花椒直播

USM鈥檚 Textbook Voucher System for Traditional Main Campus Undergraduates

In an effort to make the cost of textbooks less burdensome on our students, the 花椒直播 has enacted a Textbook Voucher Program. All traditional undergraduate students on the main campus are eligible for the program.

Essentially, the program automatically provides a textbook voucher for you:

• If you plan to pay for your books with financial aid, you will no longer have to contact the Business Office to request a voucher.
• If you are using a USM payment plan, the cost of your books are spread across the length of your payment plan rather than you having to absorb the price of books all at once.

 

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

As part of the new system, all program-eligible students will have a $350 voucher for textbook costs on the university鈥檚 official online book store, MBS Direct, each semester.

They will also have a corresponding charge on their student accounts.

(Also: USM students get free shipping on all MBS textbook orders.)

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Students have until the last date to drop classes without receiving a 鈥淲鈥�鈥攇enerally two weeks following the start of a semester鈥�to take advantage of the voucher.

Any unspent voucher dollars will be credited back to your account.

Voucher dollars spent will remain on your account.

 

WHAT IF I DON'T WANNA?

STUDENTS MAY OPT-OUT of this program by filling out a form on USM鈥檚 eSpire intranet portal. This form will be available beginning July 1. Please note: Traditional undergraduate students will be automatically re-enrolled in the program each semester. Also, if you simply do not use the voucher dollars, the entire $350 will be credited back to your account.

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WAIT, WHAT? 鈥� FAQs

 

Is this program mandatory?

NO, you may opt out. Opt out forms will be available beginning July 1, and you will receive notification of their availability via your stmary.edu email account. Students who do not opt out will have a $350 charge on their accounts to cover the voucher.

 

Is this a grant?

NO. You are being billed for the value of the voucher. The point of the voucher system is to either allow financial aid to cover the costs of your books or to allow you to spread the costs of your textbooks across your payment plan.

 

Where can the voucher be used?

The voucher may ONLY be used at MBS Direct鈥擴SM鈥檚 online book store, accessible at www.stmary.edu/books. At this time, the voucher may not be used with any other vendor.

 

What can the vouchers be used on?

Textbook costs at MBS direct. Vouchers may be used on paper or electronic copies鈥攏ew, used, and rental copies are covered. The voucher may NOT be used on the third-party marketplace.

 

If I previously received aid-based vouchers, do I still need to request one?

NO. Your textbook voucher is now automatically assigned to your account.

 

Do I have to spend all $350?

NO. Once the voucher reaches its expiration date, your account will be credited back for any unspent textbook voucher money.

 

Does the voucher expire?

YES. The voucher expires at the deadline to drop classes without receiving a W鈥攇enerally two weeks after the start of class.

 

Is there a voucher for each semester? Or each year?

A voucher will be assigned to your account each semester.

 

Can I opt back in to the voucher system once I鈥檝e opted out?

Not for that semester. However, you will automatically be re-enrolled in the system at the start of the following semester.

 

If I鈥檓 not interested in this system, do I only need to opt out once?

NO. You must opt out each semester.

 

If I have a balance on my voucher, can it be rolled forward to the next semester?

NO. Once the voucher reaches its expiration date, your account will be credited back for any unspent textbook voucher money.

 

What if my books cost more than $350?

You will have to pay the difference directly to MBS.