CourseSmart Launches CourseSmart Subscription Pack

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CourseSmart®, a leading Educational Services Platform and the world's largest provider of digital course materials, in partnership with Internet2 and EDUCAUSE, today announced a research project to test a simple, convenient and affordable approach to digital course materials. Up to 20 institutions will be invited to participate in a trial of the CourseSmart Subscription Pack, a one-stop shopping experience where students can buy all of their eTextbooks from one website for one subscription price over a fixed access period. 

Institutions participating in the research project will have a choice between two flat fee options, which allow a select number of students at the institution immediate access to any eTextbook in CourseSmart's catalog of more than 30,000 titles from 40 publishers. Participating institutions will choose license access from two levels:

• 100 students = $27,500 per semester
• 200 students = $44,000 per semester
• Additional students can be added at $200 each after 200 student minimum
• An added benefit to institutions taking part in the research project is that faculty will receive free, unlimited access to CourseSmart's entire catalog through the Faculty Instant Access (FIA) program.

CourseSmart's Subscription Pack offers students the ability to place up to 12 titles on their bookshelf at any point during the semester, which should more than adequately cover the typical student's needs with room to spare.  Students will pay $275 or less for all of their digital materials, which is a significant savings over print retail textbook prices.  

"CourseSmart is pleased to partner with Internet2 and EDUCAUSE to offer this innovative new business model which sets a new standard in the use, affordability and accessibility of digital course materials," said Sean Devine, CEO of CourseSmart.  "The CourseSmart Subscription Pack offers compelling benefits to both students and faculty: students can save money, reduce book load and conveniently access their books digitally in one place, and faculty can be confident that they are helping students obtain needed texts and materials more economically and efficiently than ever before."

"We are excited to partner with CourseSmart on this research project," said Shel Waggener, Senior Vice President, Internet2.  "CourseSmart was one of the innovators in filling an unmet need in the marketplace for an affordable, one-stop shop for eTextbooks.  Their early commitment to accessibility and creativity in developing options to participate in this process show their commitment to deliver these existing solutions to all students."

CourseSmart titles will be integrated within participating institutions' learning management systems, providing students and faculty with immediate access to course content within the environments they use daily. CourseSmart's eTextbooks can be accessed online or offline anytime through any device or through dedicated apps on the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Students participating in the research project will be able to take advantage of the many features of CourseSmart eTextbooks, including the ability to search, copy and paste, as well as take notes, highlight and bookmark passages, which are synched across devices.

"As a publisher, we are enthusiastic about participating in a program that makes purchasing course materials more efficient for students," said Jim Kelly, Sr. Vice President at McGraw-Hill. "The need for this has existed in the marketplace for some time now, and we are pleased that CourseSmart has brought it to life. We have every reason to believe that students will see the benefit and respond enthusiastically."

For more information or for institutions interested in participating in this research project, please visit http://www.coursesmart.com/go/sp2013research. 

About CourseSmart^®
As the world's largest provider of digital course materials, CourseSmart^® connects education publishers to consumers by providing an efficient distribution platform for their best-selling content in digital form. Founded in 2007, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company provides services to four business segments: Online direct retail for students; Indirect distribution of course materials to students through bookstores; Online faculty textbook evaluation services; and Institutional solutions for faculty and students that are integrated within campus technology ecosystems. CourseSmart improves the educational process and experience by offering all users anywhere, any-time access to the course content they need, including those with vision- and print-related disabilities. With more than 90% of the same core titles offered by major print publishers, the company's eTextbooks can be purchased for up to 60% less than the cost of new print textbooks. For more information about CourseSmart, visit the company's Web site at www.coursesmart.com.

About Internet2
Internet2® is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the nation's leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research, and community service missions. For more information, visit www.internet2.edu.

About EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association and the foremost community of IT leaders and professionals committed to advancing higher education. EDUCAUSE programs and services are focused on analysis, advocacy, community building, professional development, and knowledge creation because IT plays a transformative role in higher education. EDUCAUSE supports those who lead, manage, and use information technology through a comprehensive range of resources and activities. For more information, visit www.educause.edu.

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SOURCE CourseSmart