course materials and you do not wish to participate in the Hornet Book Pack, you must opt out before the published deadline for the charge to be removed.

How does Hornet Book Pack benefit students?

Hornet Book Pack is designed to simplify access to required course materials by providing them by or before the first day of classes and using a predictable per-credit-hour pricing model.

How does the program help lower course material costs?

Barnes & Noble College uses its supply chain and course-material sourcing network to support a lower-cost, bundled approach to required course materials for participating students.

What is the cost of the Hornet Book Pack?

Hornet Book Pack is billed as a per-credit-hour charge each semester. The charge is automatically added to the ASU student account through the registration process at a rate of $29.32 per credit hour.

How is the Hornet Book Pack charge billed?

The Hornet Book Pack charge is included on your ASU student account when you register for classes.

Will I have to pay anything directly to the bookstore?

When you verify your required course materials, you will be directed to the bookstore website to select your fulfillment preference. You may also choose to purchase recommended textbooks, supplies, merchandise, or other items that are not included in the Hornet Book Pack.

If you purchase additional items or choose to have physical course materials shipped, payment will be due to the bookstore. Available payment methods may include eligible excess Student Financial Aid or self-pay.

What happens if I never verify my order?

If you do not verify your order and do not opt out, eligible digital course materials will remain accessible through Canvas and the Hornet Book Pack charge will remain on your ASU student account. Physical course materials cannot be prepared for pickup until you verify your order and select a fulfillment preference.

The bookstore will send email reminders asking you to verify your order and select a fulfillment preference. Use the Barnes & Noble Verify Your Order link to complete this step.

If I never pick up my books, will I still be charged?

Yes. If you do not opt out before the published deadline, the Hornet Book Pack charge will remain on your ASU student account even if you do not pick up your physical course materials.

How long will the bookstore hold my order for pickup?

Orders will be held for pickup for 30 days. Once an order has been awaiting pickup for 30 days, it is considered abandoned. Abandoned orders are returned to the bookstore shelves and are not eligible for refund.

Can I purchase my rental textbooks after I complete a course?

Yes. During the rental return period, students may have the option to purchase eligible rental textbooks at a reduced rate based on the market value of the title. Please contact the bookstore for assistance with a rental purchase.

If I withdraw from the University, will I receive a refund?

Once the Hornet Book Pack opt-out deadline has passed, Hornet Book Pack charges are non-refundable, including if a student later withdraws from the University. Students who do not wish to participate must complete the opt-out process before the published deadline.

Will I receive physical or digital versions of my materials?

Required course materials are provided in the format selected for the course by the instructor. Your Hornet Book Pack may include a combination of physical and digital course materials.

How will I receive my materials?

Physical course materials may be picked up at the campus bookstore or shipped to you based on your selected fulfillment preference. Students who choose shipping are responsible for the shipping charge. Digital course materials are delivered through Canvas.

How do I access digital course materials included in the Hornet Book Pack?

• Access code reveal: Open the ASU Course Materials link within your Canvas course. If an access code is assigned, the code will be displayed with instructions for accessing your course materials.
• Bookstore direct access: Open the ASU Course Materials link within your Canvas course. You will be directed to the bookstore’s digital materials platform, where you can select and access your assigned material.
• Publisher direct access: Some courseware is accessed through a publisher link within Canvas, such as McGraw Hill Connect. In these cases, use the publisher integration in your course to access the material. If the ASU Course Materials page displays the message, “This is publisher delivered courseware. To access your courseware content, navigate to the publisher integration in your LMS,” this means your material is not accessed directly from the ASU Course Materials page. Return to your Canvas course and use the publisher link or integration provided by your instructor.
• Physical access cards: Some digital products may be distributed on a physical access card that must be picked up from the bookstore or shipped to you. These items will appear as physical materials when you verify your order.

What if I have questions or trouble accessing my digital course materials?

For assistance with digital course materials, contact Bookstore Customer Care at bookstorecustomercare@bncollege.com.

What if I need an accessible format?

Students with disabilities who need course materials in an accessible format should contact the Office of Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services will coordinate approved accessibility requests with the bookstore as needed. The bookstore does not determine or directly provide accessibility accommodations, but may support fulfillment needs requested by the Office of Disability Services. Visit the Office of Disability Services for additional information.

What should I do if I have not received my textbooks?

Physical course material orders cannot be processed until your order is verified. If you have already verified your order and have not received your materials, contact or visit the Alabama State University Bookstore and provide your order number so the team can check the status of your order.

What happens if I change my course schedule?

If you make changes to your course schedule, you will receive an email notifying you that your required course materials have changed. If you drop a class after receiving physical course materials, return those materials to the bookstore within 48 hours. If your updated schedule requires physical course materials, you will need to verify your updated order and reserve your new materials for pickup or shipping.

I registered for a class with digital materials after the class start date. When will I receive access?

Digital course materials for newly added courses are delivered after your registration and course-material systems have synchronized. Please allow processing time after registration. If access does not appear, contact the bookstore or Bookstore Customer Care for assistance.

I registered for a class with physical materials after the class start date. When will I receive them?

After your registration is processed, you will receive an email notifying you of the course-material change and prompting you to verify your updated order. You must verify/reserve required physical course materials and select pickup or shipping before the bookstore can prepare the order. If an item is not currently in stock, additional ordering time may be required. Students who select shipping should also allow time for delivery.

When are my rental textbooks due back to the bookstore?

Rental textbooks are due on the last day of final exams for the semester, as published on the University academic calendar. Students will receive email reminders from Barnes & Noble College before the rental return deadline. Lab manuals and workbooks are yours to keep unless otherwise identified as rental materials.

Do I need to return a rental textbook if I will use the same title in a continuation course?

Yes. Rental textbooks must still be returned by the applicable rental deadline. If the same rental title is required for the next semester of a continuation course, it will be issued again for that semester. Students who wish to keep an eligible rental title should contact the bookstore about available purchase options during the return period.

Can I opt out of the Hornet Book Pack?

Yes. Students may opt out of the Hornet Book Pack for the entire semester. Participation is all-in or all-out, so students cannot opt out on a course-by-course basis.

The Hornet Book Pack opt-out window opens 30 days before the first day of classes and remains open through the Friday following the University’s deadline to withdraw and receive a 60% tuition adjustment.

Because academic calendar dates vary by semester, the exact opt-out deadline will also vary. Current opt-out dates will be published on the Hornet Book Pack webpage and communicated to students before the deadline.

Students who opt out will be responsible for obtaining their required course materials independently. Access to digital course materials provided through the Hornet Book Pack will be removed after the opt-out window closes.

How do I opt out?

During the opt-out window, use the opt-out link at the top of the Hornet Book Pack webpage and log in using your Hornet Access credentials. Follow the prompts to complete your opt-out selection.

After successfully opting out, you will receive a confirmation email. Please keep this email for your records.

How do I opt back in after I have opted out?

You may opt back into the Hornet Book Pack at any time before the opt-out window closes. Use the opt-out link at the top of the Hornet Book Pack webpage or follow the instructions in your opt-out confirmation email. Your final participation selection must be completed before the opt-out deadline.

Can I opt out if I already picked up my textbooks?

Yes. If you opt out after picking up rental textbooks, you must return those materials to the bookstore within 48 hours. Materials that are not returned may be subject to applicable replacement and non-return processing fees payable to Barnes & Noble College.

How do I purchase my course materials if I opt out of the Hornet Book Pack?

Students who opt out are responsible for obtaining their required course materials independently. Materials may be purchased through the Alabama State University Bookstore or the bookstore website at regular retail prices.

On the bookstore website, use the Course Material Finder and select the applicable semester opt-out option, then complete the required course information to retrieve your materials. Visit alasu.bncollege.com to shop for course materials.

I opted out, but I still see a Hornet Book Pack charge on my student account.

Once you successfully opt out of the Hornet Book Pack, you will receive a confirmation email verifying your opt-out status. Please keep this email for your records.

You may continue to see the Hornet Book Pack charge on your student account until the opt-out period has officially ended and account adjustments have been processed. The charge appearing on your account during the opt-out window does not necessarily mean that your opt-out was unsuccessful.

If you are unsure whether your opt-out was processed successfully, please check for your confirmation email or contact the Alabama State University Bookstore team for assistance. You may stop by the bookstore or email sm8602@bncollege.com.