Scheduling Guidelines for Alternative Textbook Fees

Course Sections CANNOT have BOTH an OPEN or 9073 note affiliated at the same time/or in a same term. ONLY one may be applied!!!

Open/Alternative Textbook Program {OATI}

The initiative provides grants between $2,000 and $10,000 to K-State faculty and instructors to help them develop or adopt alternatives to traditional print textbooks. Instead of purchasing traditional textbooks, students may pay a small $10 course fee in courses that use open or alternative methods.

The result is significant savings for K-State students and an incredible return on investment. For every $1,000 donated to the program, K-State has been able to save students a total of $8,000 overall. That is an 8:1 return on investment, and the program can achieve those returns every year.

Scheduling Process for Identifying and Assigning the "OPEN" Attribute on a Course Section in KSIS:

  1. Faculty/Instructor - if you are interested in this program you must first determine if your course meets the qualifications for this program. Please review the Qualifications listed here and when applicable make sure to connect with your Departmental or College Leadership as some courses may have a common textbook that either may already have this designation or may not be eligible for this option based on the materials utilized for ALL sections of the course(s) being taught.
  2. If eligible: Notify your Department or College Dean's Office Scheduling liaison so they are aware and can ensure that the "OPEN" course attribute is assigned to your course section in KSIS. If this is not assigned the $10 course fee is not assessed and you are not officially "claiming"/"certifying" you are utilizing this program for the semester.
  3. This must be done for EVERY Section you want to apply the "OPEN" textbook program attribute to.

How should my Scheduling Liaison or Dean’s Office notify the Office of the Registrar if the KSIS semester update window has closed?

Once the KSIS update window has closed, any course section changes must be submitted by the Department Scheduler or the Central Dean’s Office Scheduling Liaison—not by individual faculty members. The Office of the Registrar will not process requests submitted directly by faculty.

To request a change, the designated scheduler must submit a KSIS Request for Course Section Update form. This ensures that all updates are reviewed and authorized through the appropriate departmental or college-level processes before reaching the Registrar’s Office.

Receiving the Fee

Provided that the course is accurately identified and coded in KSIS with the "OPEN" attribute by 5:00 PM CST on the census date for the semester (as outlined in the academic calendar), the Division of Finance will initiate processes to reconcile the semester’s fees by course and associated academic organization ID. A notification email will be sent by Finance to the central business manager, informing them that the funds linked to this fee are now available for use.

Immediate Access Program

Immediate Access (aka. Inclusive Access or I.A.) program is a class-by-class program that immediately provides accessible, interactive digital course materials and textbooks while reducing the cost to students and improving affordability.

NOTE: 9073 - Immediate Access Eligible Course

Click here for additional information