RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University announced Monday, Dec. 14, every undergraduate student will receive their required textbooks for free for the 2021-22 academic year. 

The initiative, called EKU BookSmart, is a new program developed by EKU and powered by the longstanding partnership between the university and Barnes & Noble College. BookSmart will provide all required textbooks and course materials for students on all EKU campuses, as well as students taking classes online. Textbooks and course materials will be delivered to students in a customized Big E Box or can be picked up at the Barnes & Noble EKU Bookstore on campus before the start of classes.

“EKU BookSmart was developed by our EKU team as the first program of its kind in partnership with Barnes & Noble College in Kentucky,” said Dr. David McFaddin, EKU president. “With the announcement, it’s undeniable that Eastern Kentucky University is the school of opportunity. Over the last year, we have been focused on adding affordability and accessibility elements to a program we call the EKU Advantage. With the addition of free textbooks to the EKU Advantage, a college degree from EKU is now more accessible and affordable than it has been in many years. We are investing in our students so they will be prepared to succeed when their classes begin.”

The EKU Advantage, now with the added power of the BookSmart Program, ensures EKU students of a scholarship model that rewards high achievers, helps low-income students, keeps a keen focus on the service region, and does so while continuing to deliver high-quality programmatic offerings that will give graduates the skills needed to power their communities with EKU degrees, and so much more.

“Barnes & Noble College has proudly partnered with Eastern Kentucky University for over 20 years, and we are very excited to support the University in bringing the EKU BookSmart program to life,” said Michael P. Huseby, chief executive officer and chairman of Barnes & Noble Education Inc. “We know this program will go a long way in driving affordability, access, and achievement for EKU students. We believe that all-inclusive course material delivery models are the future of higher education, and with the launch of EKU BookSmart, our partners at EKU are proving they are leaders in the education space.”

Dr. Tanlee Wasson, EKU senior vice president for student success, said because of the BookSmart Program, no EKU student will have to drop an undergraduate class because they couldn't afford to buy books. 

“No EKU student will choose not to take an undergraduate course because the books are more than he or she can afford,” Wasson said. “No EKU student will have to weigh the cost of an undergraduate textbook against meeting essential needs like food, housing, or transportation.”

The EKU BookSmart program will reduce financial barriers and lead to greater success for students.

“Eliminating financial barriers to success is our job,” said Barry Poynter, EKU senior vice president for finance and administration. “We’ve all seen the national studies showing an average annual cost of textbooks for an academic year at about $1,200. Removing a barrier to academic access and student success of this magnitude is opportunity in action. We are directly reducing the cost of attendance at EKU by providing textbooks and course materials to our students, and also providing some additional stability.”

Visit go.eku.edu/books for more information.