HCC Bookstore
Cougar Access is an affordable textbook rental program that takes all the hassle out of getting your classroom materials. Through this program, you can save money on your textbooks, lab manuals, and electronic book versions and have them conveniently delivered before your first day of class. All HCC students are automatically enrolled with an option to unenroll in My Account Dashboard.
STUDENT COST COMPARISON
Cougar Access Calculator
Compare your semester's bundled materials cost with buying materials yourself.
Your courses this semester
Add each course, enter its credit hours, and estimate the cost of its materials if you opt out of Cougar Access+.
This calculator uses the $25 rate requested for this custom version. Confirm the actual fee with HCC before making your decision.
Your cost comparison
Enter your courses to get started
Your comparison will appear here automatically.
OER materials are estimated at $0. OERL defaults to $25 but can be adjusted to the actual courseware price. Traditional materials default to $100 as a placeholder. Replace estimates with actual prices whenever possible.
This is an estimate, not an official opt-out submission. Opting out applies to the entire semester, not individual courses. You remain responsible for obtaining all required materials.
How to use the results
- Stay enrolled: The bundle costs less than buying your materials separately.
- Consider opting out: Your estimated individual material costs are lower than the bundle fee.
- Compare carefully: Use actual bookstore or publisher prices, including access codes and required digital materials.
Check the official HCC Cougar Access+ page for program rules and current opt-out deadlines.
How it works
- Register for classes
Once you register for classes, you will be automatically enrolled in the program and the bookstore will begin preparing your order.
- Verify your order
Starting 30 days before the first day of classes, you will receive an email to verify your order and address, if you want to books shipped to you. Verify your order on My Account Dashboard
- Receive your materials
An email and text verification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup at the Campus Store. Please bring your student ID or have your order ID number ready. Your digital materials will be delivered for your course within Canvas.
Unenrolling
Cougar Access is designed to help HCC students easily obtain their course materials at a discounted price, but the program may not fit every student. If you do not wish to participate in the Cougar Access program, you must unenroll each semester. Please keep in mind if you do unenroll of Cougar Access, you will lose access to your digital materials along with the physical books. You will be required to purchase these materials outside of the program. You can manage your program status 30 days before the semester begins. The first and last days to unenroll are as follows:
Spring Unenroll dates
Unenroll by logging into your bookstore account My Account Dashboard: deadline December 17, 2026
Unenroll after December 17, 2026 until add/drop January 26, 2026: email eCampus customer service at aa@ecampus.com.
Missed the unenroll date and feel you should be refunded? No Problem, send a screenshot with the difference and we will refund you.
Cougar Access FAQs
Cougar Access is a rental program.
Cougar Access 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 Canvas, at $25 per credit hour. Access codes are also included when class materials need to be accessed via a Publisher’s website or other 3rd party site. 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
The program provides all required textbooks, eTextbooks, lab manuals, and access codes to eligible students.
All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the program.
Students have the option to unenroll from the Cougar Access program each semester during the unenrollment window.
By unenrolling, 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. Students are still required to have all the materials for class; options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website. (add hyperlink Holyoke Community College Online Bookstore)
Students will be responsible for purchasing their required course materials on their own. Options for purchasing materials can be found on the bookstore website.
Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase any rental textbooks at a reduced rate during the semester.
Students will receive email notifications from the bookstore reminding them to verify their order and choose their fulfillment preference. If the student does not unenroll, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.
Yes, if the student does not unenroll, physical materials will be held at the bookstore, integrated digital materials will be provided through Canvas 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.
If course materials have been picked up or delivered for the class you have withdrawn from, those materials should be returned to the bookstore.
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.
OER, or Open Educational Resources, are free, openly licensed materials for teaching, learning, and research—such as textbooks, videos, and activities—that can be legally used, adapted, and shared at no cost. OERL, or OER Low-Cost, course materials are limited to $50. Both OER and OERL courses ensure students have access to all their materials with little to no cost.
Offering both Cougar Access and OER/OERL options gives students the flexibility to choose what works best for them. OER and OERL courses are factored into the total Cougar Access costs for the College. HCC’s extensive use of OER/OERL materials has resulted in a low per credit Cougar Access fee for students ($25 per credit).
All credit courses, including those designated OER and OERL, are factored into students’ Cougar Access costs, which are $25 per credit hour. Students will need to determine, based on their entire schedule, whether or not they want to unenroll of the program for the semester. We suggest students contact Advising for assistance in determining costs based on their choices.
No. The Cougar Access program is for all of the courses students are enrolled in for the semester. If a student unenrolls from the Cougar Access program, then they lose course materials and access for all of their courses and will need to obtain the required materials in another way (such as using Library Reserves or purchasing directly from the online bookstore or the Publisher).
