First Day is an all-access course materials program allowing students to have their materials (print or digital) by the first day of class. Through this program, physical books are conveniently packaged and provided to students and access to digital material is directly within Canvas. The materials cost is included in tuition at a discounted price and is eligible to be covered by financial aid. Studies show that student success increases when students have the correct learning materials from the start of class.
NOTE: In Fall 2026 term, only select courses are in the First Day program. Students should refer to the ODU Fall 2026 course catalog to determine if their courses are part of the First Day program.
First Day Complete is a course material delivery model that simplifies the student experience, lowers the cost of materials, and ensures students have access to all required course materials on or before the first day of class. Through this innovative program, physical books are conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and access to digital material is directly within the campus LMS, simply priced at $22 per credit hour. At the end of the term, students will receive email reminders to return rented physical course materials to the bookstore.
- Register for your classes and the bookstore will start preparing your course materials
- One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you)
- An email 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) within the LMS
The program provides all required textbooks, eTextbooks, lab manuals, and access codes to eligible students.
The program does not include consumable course supplies that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, engineering kits or nursing kits.
All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the First Day® Complete program.
Students have the option to opt-out of the First Day® Complete program each semester during the opt-out window. The opt-out window is open 3 weeks prior to the start of the term and will remain open through the add/drop deadline. By opting out, students will not receive their required materials in a convenient package and access to digital content will be removed after the opt-out window closes. Options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website. To begin the opt-out process, please follow this link.
To change your opt-out status and opt into the First Day® Complete program, please click here or follow the instructions found in the opt-out confirmation email you received after opting-out. Please note you must make your final selection by
Students will be responsible for purchasing their required course materials through the bookstore.
The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of final exams for the semester. Students will receive reminders ahead of the rental deadline to their email address.
Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase any rental textbooks at a reduced rate during the semester.
Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.
Students will receive email notifications from the bookstore reminding them to verify their order and choose their fulfillment preference. If the student does not opt-out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.
Yes, if the student does not opt-out, physical materials will be held at the bookstore, digital materials will be accessed through the LMS and the student account will be charged.
If course materials have been picked up or delivered for the dropped class, those materials should be returned to the bookstore within 48 hours. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required course materials so that you have what you need.
Yes, you will have 48 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, the charges for the bundle will remain on your student account and you will be subject to a replacement and non-return processing fee.
For General Questions about The Big Blue Bundle:
- Call the Bookstore: (757) 683-3400
- Email: sm8590@bncollege.com
- Visit the campus Bookstore: 4417 Monarch Way, Norfolk VA 23508
For Technical Assistance with digital materials in Canvas:
- Open a ticket online for the Customer Care Team
- Email the Customer Care Team
- Call the Customer Care Team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)
For Student Account questions: tuition@odu.edu
First Day Faculty Information
The First Day All-Access program is a driver of student success. Nearly one in five students skipped or deferred a class due to costs associated with course materials. Without implementing the First Day program, only 28% of students have all the required materials on First Day of class, but with First Day, 100% have their materials for First Day. Approximately 77% of faculty use the required textbooks in every class and three out of four students agree having their textbook helps them get better grades.
Students receive their course materials at the start of class, regardless of their economic status or situation, so they arrive on First Day ready to learn. The faculty no longer has to worry about students being prepared with the correct materials on First Day, and no longer have to act as tech support for digital materials or access code logins.
A recent, 12-month study of VCCS found that with the First Day program, students were more likely to earn higher grades and less likely to withdrawal.
This program provides students with the right materials from First Day while ensuring faculty retain the academic freedom to choose the materials that best suit their teaching methods and preferences. Faculty are free to choose any format they find most beneficial to their student; digital, physical, or a combination of both. The First Day program does not impact the course materials used, rather the process by which students receive them.
To guarantee students receive First Day materials on first day of classes, adoption submission deadlines are crucial. Adoptions can be submitted through Barnes & Noble College’s Adoption Insights Portal (AIP). Please contact the bookstore if you have trouble accessing this tool or if you would like to schedule a training session for your department/team.