GVSU Save LogoGVSU SAVE - Students

What is GVSU SAVE & How Does It Work?
  1. GVSU SAVE is a program designed to reduce costs to students by digitally delivering course materials directly to students through Blackboard.
  2. When an instructor elects to choose the GVSU SAVE program, GVSU Laker Store will work directly with the publisher to negotiate the best price for the content.
  3. Once GVSU sends out the first billing for a term, students who are registered for a GVSU SAVE course will be automatically billed to their student account for their material just like tuition, room & board, etc. Any student that wishes to opt-out within the allotted time, will receive a full refund.
  4. Students should check their GVSU email for a Welcome Email with further details about GVSU SAVE.
  5. Faculty will make content available in Blackboard, typically one to two weeks before a semester starts. If you have difficulty finding the content, please reach out to your instructor for the location in Blackboard.
Benefits
  • Less expensive for students - students have saved nearly $4.2 million since the Fall of 2020.
  • Same quality publisher content
  • More convenient access by using Blackboard
  • Digital accessibility - students can access materials on multiple devices or offline (if downloaded ahead of time).
  • Students obtain the correct materials for class
Important Dates

*Access to your course material will depend on when your instructor enables the material for the particular term. Typically, this will be one to two weeks prior to the first day of classes starting.

SPRING/SUMMER 2025

  • March 27, 2025 – Charges begin to appear on student accounts
  • April 2, 2025 – Welcome Emails are sent to the student’s GVSU email account
  • April 25, 2025 – Payment Deadline by 5:00 pm for Spring/Summer 2025
  • April 28, 2025 – 2nd Welcome Emails are sent to the student’s GV email account
  • May 16, 2025 – Last day to opt-out of GVSU SAVE for Spring 2025 term
  • July 6, 2025 – Last day to opt-out of GVSU SAVE for Summer 2025 term

Any questions? Please email us at [email protected]

Testimonials
How to Opt Out
  1. In the welcome email there is a View GVSU SAVE Course Materials link. Any courses participating in GVSU SAVE will have an option here to opt out (assuming it’s before the opt-out deadline for that semester).
  2. In your Blackboard course your instructor will set up a GVSU SAVE link in the content area. You might need to scroll up or down to locate the link. From here click on the Course Materials link to access the opt-out option on the VitalSource page.
  3. From the GVSU Choose (textbook selection page), instead of seeing an option to purchase books for a GVSU SAVE class, you will find a button to “Manage Access.” Clicking this button will allow you to enter your G# to generate an email to your GVSU email address. When you receive the email, click the link inside to access the opt-out option.
  4. If you experience any difficulty using any of the previous steps, please get in touch with us at [email protected] and we can assist with opting you out.
FAQ

Refunds usually appear on your GVSU student account within 48 hours.

Yes, you will be refunded as long as you drop by the opt-out deadline. See the Important Dates section for the specific date.

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GVSU SAVE course materials are digitally delivered to you through your Blackboard course(s). There are two types of content: eBooks and Courseware.

eBooks can be accessed by clicking on the GVSU SAVE link that your instructor has set up in the left navigation, and then clicking the GVSU SAVE Course Materials link on that page.

Courseware is a little different and often has multiple links directly into different parts of the online resources. For courseware products please check with your instructor to see where in your blackboard course the links have been placed.

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with “Lifetime” typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

Range of durations:

  • 150-day access (5 months)
  • 180-day access (6 months)
  • 365-day access (one (1) year)
  • Five (5) year access (1825-day access)
  • Perpetual “Lifetime” access
  • One Semester access

As soon as your professor opens your Blackboard course AND has placed the appropriate link you will be able to access the course materials.

Charges for GVSU SAVE appear on your student account on first billing day of the semester (approximately a month before the start of the semester) or when you enroll in a GVSU SAVE course if you enroll after the first billing day. Because the charge is on your student account, the due date for payment will follow GVSU's billing schedule.

The cost will vary depending on what materials your professor has selected for your course. You can find the cost of GVSU SAVE in your Welcome Email, GVSU Choose, and your Banner account.

Print upgrades are available for select courseware items. Check GVSU Choose to determine if one is available for your course. Prices are listed.

It is recommended by the GV eLearning Team/IT that Mac Users use either Chrome or FireFox for optimal use of Blackboard and course material content. There are known issues when using Safari that sometimes will not allow access to certain content while in Blackboard or 3rd Party websites.

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing issues getting your course materials to launch please try the following steps:

  1. Clear your cache, cookies, and history. (click here for instructions on how to do so)
  2. Check your clock on your computer to make sure your time and time zone are correct.
  3. Make sure you are trying to access your material through your Blackboard page of your course.

*FOR OPTIMAL USE PLEASE USE CHROME OR FIRFOX AS YOUR PREFERRED WEB BROWSER TO ACCESS YOUR CONTENT THROUGH BLACKBOARD*

Still having trouble? Email [email protected] for additional assistance.