BooksPlus at CNM

BooksPlus is CNM's expanded course materials program. It provides required course materials to students as part of their enrollment in participating courses. Rather than finding and purchasing many required materials separately, students receive access through BooksPlus for $28 per credit hour. 

BooksPlus is intended to increase first-day access to course materials, reduce financial barriers, reduce delays, simplify the process of obtaining required materials, create more predictable course material costs for students, and support a more equitable student experience. 

BooksPlus at CNM is planned to launch for the Spring 2027 term. 

Participation in BooksPlus is automatic for students enrolled in participating courses, but you may choose to opt out during the designated opt-out period each term by visiting the Opt Out Portal. High school dual credit students should not opt out without discussing with their high school first. 

Students who opt out:

• Will not receive course materials through BooksPlus
• Must obtain all required textbooks and course materials on their own
• May lose access to digital publisher content provided through BooksPlus

Additional information about opt-out dates and instructions will be provided before each term begins. 

You may opt in or opt out any time during the opt out window for your courses. This will depend on each course part of term and start date. 

The BooksPlus charge covers required course materials for participating courses. Instead of purchasing many of those materials separately, you pay a course-materials charge based on your enrolled credit hours. 

• High school dual credit students do not need to pay for BooksPlus if their high school or school district covers the cost.
• Students attending a participating public or charter high school will have BooksPlus billed to their high school toward the end of the term.
• Some private schools may also cover the cost of BooksPlus. Private school students should check with their high school to confirm whether their school will cover the cost.
• Homeschool students are responsible for paying for BooksPlus.

Required course materials are determined by the faculty member teaching the course. You will receive instructions for accessing digital materials and obtaining physical materials when applicable. 

You will receive instructions through your CNM email or course on how to access your materials. Digital materials will generally be available through 'My Materials' or the 'Follett My Materials' link in Brightspace. 

Physical materials will be distributed through the CNM Bookstore. You will receive an email with a QR code when physical materials are ready for you to pickup. You will receive instructions regarding when and where your materials are available for pickup. 

No. Required materials included in the BooksPlus program do not need to be purchased. Only recommended materials and supplies would be purchased separately. Be sure to review your course information before purchasing additional materials. 

Enrollment information will be updated through the BooksPlus process.

Adding a Class

If you add a participating course, you will receive access to applicable digital materials and instructions for obtaining any required physical materials. Please note: It can take up to 48 hours for digital material to be available after you register for a participating class. Physical materials may take additional time to prepare. 

Dropping a Class

If you drop a participating class, digital access will be discontinued, and physical materials will need to be returned depending on the material and timing of the course drop. 

Physical materials provided through BooksPlus generally do not need to be returned at the end of a successfully completed course unless otherwise identified. 

If you drop a course, you will be required to return certain physical materials. You must return physical materials that have been picked up before having the ability to opt out of the program. 

Please review whether opting out of BooksPlus makes financial sense based on the cost for all required materials for your courses. 

BooksPlus may include more than textbooks, such as digital access codes, homework platforms, kits, uniforms, or other required materials. 

Please contact the CNM Bookstore or the BooksPlus support team at [email protected] for course-material access issues. 

No. Faculty will continue to select the course materials, publishers, and formats appropriate for their courses. BooksPlus changes how materials are delivered and paid for; it does not remove faculty authority over course-material selection. 

No. Faculty retain authority over course-material adoption decisions. 

Yes. Faculty may continue using OER resources when appropriate. BooksPlus is intended to complement CNM's OER strategy, not replace it.

Pressbooks remains available for faculty-created and OER content.

Yes. Faculty may continue selecting physical materials when they determine those materials are appropriate for the course. Faculty requiring physical materials must make this request clear when listing materials for their classes. 

BooksPlus is designed to include required course materials beyond traditional textbooks, including lab kits, program toolkits, consumables, uniforms, scrubs, and other instructional materials. Follett has indicated that high-cost specialty kits may also be included.  CNM may also request that a kit be excluded. Specific items will depend on the course adoption and program requirements. 

No. Faculty are not responsible for: 

• Processing student opt-outs.  
• Collecting BooksPlus payments.  
• Processing refunds.  
• Resolving student billing issues.  

Students should be directed to the appropriate BooksPlus/CNM support resource. 

Faculty should continue to: 

• Select appropriate course materials.  
• Submit course-material adoptions by established deadlines.  
• Clearly identify required versus optional materials.  
• Build and manage their courses in Brightspace.  
• Direct students to official BooksPlus support resources when assistance is needed.  

Faculty should generally continue building and managing courses in Brightspace as they do today. Additional instructions will be provided when a publisher integration or digital course material requires specific setup. 

Dual Credit schools will participate in BooksPlus.  

• High school dual credit students do not need to pay for BooksPlus if their high school or school district covers the cost.
• Students attending a participating public or charter high school will have BooksPlus billed to their high school toward the end of the term.
• Some private schools may also cover the cost of BooksPlus. Private school students should check with their high school to confirm whether their school will cover the cost.
• Homeschool students are responsible for paying for BooksPlus.

Digital materials may be provided through Brightspace or publisher platforms. Physical materials will be distributed through established CNM Bookstore processes. Additional instructions may be coordinated through CNM and participating high school partners. 

For course-material fulfillment or access issues, partners may be directed to the CNM Bookstore or the BooksPlus support team at [email protected].

Employees should understand the basic program structure so they can help students find the correct information and support resources.

Employees generally should not attempt to resolve specialized billing, financial aid, opt-out, or course-material access issues unless those functions fall within their area of responsibility.  

The CNM Bookstore or the BooksPlus support team at [email protected] should be the primary resource for questions involving: 

• Textbooks  
• Digital access  
• Access codes  
• Physical-material pickup  
• Course-material availability  
• Kits and Uniform information 

The appropriate CNM Cashier's Office resource should handle questions regarding charges, account adjustments, and refunds. 

CNM Financial Aid should assist students with questions regarding their individual financial aid eligibility and how available aid applies to BooksPlus charges. 

Implementation and support involve collaboration among areas including: 

• Auxiliary Enterprises  
• CNM Bookstore/Follett  
• Cashier's Office 
• Education & Learning
• Financial Aid  
• Information Technology Services
• P20/Dual Credit  
• Marketing and Communications  
• Registrar    

BooksPlus charges are expected to post to the student account at registration for participating courses. 

The per-credit-hour model creates a predictable pricing structure across participating courses while providing access to required course materials. CNM evaluated different pricing approaches during development of the program. 

The BooksPlus charge is intended to replace many separate out-of-pocket purchases of required course materials, as well as some course charges in particular classes that have required kits and/or uniforms. Depending on the student's courses, this can include textbooks, digital content, access codes, course kits, and other required materials. 

Billing adjustments associated with enrollment changes will be processed according to CNM's established registration, refund, and BooksPlus timelines. 

When a student opts out, Follett provides the applicable charge information and CNM is responsible for reversing the charge on the student account. The timing of the CNM account adjustment is still being finalized. 

Eligible financial aid may be applied to BooksPlus charges when aid becomes available in accordance with CNM's normal financial aid processes. If available aid does not fully cover the charge, the student is responsible for the remaining balance. Students with questions about their individual aid package should contact Financial Aid.