Direct Access FAQs
Navigate to your desired question below:
Why can’t I buy CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY DIRECT ACCESS MATERIAL?
What are Direct Access materials?
Why do only some of my classes use Direct Access materials?
How much does my Direct Access material cost?
What if I don't want to pay for Direct Access materials?
How can I opt-out of the Direct Access program?
I accidentally opted out of my Direct Access material – Can I get back in?
How do I access my Direct Access material?
Why does it ask for payment when trying to access my Direct Access courseware?
How can I tell which materials I get through the program?
I suddenly lost access to my courseware – what happened?
Why can’t I buy CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY DIRECT ACCESS MATERIAL?
If you are using Cedarville University’s price comparison tool to find your required course materials, you may come across an item named “CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY DIRECT ACCESS MATERIAL.” This is a placeholder item to indicate the presence of digital materials that are a part of the University’s Direct Access program and cannot be directly purchased through the website.
What are Direct Access materials?
Cedarville partners with publishers to deliver digital course materials to students at a reduced price. These materials are automatically linked through your professor’s Canvas course and billed directly to your student account at the University.
Why do only some of my classes use Direct Access materials?
The choice to use the Direct Access program is made by your professor. If you are part of a class that uses the Direct Access program, it is because your professor deemed it an appropriate fit for their class based on affordability or accessibility factors.
How much does my Direct Access material cost?
Each Direct Access material has its own unique price set by the product’s publisher (i.e. Pearson, McGraw Hill, Cengage, etc.) There are two ways to locate your material’s price:
- At the start of each semester, if you are enrolled in a class utilizing the Direct Access program, you will receive an automated email that includes a list of the Direct Access materials you will gain access to. Included in this email is the price you will pay for your materials.
- Once you gain access to your class’s Canvas page, under the Modules tab there will be a module titled “Direct Access: Automatically Billed Course Materials.” Within that module, there will be a link titled “VitalSource Digital Materials.” Once opened, you will see a list of your Direct Access Materials and their corresponding prices.
What if I don't want to pay for Direct Access materials?
The Direct Access program allows students to freely opt-out of the program and procure their required materials on their own. There is a two-week trial period beginning at the start of the semester that grants students access to their Direct Access material before being charged. If you opt-out of the program before the deadline passes, you will not be charged for the Direct Access material.
How can I opt-out of the Direct Access program?
By opting out, you will cancel any previously granted access provided to you through the program. There are two ways to opt-out of the program:
- Once you gain access to your class’s Canvas page, under the Modules tab there will be a module titled “Direct Access: Automatically Billed Course Materials.” Within that module there will be a link titled “VitalSource Digital Materials.” Once opened, you will see a list of your Direct Access Materials and their corresponding prices. You may select the “Want to Opt-Out” button underneath the material.
- Go to cedarville.verbacompare.com, enter your course information, select the Direct Access material, and choose "MANAGE ACCESS." Enter your student ID and follow the instructions sent to your Cedarville email.
I accidentally opted out of my Direct Access material – Can I get back in?
If you are still within the two-week trial period beginning at the start of the semester, you can opt-back into the program and regain access to your materials by locating the “Direct access: Automatically Billed Course Materials” module in your course’s Canvas page, selecting the “VitalSource Digital Materials” link, and selecting the “Opt-In” button.
How do I access my Direct Access material?
There are two different types of materials within the Direct Access program – eBooks and Courseware.
To access your Direct Access eBook:
Located within your course’s Canvas page is a module titled “Direct Access: Automatically Billed Course Materials.” Follow the “VitalSource Digital Materials” link and select the blue “Read Now” button.
To access your Direct Access Courseware:
Enter your course’s Canvas page and navigate to an assignment that requires the use of your Direct Access courseware. Open the assignment and, if your enrollment in the program is current, you should gain access to the courseware. Sometimes publishers require you to sign in before accessing the courseware. If you do not already have an account with the publisher, create one using your Cedarville email address and try accessing your courseware assignment once again. You should now have access to your Direct Access courseware.
Why does it ask for payment when trying to access my Direct Access courseware?
Direct Access material is charged to your student account and should not require additional payment information. If you encounter a publisher paywall, there may be connection issues between the publisher and your student email. Troubleshoot through the following steps until you gain access to your courseware:
- Make sure you are logged in to the publisher’s website with your student email. If you are new to the publisher’s website, you may need to create an account using your Cedarville email.
- Occasionally your Direct Access material includes an access code that must be entered on your publisher account. Check your email history for an email containing your Direct Access information and look for an included access code. This code may be entered into the publisher’s website to regain your access. If you are having trouble locating the email containing your Direct Access information, it can be resent to you upon request at the Campus Store Help Desk.
- If you are logged in to the publisher’s website and have no record of an access code from the Direct Access program in your email, it is possible that your access was set up incorrectly. Contact the Campus Store Help Desk and we will communicate with the publisher to determine the issue preventing your access.
How can I tell which materials I get through the program?
There are two ways to see which materials are provided to you through the Direct Access program:
- At the start of each semester, if you are enrolled in a class utilizing the Direct Access program, you will receive an automated email that includes a list of the Direct Access materials you will gain access to.
- Once you gain access to your class’s Canvas page, under the Modules tab there will be a module titled “Direct Access: Automatically Billed Course Materials.” Within that module there will be a link titled “VitalSource Digital Materials.” Once opened, you will see a list of your Direct Access Materials.
How/When do I pay for my Direct Access materials?
After we have passed the two-week trial period, the Campus Store will charge your Direct Access materials to your Cedarville student account. Your student account can then be settled with the Cashier’s office.
I suddenly lost access to my courseware – what happened?
Sometimes students are unknowingly enrolled in a trial of the publisher’s courseware separate from the Direct Access program. Once their publisher trial ends, their access is revoked, and the publisher requires payment for continued access. If you are still enrolled in the Direct Access program, you will not need to pay the publisher to regain your access. Occasionally your Direct Access material includes an access code that must be entered on your publisher account. Check your email history for an email containing your Direct Access information and look for an included access code. This code may be entered into the publisher’s website to regain your access. If you are having trouble locating the email containing your Direct Access information, it can be resent to you upon request at the Campus Store Help Desk.
If you still have questions regarding the Direct Access program, please feel free to contact the Campus Store for additional information.