CAP preserves faculty academic freedom while ensuring students receive their required materials in the most affordable and convenient format.
Faculty Benefits
No Last-Minute Stress: Early textbook adoptions ensure smooth, on-time distribution
Greater Student Success: Students arrive prepared and engaged from day one
More Format Choices: Print, digital, OER, and library-licensed materials all supported
Seamless LMS Integration: Digital resources are accessed via Canvas
Supports OER Use: Faculty can incorporate free or open-access resources
CAP allows students to compare the program cost with retail pricing, so they can make an informed choice.
Faculty FAQs
The Course Materials Access Program (CAP) is CWU’s new approach to delivering required course materials to undergraduate students. Beginning Fall 2025, students will receive day-one access to their course materials—whether digital or physical—for a flat rate each quarter.
The CAP flat rate covers:
Required physical textbooks
Required digital textbooks and courseware
Required access codes
Required course packs
The CAP flat rate does NOT cover:
Lab supplies, safety equipment, and apparel
Calculators, art supplies, and kits
Other non-ISBN course materials
Out of print textbooks
Optional or alternative versions of textbooks
You’ll continue choosing the materials that best support your course. Submitting those materials in a timely manner is vital to ensure those materials are delivered to students by the first day of class. CAP does not change your academic freedom or adoption process.
No. Faculty maintain full control over all readily available textbook and resource selection. However, we encourage digital-first and Open Educational Resources (OER) options when feasible, to help manage student costs and increase accessibility.
To ensure all students receive their materials on time, its important to:
Submit your course material adoptions on time according to state and federal regulation and by the campus deadline.
Clearly identify all required materials in your adoption.
When submitting your adoptions, include all non-ISBN materials, so that the Wildcat Shop can provide them for your students. Non-ISBN materials will not be covered by CAP.
Select readily available textbooks for your classes. Out of print books will not be part of CAP.
Most digital materials are integrated into Canvas and available by day one.
Required physical materials and access codes are available for free pickup at the Wildcat Shop or can be shipped for a fee.
Non-CAP course materials will also be available for purchase at the Wildcat Shop.
CAP includes digital materials traditionally provided through the Inclusive Access model. Students who opt out of CAP but remain enrolled in the IA program will still be charged for any IA books they have not opted out of, but will have to purchase physical course materials separately at the Wildcat Shop.
Students may choose to opt out of the program by the add/drop deadline of the upcoming quarter by going to their Canvas page. If they do:
They will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing their own physical course materials.
They may still appear in your course roster with a mix of access types.
Once opted out of CAP, students can still acquire Inclusive Access materials or can fully opt out and acquire their digital materials independently.
Day-one access ensures all students start the term prepared.
Flat-rate pricing makes costs more predictable across all majors.
Financial aid eligibility allows materials to be covered like tuition and housing.
Increased student preparedness.
Less time troubleshooting access issues at the start of the term.
Improved access to required content, supporting classroom engagement and success.
The Wildcat Shop is here to support you. Contact us at textbooks@cwu.edu for help with adoptions, questions about digital delivery, or anything else related to CAP.
The Course Materials Access Program (CAP) is designed to make required course materials more accessible and affordable for all students—goals that closely align with CWU’s support for Open Educational Resources (OER).
Here's how they work together:
Faculty choice is central. If you’re already using OER—or would like to—CAP fully supports that. Materials with no cost to students (including OER) are recognized in the adoption process and are reflected in the flat-rate pricing.
Encouraging lower-cost options. CAP provides a framework for more consistent material access, while also encouraging a shift toward digital-first and openly licensed resources when it fits the course.
Partnering with the Libraries. The Wildcat Shop and CWU Libraries are working together to provide tools, training, and support for faculty interested in adopting, remixing, or creating OER materials.
Student savings. When OERs are adopted, the overall cost of CAP is reduced—helping to lower the average price for everyone while supporting access for those who need it most.
Additional Questions?
Our team at the Wildcat Shop is happy to help! Reach out to us by emailing textbooks@cwu.edu, calling us at 509-963-1311, or stop by the store and chat with us in person.
Your education should be about learning—not stressing over textbooks. CAP makes it possible.
