Smart Start takes the hassle out of getting course materials by providing students with convenient access to their required materials for the lowest price available. This course materials affordability program aims to ensure students arrive to class prepared, do not need to stress about getting their required materials, and receive affordable prices. Merced College has an opt-out model and includes digital and physical required materials. This means that all students are automatically enrolled in the Smart Start program when they register for their courses. Students who are not interested in the material savings can opt out of the program each term with no penalty.

Program Benefits:

  • $316.40

    Average Savings per Student

  • 75.7%

    Student Participation

  • 1197

    Total Titles

  • Faculty can begin teaching on day one of classes as all students are prepared with their correct materials.
  • Required course materials are available digitally in the student’s Canvas by day one of class, with no waiting in line with heavy books.
  • Easy access and management of digital course materials in the student’s Canvas.
  • Reduced student stress related to finding and purchasing the correct course materials in time for the start of classes.
  • Digital platforms offer key features such as: highlighting, flash cards & note-sharing, leading to greater success in the course.
  • Up to 60% lower than equivalent pricing for required course materials.

How Smart Start Program Works

  • Student registers for courses and are automatically enrolled in the Smart Start Program

  • Digital materials available in Canvas and physical picked up at the Campus Store

  • Student arrive to class prepared with all required materials

  • Physical materials returned to the Campus Store at the end of the term

Smart Start Program

Follett – our campus store provider – works on behalf of the campus to negotiate required material prices with publishers down to the lowest possible price. Follett then works with the campus store to ensure all required digital materials appear in the student’s Canvas and all required physical materials are prepared for pickup by the first day of class, as applicable.

All students are automatically enrolled in the program, and students who are not interested in the material savings can opt out of the program each term with no penalty. Students who opt out of the program are responsible for finding and purchasing their own required materials.

Faculty will be notified at the point of adoptions and students will be notified at the point of course registration. Additionally, all participating students and faculty will receive communications to their school email address providing them with all necessary program information including deadlines, fees, and how to opt-out/opt-in as available. Be on the lookout for the following emails with the following subject lines:

  • Kortext | Your New Materials from… | Faculty
  • Important Information Regarding your Course Materials for the Upcoming Term | Faculty & Students
  • Welcome to Smart Start | Students
  • Your Order is Ready for Pick-Up | Students with physical materials

Yes! Students can save up to 60% off the original price thanks to the campus store’s relationships with publishing partners and bulk purchasing power. The program also reduces student stress during the purchasing process and provides a method to easily access, manage and use all course materials regardless of format or cost.

Also, with consistent and transparent pricing, students can budget each semester knowing their required materials will cost $21.50 per credit hour.

Once the student registers for their courses, the student is automatically enrolled in Smart Start and the campus store will get all their required materials for that course ready for them! Students will receive confirmation emails to their school account sharing details to access their digital materials in the Canvas, as applicable. If the student has physical materials, the campus store will communicate with them when they can pick up these materials, as applicable.
Students will find this information in the emails, as applicable:

  • Important Information Regarding your Course Materials for the Upcoming Term | Faculty & Students
  • Your Order is Ready for Pick-Up | Students with physical materials

How to access my Ebooks and Courseware

We contract with multiple different services to provide you with the easiest access to your textbooks. Look through the options below on how to access each one.

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Go to CANVAS and LOGIN
  2. Click on your course and follow your instructor’s posted Pearson Link
  3. This will direct you to the Pearson site to sign in.
  4. Login/Create an Account for Pearson (use your campus email)
  5. This should allow you to instantly access your instructor’s material, and no additional payment is required.

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Go to CANVAS and LOGIN

  2. Click on the Brytewave Course Materials Link

  3. Publisher’s Access Code will appear

  4. Copy the Publisher’s Access Code to your clipboard (make sure the titles match-refer to course syllabus)

  5. Go to the VISTA Supersity Link on CANVAS

  6. Login/Create an Account (use your campus email)

  7. Copy Access code from Brytewave (Step 4)

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Go to CANVAS and LOGIN

  2. Click on the Brytewave Course Materials Link

  3. Publisher’s Access Code will appear

  4. Copy the Publisher’s Access Code to your clipboard (make sure the titles match-refer to course syllabus)

  5. Go to the XYZ Link on CANVAS

  6. Login/Create an Account (use your campus email)

  7. Copy Access code from Brytewave (Step 4)

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Login to Canvas

  2. Click on Norton Course materials Links in your course

  3. Read and Accept the terms of use and Privacy policy

  4. For codeless access, always access Norton content from your Canvas Course

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Go to CANVAS and Login

  2. Click the link for your course

  3. Click any link to Cengage content to continue the registration process

  4. Your course materials will open in a new tab or window, so be sure pop-ups are enabled. Or, if you’re not sure where to click, ask your instructor or try a few links. You’ll know you’ve clicked the right one when you see the Cengage login screen

  5. Link Your Cengage and CANVAS Account (one time process)

  6. Choose one of the options below:

    • Already have an account: To link your Cengage account with your campus account, click “Sign In” and then log in using your Cengage account information.

    • New to Cengage: Create an Account by clicking “Create Account.”

    • We highly recommend using your school email address to register.

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. Sign into CANVAS

  2. Under the Home Menu of the course, choose McGraw Hill Connect

  3. Follow the Begin Link.

  4. Register for the course. It should be codeless, and no payment is required in Connect.

  5. Assignments will be visible in CANVAS

These are default instructions for Knewton > Canvas Integration for Access students:

  1. Students received a code in their mccd email

  2. Students use that code in the Knewton Link in Canvas (DO NOT USE THE LINK ON THE EMAIL)

  3. Students have access to the material.

These are default instructions students can use to access the material via Canvas.

  1. If you already have a Macmillan Learning account you can log in with your existing credentials and skip to step 4. Otherwise:

  2. Create your password and set all three security questions.

  3. Start typing in your institution to select from the options that appear in the Primary Institution or School name field.

  4. Accept the terms of use and click “Sign Up”.

  5. Check your email for the confirmation link to complete your registration and return to the login page.

  6. You’ve been automatically enrolled into the appropriate homework course and will be directed to your course page

Log in to your Canvas

  1. Navigate to the course in which you are using TestOut LabSim courseware.

  2. Inside the course, click on one of the links that leads to LabSim.

  3. A new tab will open.

  4. Input your Activation Code when asked.
    Note: If you have already used your Activation Code (such as by creating an account through TestOut.com), you may need to merge your CANVAS account with your TestOut.com account.
    See below for more information now how to merge your two accounts.

  5. Your account will be created and you will be logged into TestOut’s LabSim.

To Access TOPHAT Students that are opted in are to use the following Process:

These instructions are default to students (on the access program) accessing the material via Canvas

1. Click on the link provided by instructor on Canvas

  1. Enter the JOIN CODE provided by the instructor

3. Once you enter the course you will be prompted to create an account on Top Hat so that you can access your material. (use your mccd email)

4. Once you create an account if you are part of access, you will have access to the course material.

5. For Top Hat technical support, please call +1 (888) 663-5491 or [email protected](Monday – Friday | 9AM – 9PM EST).

If you want physical codes emailed contact the campus store. Students will receive an email when items are ready for pick up. Check your @campus.mccd.edu email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the classes and the course materials required, students may receive a combination of digital course materials, physical textbooks, printed lab manuals or workbooks.

Note – all physical materials provided through Smart Start must be returned to the campus store at the end of the term.

Only required digital and/or physical materials for courses participating in the program are included. For suggested, recommended, or other course materials, you can order these materials online or visit the campus store where textbook experts will be happy to assist you.

  • Required: it is necessary for the course.
  • Recommended: the instructor has suggested an item that may be helpful.

Only materials identified by the faculty as “required” are included in the program. All “recommended” materials may be available for purchase separately at the campus store.

No. Faculty still retain full academic freedom and can choose the materials used in their courses.

If a student adds or drops a course, that information is automatically transmitted to the campus store.

Added courses: Within 24 hours of adding a course, students will receive an email at their school email address with details to access their digital materials and/or if their materials are already provisioned directly into Canvas. If the course requires physical materials, students will receive an email to their school email address letting them know when the new print materials are ready for pick-up.

Dropped courses: For courses dropped prior to the last day to drop/add/opt-out/opt-in deadline, access to electronic or digital materials will be automatically disabled. If the course requires physical materials, they must be returned to the campus store.

All students are automatically enrolled in the program once they register for their courses. Students may choose to opt out and remove themselves from the program before the out-out deadline for a full refund. If a student opts out, they are then responsible for finding/purchasing their required materials independently. Students must take action to opt out of the program each term. There is no penalty for opting out.

Note – if the student has picked up any physical materials provided through Smart Start, the student must return those physical materials to the campus store before they will be able to opt out of the program and have the program charge removed.

If the opt-out/opt-in period has not ended, students can opt back in/out by going to the opt-out portal and choosing “opt-in”/”opt-out”. They can login to the opt-out portal which is also sent to their student email address.

For a demonstration of how to opt out, watch this video.

Required physical materials must be returned to the campus store at the end of each term. Digital materials can be accessed for a minimum of 180 days and may be available for a longer period of time based on the material adopted and the publisher’s terms.

Students participating in the program will have their required digital materials available directly in the campus’ LMS. Students will receive emails from [email protected] with instructions and details on accessing their materials. For any technical issues and additional support, students can email [email protected].

For self-help articles and resources, visit the Kortext help site.

You have your course materials. What’s next? Your campus store has the best selection of officially licensed campus gear around. We are ready to outfit you head to toe, with school spirit. Visit your campus store to grab all your spirit items, supplies and technology and meet your friendly campus store staff who are a knowledgeable resource to help you throughout the term.

If you need more assistance, you can find additional resources, support articles, and self-help tools, on our customer support page here: Customer Support Center. You can use our friendly chatbot in the bottom right of the page to be guided through tools for your specific questions.

Have a Question?

Connect with a staff member and get your questions answered.

Phone: (209) 384-6280
Email: [email protected]