NHSC Introduces New Service For Online Textbook Ordering
At Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, students don’t need to make separate purchases for textbooks-it’s all included in the book fees!
Created in partnership with Akademos by VitalSource, NHSC’s Instant Access course material program is an innovative, personalized, and affordable solution for students. At the start of each qualifying term, all students will receive all the physical and digital course materials they need in order to succeed.
Here’s how it works:
Faculty select the course materials they want to use and submit it through the online bookstore website. Vital Source then sources the materials in physical and digital formats.
Students are automatically enrolled in the program. Once registered for the upcoming term, materials are compiled with physical textbooks mailed to campus while digital course material access information is emailed. You can access your materials by logging in to https://nhsc.vitalsource.com and see your assigned materials for your courses. You also have access to your course materials directly from mynhsc once your courses open for the semester.
You can then pick up and access materials on the first day of class without having to place individual orders or pay out of pocket. Digital books are placed within mynhsc and physical books may be picked up the first two weeks of class in the Main Lobby.
The cost is included in book fees and calculated on a flat fee per student per credit hour ($32), regardless of how much each individual textbook costs.
Student FAQ
- What is Instant Access/Total Access?
A. NHSC’s course material program Instant Access is administered through the NHSC Online Bookstore and provides all students with all of their required course materials on the first day of class at one affordable price. - Where can I find one list with everything I need for the term?
A. Visit the website at nhsc.vitalsource.com and log into the website with your Mynhsc login. Your “Student Homepage” will appear which will list all of the courses that you are registered for plus all of the materials that you will receive. - Is this a campus-wide program?
A. Yes, all students at NHSC are included in this program. - Does this cover all terms?
A. Yes, all Fall, Spring, and Summer term courses are included in the program. - Can I choose not to participate and order books from someplace else?
A. No, all students are included in this program and do not need to order textbooks from other vendors. - Do I have to verify my order before it is delivered?
A. No, the bookstore will send a confirmation email so that you know what materials you will be receiving, but you do not need to take any action to ensure the materials are delivered. - Are the course materials associated with my courses physical or digital?
A. This program provides a mix of physical and digital texts and often depends on faculty choice and availability. You can log into your bookstore account to see which items are physical and which are digital. - Do I need to return physical books at the end of the term?
A. No, you will own the textbooks at the end of the term. For digital course materials, you may have time limits on how long you can access them. You can review expiration dates in your bookstore eLibrary account.
Access Questions
- Where do I pick up my physical books?
A. You can pickup your books at the lobby during your first day of classes. - What happens if I don’t pick up my books?
A. The school will send out several notifications reminding you to pick up your books. If you do not pick them up, you will still be charged for the materials. Abandoned items will become property of the school. Materials will be available 9-5 Monday through Friday the first two weeks of class. - How do I access my digital course materials?
A. All digital course material access information will be emailed to you on or before the first day of class. Depending on the item, materials will be available through your LMS account, a publisher website, or through VitalSource. If you ever need a reminder about what digital course materials you should have access to, visit your eLibrary in your bookstore account to see a master list.
Payment Questions
- How much does this cost?
A. The cost is included in course materials and calculated on a flat fee ($32) per student per credit hour, regardless of how much each individual textbook costs. - How is payment processed?
A. Charges are included with course materials fee per credit hour. - What happens if I drop a class?
A. Refunds will be processed in accordance with existing deadlines and procedures through the school’s registrar’s office.
Learner Experience Questions
- What happens if I drop or add a course?
A. Adding a class: The bookstore will continually check for new enrollments in classes up until the add/drop date, so any new materials that are needed will continue to be processed. To check the delivery status, visit your bookstore account and click “Track.”
A. Dropping a class: If physical items were delivered to you, you will receive an email with return instructions. For digital course materials that have not been accessed, codes will be deactivated and you will no longer have access to the materials. If you have already accessed digital course materials for dropped courses, please contact the bookstore nhsc.vitalsource.com/help for further instructions.
Other Questions
- Who do I contact if I have additional questions about my course materials?
A. Contact the bookstore at nhsc.vitalsource.com/help also NHSC advisors can help direct you to get questions answered. - It’s the first day of class and my textbooks aren’t available for pickup or I don’t see the digital materials in my bookstore eLibrary account.
A. If you’ve recently added a course, then the order might still be on its way. Visit the website to review your personalized Student Homepage, which will show you when items arrived or if they are still on their way. You can also contact the jjanec@nhsc.edu for a status update or to review your account in case there is a discrepancy (contact awarden@nhsc.edu) for questions regarding student accounts. - What happens if physical items are damaged or destroyed?
A. If there is a problem with the items that were delivered, the bookstore will replace them as needed. Contact them via the Help page on the website. - What happens if I am missing a textbook or received the wrong one?
A. Contact the bookstore through the website and they will assist you. Make sure to include your email, course name, course section, and the ISBN of the missing item.