Pacers’ Backpack offers a new way to save funds on your textbooks!
Pacers’ Backpack is a powerful and convenient program designed to ensure students get the course
materials they need to succeed before their first day of class.
The Pacers’ Backpack program delivers required course materials to you for any of the courses
participating in the program. The cost will be included in your tuition or course charges. This program
provides a method to easily access, manage and use all course materials regardless of format or cost.
Digital course materials will be made available to you directly within the campus learning
management system & email.
Physical course materials will be available for pick up at the campus bookstore.
Special shipping options may be available upon request, please contact your Bookstore for further details.
The Benefits of Pacers’ Backpack5
- Having required course materials sets you up for success in the classroom
- Receiving course materials is a stress-free event
- Easily access, manage and use digital course materials
- Don’t worry about getting the wrong book or wrong edition
- Significant cost savings over traditional printed materials
Important Dates
- 5/6/2024 – Emails to students begin
- 5/12/2024 – Order release date
- 5/30/2024 – Last day to opt out for students in May start
Changes to Bookstore Procedures for Summer 2024-Spring 2025
PCC’s bookstore will continue to offer the Pacers’ Backpack program for the 2024 summer term but will return to traditional procedures beginning in the Fall 2024 term. This means that the Pacers’ Backpack program will end at the beginning of the Fall 2024 term. Below are answers to important questions you may have regarding this transition:
For Faculty and Advisors
Faculty have already submitted their Fall 2024 textbook lists to the bookstore. Does this transition mean that they will have to resubmit this list?
No. However, if specific questions arise for individual faculty members, the bookstore staff will contact Emily Buchanan, Director of Operations for the Caswell County Campus, to get the information needed. While it is typical for there to be some delays in book arrivals, one way we will mitigate this is through a booklist for faculty to double-check when they arrive back from summer break before the first days of class. The bookstore staff will send this list directly to Emily Buchanan who will distribute it to the appropriate individuals for review.
How do I help students who need assistance accessing their digital course materials?
Students will get an email sent to their PCC student email accounts to either opt out of the program or get materials for their courses. If students are accessing course materials, they may have to enter a specific code into the publisher’s website, depending on the publisher of the course materials. For example, if the publisher of a book for a class is RedShelf, Cengage, or McGraw Hill, they may get a separate email from this publisher specifically with special directions for accessing course materials. It may be helpful for you to mention this to students at the start of the term so they know they may get emails from one or more of these publishers. To assist with this communication, the bookstore will send Emily Buchanan the complete booklist for the summer term; this list will include each course, textbook/resource, and publisher information so that faculty and advisors can assist students with accessing the appropriate materials. If students have trouble logging in at any point, the Pacers’ Backpack program portal provides an option for password resetting.
How do I help students opt out of the Pacers’ Backpack program?
For the Summer 2024, please have students who choose to opt out of the Pacers’ Backpack program email the bookstore at bookstore@piedmontcc.edu with the request to opt out.
How do I help a student who may have been charged for the Pacers’ Backpack program by mistake?
If a student believes that they have mistakenly been charged for the Pacers’ Backpack program, they should send an email to the bookstore directly at bookstore@piedmontcc.edu. The bookstore will then contact PCC’s business office to investigate and reconcile the charge.
Who are PCC’s points of contact for bookstore operations?
- Emily Buchanan, Director of Caswell Campus Operations (bookstore operations/communication) at emily.buchanan@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 694-8042
- Steven Wagner, Accounts Receivable Supervisor (Accounts Receivable/Cashier) at steven.wagner@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2179
- Surkeithus Thomas, Accounting Manager at surkeithus.thomas@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2179 (billing/invoicing)
- Dr. Reggie Browning, Vice President of Administrative Services/CFO (contracts/commissions) at reggie.browning@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2175
- The bookstore may be contacted directly at bookstore@piedmontcc.edu or during operating hours at (336) 322-2339. Information can also be found at www.PCCstore.com.
For Students
How does the Pacers’ Backpack program work?
The Pacers’ Backpack program allows for all the course materials for a class to be included in tuition and fees. Once you have selected your courses for those that are part of the Pacers’ Backpack program, the campus store will gather your materials. Most materials will be provisioned through Blackboard or your student email address. Any physical course materials will be available for pickup at the bookstore. You will receive an email when your physical product is ready for pickup.
What is the cost and how do I pay?
The Pacers’ Backpack program offers required course material at a discounted rate of $20.17 per credit hour. This will be bundled into your tuition and fees. This allows every enrolled student access to all required materials on the first day of class.
What type of materials will I receive?
Depending on your classes and the course materials your instructors require, you may receive a combination of digital course materials, printed textbooks, printed lab manuals, or workbooks.
What course materials are not included in the Pacers’ Backpack program?
All textbook and web access materials identified by your instructors as required are included as part of the program. Additional supplies, such as kits, uniforms, and recommended materials will be available for purchase at the campus bookstore.
How do I get my course materials?
Once you have selected your courses, your course list will be sent to the campus bookstore, and the bookstore will get everything ready for you. All you need to do is check your PCC student email account for directions for locating your materials. You will be provided a digital bookshelf and/or told when the printed materials are ready to be picked up at the PCC bookstore. Please note that you may get additional emails from specific textbook publishers with access codes, depending on the courses you are taking. These may require you to enter access codes directly on the publishers’ websites. If applicable, these may come from RedShelf, Cengage, or McGraw Hill, depending on which course materials your instructors selected.
What if I add or drop a course?
If you add or drop a course, that information is automatically transmitted to the PCC bookstore. For added courses, digital materials will be emailed to your PCC student email account or can be accessed directly in Blackboard. For printed materials, you will receive an email (check your PCC student email account) when the new print materials are ready for pick up. Please allow 24-48 hours (about 2 days) after adding a new course to allow the information to be transmitted and for a team member to prepare those materials. For courses dropped prior to the last day to drop/add, printed materials must be returned to the PCC bookstore. Access to electronic or digital materials will be automatically disabled.
Do I get to keep my materials at the end of each term?
Printed materials are yours to keep at the end of each term. Digital materials can be accessed for a minimum of 180 days (about 6 months) and may be available for longer periods of time based on the material adopted and a publisher’s terms.
Is there an opt out option?
Yes. If you would like to opt out of the Pacers’ Backpack program for the Summer 2024 term, please email the bookstore as soon as possible at bookstore@piedmontcc.edu.
What if my class does not have an assigned textbook?
The Pacers’ Backpack program applies to all enrolled curriculum students. Rates are based on enrolled credit hours.
What should I do if I believe I have been charged for the Pacers’ Backpack program by mistake?
If you believe that they have mistakenly been charged for the Pacers’ Backpack program, they should send an email to the bookstore directly at bookstore@piedmontcc.edu. The bookstore will then contact PCC’s business office to investigate and reconcile the charge.
Beyond Course Materials
You have your course materials. What’s next? Pacers’ Backpack has all the best selection of officially licensed Pacer gear around. We are ready to outfit you head to toe with school spirit. We also look forward to seeing you in the store to grab all your supplies and technology.
