Lehigh Learning Unlimited: Streamlining Access to Course Materials
Lehigh University is committed to helping students reach their full academic potential by piloting a new course materials program called Learning Unlimited for undergraduate students. Learning Unlimited is a flat fee course material model that lowers the cost of materials for full-time undergraduate students and ensures those students have access to all of their required course materials on or before the first day of class. This initiative aims to improve classroom preparedness, retention, and academic success, while also making course materials more accessible. The program is expected to reduce the cost of course materials by saving an average of 35% to 50% off the new price during a student’s academic journey at Lehigh.
Key Features of Learning Unlimited
Instead of purchasing materials a la carte, the Learning Unlimited course materials program will provide access to all required course materials for full-time undergraduate students before the first day of class for one low flat fee per semester. The negotiated price is locked in with publishers annually, allowing families to budget the entire cost of their education for the academic year. This eliminates the need for students to shop around or worry about book lists.
Through this new program, physical books will be conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and digital materials will be delivered directly within CourseSite. The program provides the faculty-selected and accurate version of all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes, and digital materials.
Digital materials are easily available with one-click access inside the CourseSite LMS. Course Site is Lehigh's learning management system (LMS). It is a rebranded instance of Moodle, the well known and widely used open-source learning management system. Course Site has built-in features for posting resources, creating student engagement, fostering collaboration and discussion, and submission of assignments and assessments. Additionally, several LTS-supported educational technology tools integrate with Course Site, expanding the features available to support your course pedagogy, course design, and course development. Currently these tools include:Zoom (web conferencing)Panopto (instructional video recording)Turnitin (promote academic integrity, discourage plagiarism)Perusall (social reading annotation) Piazza (forums and Q&A platform)Poll Everywhere (audience response)GradeScope (digital feedback and grading)Google Workspace (collaborative web-based tools)Learning Unlimited (enhanced textbook content and activities through the Lehigh bookstore)Course Site is also connected to Banner so courses are automatically provisioned exactly as specified in the university course catalog, course enrollments are automatically synced, and users are provisioned automatically based on role. This setup ensures compliance with university policies and applicable federal law including FERPA/HIPAA.Prior to the beginning of each semester, faculty can request that a Course Site be made available to them for each course that they are teaching.
The Lehigh Store is committed to helping as they normally do in those situations.
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Cost and Billing
Costs will be part of tuition and fees. Students will pay for the total number of credits taken a semester, not by the number of courses utilizing the program.
Opt-Out Option
While this program is expected to ease the process of obtaining your required course materials and lower your overall costs, students have the option to opt-out of this program. Lehigh will charge a course material fee for each semester, but unlike other fees, students will be able to opt out of Learning Unlimited by the add/drop date at their sole discretion.
The opt-out period for each semester is open 30 days prior to the first day of class and ends on the 10th day of class. Upon registering for courses, you will be automatically enrolled into the program. At this point, you will be able to opt out of the program, should you choose. When you opt out, you will be able to compare the cost of purchasing your textbooks ala carte versus the Learning Unlimited fee. Students may opt out by semester.
Filling out a worksheet does NOT constitute opting out. The opt out link is available starting December 16, 2024. If you opt back into the program, the $375 will be reapplied to your Bursar account. This payment will be due immediately if your opt back in is applied after the semester due date of January 2, 2025.
Textbook Returns
The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of finals. Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You may return the book to The Lehigh Store on the same terms and timelines currently in place. Yes, you will have 48 hours to return your textbooks.
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Pilot Program Details
Lehigh is piloting this new course materials program called Learning Unlimited for undergraduate students. The program will ensure students have all their materials across all courses prior to the first day of class. This is a three-year pilot program.
No, there are no restrictions to the course materials you select for your course.
Additional Considerations
Offers students who require learning accommodations more accessible and equitably priced learning materials. For example, a student with disabilities may require the digital version of a book while the inexpensive used books are all print. We understand some savvy and quick students will be able to find 3rd party sources (i.e. online marketplaces and peer-to-peer) for less money. The need for different versions (digital vs print) to meet the accessibility needs of students with disabilities. We calculate the savings of the program based on the “new” price for clarity, consistency, and reportability over time. The price of a new textbook is consistent and easy to find, and always available in the marketplace, unlike used textbooks. There are a couple of additional reasons for this. Some savvy students can find less expensive course materials.
Those wanting to improve individual performance in the classroom, as well as those finding issues inhibiting their academic performance, are encouraged to meet with a member of the student support staff. Staff members work with students to assist their development both inside and outside the classroom, assessing the situation and creating a plan for improvement.
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