FGCU First Day Ready Frequently Asked Questions

FGCU First Day Ready is a course material delivery model that simplifies the student experience, lowers the cost of materials, and ensures students have access to all required course materials on or before the first day of class. Through this innovative program, physical books are conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and access to digital material is directly within the Learning Management System (Canvas), simply priced at $20 per credit hour. At the end of the term, students will receive email reminders to return rented physical course materials to the bookstore.

• Register for your classes and the bookstore will start preparing your course materials
• One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you)
• An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships
• Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within Canvas
• Go to your Bill and Payment Center to view your First Day Ready charges 

All students registered for undergraduate coursework are eligible for participation in FGCU First Day Ready program.

The program provides all required textbooks, eTextbooks, lab manuals, and access codes to eligible students. 

The program does not include non-required course materials and consumable course supplies that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, engineering kits or nursing kits.

All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the FGCU First Day Ready program.

Students have the option to opt-out of the FGCU First Day Ready program each semester during the opt-out window. By opting out, students will not receive their required materials in a convenient package and access to digital content will be removed after the opt-out window closes.  Options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website, fgcu.bncollege.com. To begin the opt-out process, please follow this link.

To change your opt-out status and opt into the FGCU First Day Ready program, please click here or follow the instructions found in the opt-out confirmation email you received after opting-out. Please note you must make your final selection by the end of the opt-out window each semester.

No, there is no limit to how many times you opt-out or opt back into the FGCU First Day Ready program. However, you will be unable to take any further action beyond the opt-out / opt-in deadline.

Options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website, fgcu.bncollege.com.

The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of final exams for the semester. Students will receive reminders ahead of the rental deadline to their email address.

Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase any rental textbooks at a reduced rate during the semester. 

Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.

Students will receive email notifications from the bookstore reminding them to verify their order and choose their fulfillment preference. If the student does not opt-out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

Yes, if the student does not opt-out, physical materials will be held at the bookstore, digital materials will be accessed through the LMS and the student account will be charged.

If course materials have been picked up or delivered for the dropped class, those materials should be returned to the bookstore within 48 hours. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required course materials so that you have what you need.

Yes, you will have 48 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, you will be subject to a replacement and non-return processing fee. 

For General Questions about FGCU First Day Ready, please:

Call the Bookstore at 239-590-1150

Email our team at firstdayready@fgcu.edu

Visit the campus Bookstore in the Cohen Student Union

For Technical Assistance with digital materials in Canvas:

Open a ticket online for the Customer Care Team

Email the Customer Care Team

Call the Customer Care Team at 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)

The FGCU First Day Ready program is designed to be an all-in or all-out solution by session for the lowest flat rate possible. Participation is by session for all courses, not by individual course, therefore participation in some courses but not others in each session is not possible.

You will pay FGCU.  The FGCU First Day Ready charge will be included on your FGCU student account along with other charges such as tuition and fees. This allows you to use financial aid, scholarships, etc. to pay for your course materials.

There may be additional costs incurred when verifying your purchase with Barnes & Noble that are required to be paid out of pocket as follows. Upon verifying your order, if you add recommended textbooks, extra supplies, materials or merchandise, you will be required to pay the bookstore with a debit card, credit card, or your FGCU Eagle ID for those additional items. If you choose to have your materials shipped upon verifying your order, an additional shipping charge will be added. 

Yes, if you opt-out of the FGCU First Day Ready program you may qualify for a book advance up to $600.  This is based on the amount of eligible financial aid that you have after covering all of your institution charges for the semester. For more information about the Advance Book Purchase program click here.

FGCU First Day Ready charges will be added to and removed from your FGCU student account in the same way tuition is when you add and drop a class. You will be charged $20 per credit hour for each undergraduate course that you are enrolled in. Just like you are credited tuition for any course dropped prior to the add/drop deadline, you will be credited the FGCU First Day Ready charge for such dropped courses. Students must return any course materials received for the dropped classes prior to or immediately upon dropping the classes but no later than the deadline outlined by Barnes & Noble. Students who do not return the course materials for dropped classes will be charged for the cost of those course materials.

Yes, FGCU First Day Ready charges can be covered by Financial Aid. Financial Aid is applied to charges based on their due date. If the available funds fully cover the charges, no further action is required. However, if there is a shortfall, that amount would need to be paid out-of-pocket by the posted due date. 

You will not be charged a late fee if you do not pay the FGCU First Day Ready charge to FGCU by the due date for payment of tuition and fees. However, holds may be applied to your FGCU student account if the balance is not paid in full. The balance will remain on your account indefinitely.

Yes, if you have an outstanding FGCU First Day Ready charge on your student account, you will have holds placed. Such holds may restrict registration, the awarding of diplomas and access to other resources and services of the university.

If you have a FGCU First Day Ready charge on your account and you opted-out of the program by the deadline for that term, you may email the bookstore at firstdayready@fgcu.edu. The bookstore will work with FGCU to resolve the issue and will communicate with you regarding a solution.

If you are a dual enrollment student taking classes online or on campus at FGCU, you are automatically enrolled in the FGCU First Day Ready program and should verify your course materials and select a fulfillment method when you receive the verification email from Barnes & Noble.  If you have any questions or concerns, you should communicate directly with the Department of Early College Programs.