Webster University - Money for Textbooks Program

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Money for Textbooks Program

Webster students enrolled at one of the St. Louis campuses, or in the on-line program, who are anticipating financial aid in excess of their tuition and fees may be eligible for the Money for Textbooks program. See separate notes below about the on-line program and the Downtown, Westport, and Winghaven campuses.

This program allows students to receive an advance on their financial aid, which can be used to purchase their textbooks and supplies in a timely fashion. Maximum amount is $600.00 per semester. Complete the on-line application form to apply. Application for the program cannot be done in person or over the phone. You do not qualify for the Money For Textbooks Program if your Financial Aid award has been disbursed. If you received a refund you are expected to use those funds to purchase your books for the second term of the semester.

Click on this link for the on-line form

NOTE: This form will be sent via e-mail and is not a 100% secure system.
This program replaces the Bookstore Cheque Program, which required students to visit two offices on-campus, on opposite sides of the campus, to receive authorization. The Bookstore Cheque program is no longer in operation.

Process

1. Student submits on-line application form to Processing Office.
2. Processing Office determines eligibility (maximum of $600 per semester).
3. Processing Office emails response to the students by the next business day.
4. Processing Office emails authorization to Bookstore.
5. Student goes to Bookstore and gets textbooks after the date/time noted on the response e-mail message (usually one business day after the request is received).*

Bookstore checks eligibility and checks photo ID - signature required.
Bookstore rings up textbooks on register.
Student can go back to buy more books before the cutoff date, if total does not exceed maximum amount authorized (must be done by deadlines shown below)

*For Westport, Winghaven, and Donwtown campuses, students go to the temporary bookstores set up at these campuses (for hours of operation, see below).

6. Business Office places charges on student account and this amount is deducted from any projected refund.

Important Deadlines and Restrictions
The Processing Office will review applications and send responses to student applicants Monday through Friday during regular office hours. The Processing Office must receive your application form by 2:00 p.m. Applications received after this time will be processed on the following business day.

All applications must be submitted by Thursday of your first week of classes for each term.

The last time that textbooks may be obtained through this program is prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Friday of your first week of classes for each term. This is the closing time for the Bookstore.

No textbooks may be obtained through this program after these cutoff dates. There will be no exceptions. Due to winter break, this program will not be available when campus is closed (usually December 24 through January 2).

This program will work only for textbooks purchased through the Bookstore at the Webster Groves campus. It will not work for textbooks purchased on-site at the Downtown, Winghaven, and Westport campuses.

Refunds:
No cash refunds will be given for any textbooks or other merchandise purchased through this program; a credit will be issued instead. Credits are sent to the Business Office for posting on the student's account.

Time Lines:
Applications will be accepted approximately two weeks prior to the start of classes until the Thursday of the first week of classes.

Days of Operation for Money for Textbooks Program:
Graduate students (except MAT)

Fall I: August 3, 2009–August 20, 2009
(last day to get books is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.)
Fall II: October 5, 2009–October 22, 2009
(last day to get books is Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.)
Spring I: January 4, 2010–January 14, 2010
(last day to get books is Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.)
Spring II: March 1, 2010–March 18, 2010
(last day to get books is Mar. 19 at 5 p.m.)
Summer: May 17, 2010–June 3, 2010
(last day to get books is June 4 at 5 p.m.

Undergraduate students and MAT students:

Fall I: August 10, 2009–August 27, 2009
(last day to get books is Aug. 28 at 5 p.m.)
Fall II: October 12, 2009–October 29, 2009
(last day to get books is Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.)
Spring I: January 4, 2010–January 14, 2010
(last day to get books is Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.)
Spring II: March 1, 2010–March 18, 2010
(last day to get books is Mar. 19 at 5 p.m.)
Summer: May 17, 2010–June 3, 2010
(last day to get books is June 4 at 5 p.m.)

Please Note: The Money for Textbook application process involves sending confidential information via email. FERPA regulations recommend that the University only send information from a student's educational records to their official University email address to protect each student's privacy. The reason for this is that there is no way to be sure that an email coming in from another email address (your place of employment or other email addresses, i.e. yahoo.com, hotmail.com, aol.com) is really coming from you. Therefore, you should use your Webster email address to assure privacy when applying for the Money for Textbook Program.

Money for Textbooks- Online Students

Online students who have applied and been approved for Money for Textbooks may order their books online only at www.webster.bkstr.com. During the checkout process there is the pyment option for Money for Textbooks, you will then by prompted to enter your student ID number which is required to process the order. Students have the option of having books picked up at the store or shipped to them. All orders will be processed and shipped within two business days as long as the student has been approved for Money for Textbooks. Students ordering online are asked about substituting new books for used. While we attempt to obtain as many used books as possible, sometimes we only have new. In order to expedite your order, it is advantageous to give approval to substitute. If you choose do not substitute, The Bookstore will email you to get approval.

Money for Textbooks - Winghaven, Westport, and Downtown Campuses

Students may use the Money for Textbooks program at the Winghaven, Westport, and Downtown campus bookstores. To use Money for Textbooks, students must have applied and received approval. Students must have an ID, and know their student ID number. Please contact the bookstore at 314 968-5936 to get the dates that books will be available at these campuses.

Students at the Webster Groves campus, the Downtown St. Louis campus, the Winghaven campus, and the Westport campus, as well as students in one of the Online Programs can order books through Follett at: http://www.webster.bkstr.com

Advantages of New Process Compared to Bookstore Cheques:

This program was reviewed by students and staff prior to implementation. The new system addresses many of the complaints about the old Bookstore Cheque program. The advantages of the new system include:

Reduces lines at Business Office and Student Affairs
Much greater convenience for students
Only the actual textbook charges are put on student accounts; this eliminates having unused amounts unavailable to the student until the end of the semester
Eliminates the problems of lost cheques and unused cheques.