Textbook Affordability and Access Program (TAAP)
TAAP:
Textbook Affordability and Access Program
Helping Students Start Ahead of the Curve
The UCCS Textbook Affordability and Access Program (TAAP) membership provides an innovative, personalized, and affordable course material experience for all students.
About Membership
Easy and Affordable Access to Textbooks
How does it work?
On or before the first day of class, students will receive all required physical and digital course materials without placing individual orders or paying out of pocket.
All students are automatically enrolled in TAAP membership with the option to “TAAP out.” Each student will have a personalized value sheet within their portal; they will then be able to make an informed decision to keep their membership or to TAAP out. When TAAPing out, it is all or nothing. Students either TAAP out entirely or stay in for all courses. Students can regain their membership once TAAPed out until Census.
What are the costs?
TAAP membership for Fall 2024 is calculated on a $25 (plus tax) flat amount per credit hour.
Benefits of Membership
Equity for All: TAAP advocates for educational equity, guaranteeing universal access to required materials. Similar to tuition, TAAP membership ensures that all students, regardless of their chosen degree, incur the same charges for required materials.
Timely Material Access: Experience the convenience of having all course materials delivered or ready for pick-up on or before the first day of class, eliminating delays or uncertainties. *Dependent on faculty selection and availability.
Academic Enhancement: Improve your academic performance with on-time, readily available course materials, potentially leading to early class engagement, higher grades, increased course completion, and higher graduation rates.
Financial Relief: Reduce costs and alleviate financial stressors often associated with course materials, making education more affordable.
No up-front costs: There are no out-of-pocket expenses for course materials. The TAAP membership charge is conveniently placed on your student account and not payable until billed by the Bursar. You can essentially “test drive” the program at no charge up until census.
Predictable costs: Easy to budget because it removes the uncertainty of how much textbooks will cost. Because it is based on your credit hours, you will always be able to calculate the cost upfront using your Personalized Value Sheet.
Price Transparency: Each semester, you are provided with a Personalized Value Sheet that compares your TAAP membership charge with the cost of the course materials at market rates. This provides you with data upon which you can make a fiscally responsible decision and consider these other benefits of TAAP membership.
Accurate Materials: Ensure you receive the correct edition, digital codes, and complete materials as required by the professor.
Personalized Convenience: Enjoy a personalized website experience showcasing all your registered courses and the required course materials, ensuring easy access to your learning resources.
Seamless Integration: Benefit from an integrated system that seamlessly connects digital materials through Canvas, enhancing your ability to access and reference course content. Dedicated Support: Rely on our Learner Experience team, available year-round, 24/7 support during the back-to-school season to assist you whenever needed.
Simplified Learning: TAAP reduces complexities and confusion by streamlining access to course materials, helping you focus on your studies.
What TAAP is NOT:
Mandatory: Participation in TAAP is entirely optional. You are encouraged to review your Personalized Value Sheet sheet to weigh the financial aspect of TAAP. If the membership benefits do not benefit you as a student, you can TAAP out. *Note: you are automatically enrolled in TAAP each semester with the option to TAAP out through your portal.
Partnership Benefits:
- Students: Receive all course materials by the first day of class at an affordable price. No special action, knowledge, or at-hand funds are needed.
- Faculty: Complete academic freedom to select course materials (including OER). Access to an easy-to-use adoption tool. Start teaching class with all students prepared.
- Administrators: Better retention rates and more affordable cost of education. Access to adoption cost insights to recommend lower-cost materials.
- Campus Store: More accurately predict and source texts, taking on less risk. Buys and ships in bulk to lower the cost per unit. Benefits from aggregate purchasing and can leverage that to negotiate costs.
- Publishers: Predictable and guaranteed quantities based on bookstore ordering to cap. Earlier and fixed adoption deadlines provide longer lead time to print and supply.
TAAP in Two Steps:
TAAP Partner
UCCS partners with Akademos, Inc. to deliver TAAP with the goal of ensuring all students have the materials they need at an affordable price. Akademos is an industry leader in online and hybrid bookstore solutions.
Through its integrated platform, students can visit their portal to review the required course materials they will receive along with where and how to access them.
Student FAQs
Explore commonly asked questions about TAAP at UCCS.