FAQ - General

Panther Ready is a course material model that lowers the cost of materials for students and ensures students have access to all of their required course materials on or before the first day of class. Through this new program, physical books will be conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis (with an option to purchase at the end of the semester), and digital materials will be delivered directly within the Canvas Learning Management System. At the end of the term, students will receive email reminders to return their physical course materials to the bookstore.

Step 1: After registering for classes, students who haven't opted out of Panther Ready will receive a welcome email with information on next steps for Panther Ready.

Step 2: One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery method (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you).

• Students who choose to have their book package shipped directly to them can do so for a flat shipping fee of $8.99
• To verify your order or view your course material portal (available 30 days before classes begin) check your portal.

Step 3: An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it is shipped by the bookstore.

• Digital course materials will be available in Canvas on the first day of class.

Step 4: At the end of the semester, last day of finals, return your rented books to the bookstore. The bookstore will send an email to remind you.

• To ship your books back to the bookstore, a flat fee of $5.00 can be obtained through your portal or sent from the bookstore via email.
• Digital books will be removed from Canvas, or depending on the book publisher, the book can remain for an extended period within Canvas.

That's it! After completing Step 4, you're officially enrolled in Panther Ready. Each semester, you'll receive emails with the option to opt out if you choose.

The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbook versions to eligible students.

The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned or reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, engineering kits or nursing kits.

All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Panther Ready Program.

Students have the option to opt-out of the Panther Ready Program each semester during the opt-out window. The opt-out window is open ten (10) days after the first day of the applicable term or semester. By opting out, students will not receive their required materials in a convenient package and access to digital content will be removed after the opt-out window closes. Options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website. To begin the opt-out process, please log in to your portal (available during the opt-out window for each term).

To change your opt-out status and opt into the Panther Ready Program, please login to your portal or follow the instructions found in the opt-out confirmation email you received after opting-out. Please note you must make your final selection by ten (10) days after the first day of the applicable term or semester.

The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of finals. Students will receive email reminders about the rental deadline to their email address.

Yes, you can purchase the physical textbooks at a reduced rate during the designated return period. If you would like to buy the book brand new, then you may want to Opt-out of Panther Ready. Visit the bookstore website for rates on new books.

Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.

The bookstore will send you reminders. If you do not opt out, your materials will be held at the bookstore, digital materials will be accessible within Canvas, and your student account will be charged.

You may return the book to the bookstore on the same terms and timelines currently in place. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required textbooks/codes so that you have what you need.

For general questions about Florida Tech's Panther Ready Program

• Call the Bookstore at (321) 674-8042
• Email our Bookstore team
• Visit the Campus Bookstore

For technical assistance with digital materials in Canvas

• Open a ticket online with Barnes and Noble College Customer Care Team
• Email the Barnes and Noble College Customer Care Team
• Call the Barnes and Noble College Customer Care Team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)

For student account questions

• Email acctmgmt@fit.edu
• Visit Student Financial Services

The flat rate is $27 per credit hour, or $405 for a 15-credit course load. For comparison, Florida Tech previously recommended that students budget $600 for books and supplies each semester.

No, Panther Ready is an all-encompassing program. When you opt out, you are opting out of all courses for the term. You will be responsible for purchasing course materials for all your courses during that term.

You can change your status and opt back into Panther Ready by visiting the link in your opt-out confirmation email. Please note that the opt-out window opens 30 days before the start of the semester, and you must make your final selection before your earliest add/drop deadline.

Yes. If you do not opt out, your materials will be held at the bookstore, and your student account will be charged.

You can still opt out, but you have 48 hours to return the textbooks. If you do not return the books within that period, the charges will remain on your student account.

A semester is a 16-week academic term. There are three semesters each academic year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.

A term is a shorter session within a semester. For example, Fall Term I and Fall Term II are both 8-week terms that concurrently take place within the full 16-week Fall Semester. At Florida Tech, depending on the program, there are several different term lengths.

If you have your books for your course from a previous semester, its important to review whether any new courses for which you registered require any required books. Visit the Bookstore website for some comparison shopping. It may be conducive for you to stay opted in if you have a variety of books worth more than the $27/credit hour fee.

Students who receive an incomplete are required to return their printed rental materials by the designated due date. If they wish to keep the book, they may choose to purchase it at a fair market value. Digital rentals follow the standard rental timeline. In some cases, students may continue to have limited access to the digital material after the semester ends, depending on the publisher’s license and access policies. If you have a unique circumstance, please reach out to the bookstore for assistance.

MBS will no longer be available for obtaining books for courses at Florida Tech. Panther Ready will provide you with all the course materials you need in one step if you remain opted in.

Yes, if you are an Athlete or a student on a scholarship, this program is applicable to you. The cost will be applied toward your scholarship expenses.

Yes, if you are a Veteran Affairs member taking advantage of your education benefits, this program is applicable to you. The cost will be applied toward your Veteran Affair expenses. Note, that Panther Ready includes all “required course materials.” For supplemental materials or supplies, please visit the bookstore for assistance, as those are not part of the Panther Ready program.