TU offers free textbook program to incoming freshman, transfer students

TULSA, Okla. — The University of Tulsa is giving free textbooks to first-year and transfer undergraduates as a way to ensure students are prepared from day one on campus.

An initiative the university began in fall of 2022, the free textbook program allows students to have required course materials by the first day of classes in an easy to maintain digital format, according to the university’s website.

“The students who started in fall of 2022 are the first students to receive this benefit,” said Patricia DeBolt, University of Tulsa Dean of Admissions. “It’s been really, really exciting and we’re thrilled to be able to roll it over to students beginning in fall of ‘23 as well.”

The program allows students to simply enroll in classes and the campus bookstore will do the rest.

The store takes the student’s course list and sends them a digital copy of each of the necessary textbooks. If a digital copy is not available, the student can pick up a physical copy at the store and return it at the end of the semester.

DeBolt said this can be really beneficial for new and transferring students who may be overwhelmed by the stresses of a new school year.

“The first [benefit] is that it relieves the stress of having to go and find these books,” DeBolt said. “What if a title is out or your book store of choice doesn’t have it available, right at that time. This takes all of the stress out of that so that students truly are prepared on the first day of every class.”

According to DeBolt, the university is focused fully on the success of its students and when discussing how best to ensure that success, the issue of textbook costs was raised.

“I believe the biggest benefit is in planning and budgeting for a lot of students,” DeBolt said. “This is the first time that they’re having to make a budget for themselves and not knowing what materials might be required next semester or what you need to plan ahead can be stressful. So, by taking that one piece out of the equation, it helps students make a plan for themselves.”

University officials will eventually gather to assess how the program did this year and discuss if it will continue into 2024.

“I can say for this incoming class, it’s worked very well and the roll out for the spring ‘23 semester for these students went even smoother than for the fall,” DeBolt said. “We’ve been really, really happy with the benefits offered to students. And logistically, we seem to have a pretty good plan down. I think it’s so important how focused the University of Tulsa is on their students, so much so that we’re getting super creative in ways like this to really help each student be successful in whatever success means to them, and the free textbook program is a really great example of that.”

If a student chooses not to participate in the program, they can opt-out through the website’s “opt-out portal.”

As of now, there are no plans to extend it to other students besides first-years and transfer undergrads, but DeBolt said they would have to see how well the program does as it continues.

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