Tigers SmartStart
Be ready with Tigers SmartStart!
ACCESS | CONVENIENCE | AFFORDABILITY
The Program
Ever wish for an easier, more affordable way to gather your course materials at the start of the semester? The UofM's Tigers SmartStart program gives undergraduate students access to all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes, and electronic book versions in a convenient bundle before the first day of class—in most cases, at discounted prices.
Through a partnership with Barnes & Noble College, Tigers SmartStart allows undergraduate students to receive required course materials for all classes for a flat fee of $24 per credit hour, regardless of how much each individual textbook or digital access would cost to rent or purchase separately.
Instead of purchasing materials a la carte, the rental cost is applied to the student’s account at the time of registration. The UofM bookstore provides each student with a convenient package for physical books, and digital materials are automatically populated to students’ courses in Canvas.
Reduce the cost of traditional textbooks by up to 50% with Tigers SmartStart!
How It Works
| Register for Classes | Verify Your Order | Receive Your Textbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Upon registering for courses, students will be automatically enrolled in the program. Once you've successfully selected your courses, the bookstore will start preparing your order. | No later than 30 days before the first day of classes, you will receive an e-mail to verify your order and select your fulfillment preference. For Spring 2023, you can verify your order beginning December 5. The deadline to change your program status for Spring 2023 closes January 27, 2023. | An e-mail 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) in Canvas. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Details
This program, for UofM undergraduate students, is an institution-wide response to the increasing number of students who lack access to required course material due to cost. This program makes getting textbooks easier for students, which will ultimately improve their success at UofM. Tigers SmartStart is estimated to reduce the cost of traditional textbook purchases by an average of 40 to 50% and provide them by the first day of class.
We encourage students to enjoy deeply discounted and guaranteed course material on the first day of class. We also understand this program may not meet the needs of every student. If you do not wish to participate in the program, you will need to opt out every semester. For Spring 2023, you can follow this link beginning on December 18, 2022 through January 27, 2023 to opt-out of the program..
Yes, for Spring 2023 you can appeal through February 27. You must be able to show extenuating circumstances as to why you did not opt-out within the time frame allotted or show that your individual circumstances have significantly changed. If the appeal window is active, you can click the button at the top of the page labeled “APPEAL” and it will send you to an email where you should share your narrative appeal and attach any pertinent documentation. Be sure to include your UID!
If your course information states "no materials required," it means your faculty member has confirmed that there are no required course materials for that course. If your course information states "pending book information," your faculty member has not yet confirmed the required course materials or confirmed that there are no course materials required. We recommend that you check the information for changes periodically for changes and reach out to the bookstore with questions.
Yes, you can change your decision during the opt-out window by following this link. Keep in mind you will need to return your textbooks if you have already received them.
You can opt out beginning 30 days before the first day of class and up until the second Friday of classes. Please note that the program will follow the established University refund schedule found here. For Spring 2023 courses, you may opt out between December 18, 2022 – January 27, 2023.
YES! Follow this link to opt back into the program! Students can opt-out and opt back in one time. Should you make an error and wish to opt back into the program and can longer do so through the provided link, please contact the UofM bookstore.
TN eCampus books can only be purchased through the TN eCampus Virtual Bookstore and are not part of SmartStart. For more information on TN eCampus classes, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/cpls/online/startonline.php. If you are enrolled in a both TN eCampus and UofM online classes, Tigers SmartStart will be applied to your UofM online classes only.
Students will receive emails to remind them to verify their order. All students will get charged unless they opt out whether they verify an order or not.
Yes. Unless you opt out, your materials will be held at the bookstore and your student account will be charged.
You may return the book or other course material to the UofM bookstore. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, revisit the email link to verify changes and select your delivery method. Or, visit the bookstore, and they will “swap” the required textbooks and codes so that you have what you need.
Yes, you will have 72 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, the charges for the program will not be removed from your student account.
This program is designed to be an all-in or all-out solution to bring affordability to campus.
Students can opt-out of the program and source their textbooks and course materials independently.
For program questions, please contact the bookstore by e-mailing UofMbookstore@memphis.edu.
The UofM’s bookstore website and a verification email will provide the level of detail needed for a student to make the best decision for their situation.
We are committed to protecting all personal information and take the utmost precautions to secure and store data.
The data provided to the bookstore is only used to help us deliver all your course materials based on your selected courses.
No. We are committed to the safeguarding of all personal information.
Payment
This program will cost a flat fee of $24 per credit hour, regardless of how much each textbook would cost if you purchased or rented it separately.
This program charge will be included on your student account, along with other charges such as tuition and fees. This allows a student to use Financial Aid, scholarships, etc. to pay for their course materials. Supplies are not included in this program and will need to be purchased separately.
The program will be handled in the same fashion as all other tuition and fees, and refunds will be processed in accordance with existing deadlines and procedures found here. Refunds specifically related to Tigers SmartStart will be processed weekly.
Materials
Required course material is provided in the format requested by the faculty. Your bundle could have a mix of physical and digital materials depending on the adopted format. All digital material will be automatically loaded into your Canvas account.
We are committed to providing accessible material, and the bookstore team can help with any special requests.
Students with disabilities who need textbooks in an accessible format should register with the office of Disability Resources for Students (DRS). The DRS application can be found here. DRS will work with the UofM bookstore to help provide accessible alternative formats to students with qualifying disabilities.
The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, study guides, access codes, and digital course materials to all undergraduate students in the delivery format (physical or digital) selected by faculty.
The program does not include course materials for graduate students programs or consumables that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, engineering kits, or nursing kits.
Yes!
We know things happen! Contact the bookstore team to work it out on a case-by-case basis.
You will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester after successful registration of the continuation course.
Yes! Students are offered an option to buy the textbook at the end of the semester at a discounted price. Students should work directly with the bookstore if they wish to purchase.
Additionally, if you have been granted an incomplete, contact the bookstore who will work with you to retain your materials during the window of time you have been given to complete the course.
The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of finals. Students will receive email reminders about the rental deadline to their UofM email address.
You should receive your first email approximately 30 days before classes begin provided you have registered for classes. If you have not received any emails from BNC, please check your junk/spam folder and make sure you have not blocked emails from @bncollege.com.
Digital course materials do not require you to select a fulfillment preference. Your digital materials will be available in Canvas by the first day of class.
No. Please use the link included in the Tigers SmartStart confirmation emails to verify and reserve your books. You can also utilize this link or the button at the top of this page after you have registered for courses.