What is the Textbook Butler program?
The Tree of Life Bookstores' Textbook Butler Program is a textbook fulfillment system designed to provide convenience and cost savings to students. Students who opt to participate in the program will receive all required textbooks based upon their registration for the semester. Tree of Life will do the shopping for the student by locating and providing all the required textbooks. The student will not have to shop or order each individual textbook.
What are my options within the Textbook Butler program?
Students will make a selection to either participate in the Textbook Butler Program (opt in) or not participate (opt out). If students elect to opt in, they will designate a preference of New Books, Used Books, or Rental Books. Tree of Life will make every effort to fulfill your textbook needs within your preference selection. However, if a textbook is not available by the shipping date, the next available option will be utilized to meet your textbook needs timely.
Who can participate in the Textbook Butler program?
Everyone is eligible to participate in the Textbook Butler Program, regardless of your payment method.
Do I have to use the Textbook Butler program?
No, you do not have to use the Textbook Butler Program. You can elect to opt out during the registration process or at any time by returning to your Enrollment Checklist or click on the Registration tab and click on the Confirm Textbook Options item.
If I don't select an option, will one be chosen for me?
Yes, if you do not make a selection in the Confirm Textbook Options item on the Enrollment Checklist, the University will select a default option for you of Opt Out.
Do I have to make my decision about participating in the Textbook Butler Program at the time I register?
No, you do not have to make a decision at the time you register. The Confirm Textbook Options item in your Enrollment Checklist will remain available to you. However, if no selection is made by the shipping date, the default option applied by the University of Opt Out will be utilized. As you consider if you want to participate in the Textbook Butler Program, please be mindful of the shipping date. The initial shipping date for the semester will be approximately 3 weeks before the start date of the semester.
Can I choose to purchase only certain books through the Textbook Butler Program?
No, you cannot select which books you want to receive through the Textbook Butler Program. All required textbooks will be provided to you.
Can I change my mind about my decision to participate in the Textbook Butler Program?
Yes, you can change your selection by returning to the Confirm Textbook Option item on your Enrollment Checklist. Please keep in mind that your changed preference will become effective immediately. If you had opted out and already purchased your textbooks for the entire semester elsewhere and there are courses that have not begun at the time you make a change in your preference, you will receive books for the courses that have not yet begun.
Will textbooks be available to purchase in person from a Campus Store?
Only custom publications will be available for purchase at the Campus Store. However, students who opt out of the Textbook Butler Program do have the option to purchase textbooks from Tree of Life through their website. To purchase directly from Tree of Life online, the student must make payment at the time of purchase. These charges can not be applied to the student account. Remember, in order to use the student account for textbook purchases, you must participate in the Textbook Butler Program.
If one of my required textbooks must have an access code and I have opted for rental or used books, will this impact the type of book I receive for that course?
In the event that one of your required textbooks must have an access code, an added fee for a new access code will be included in your costs. If the publisher does not provide this as an option, it will be necessary for a new textbook to be sent to you instead of the preference that you selected.
Is renting better than purchasing?
Ultimately you will want to determine for yourself which option is best. There are valid reasons to select any of the options, but one advantage of renting textbooks is the cost savings to the student. In addition, students still have the ability to make notes and highlight in a rental book. Also remember that if you find you want to keep a rental book, you can convert that textbook from a rental to a purchase by not returning it by the due date. The additional charge for the purchase price of the book will be applied to your student account, and you will need to make payment for the additional charges.
Are the prices comparable to other outside sources?
Yes, you will find that the textbook pricing through the Textbook Butler Program is competitive with other sources. We encourage you to compare the prices listed by Tree of Life with competitors as you make your textbook preference selection. We are confident that you will see the benefits.
If I have opted in to the Textbook Butler Program and I am using Financial Aid and don't have enough excess funds to pay for my textbook charges, what should I do?
If you do not have enough excess funds to cover the charges, you will be contacted by your student account representative once the charges have been applied to your student account. If you have already made payment arrangements for the semester prior to the charges being applied, you will need to update those payment arrangements. Your confirmation status for the semester could be changed if your payment arrangements are not updated.
If I have already made my payment plan for the semester before my textbook charges are applied to my student account, how do I increase my payment plan?
Your student account representative will be able to assist you in updating your payment plan. Your confirmation status for the semester could be changed if your payment arrangements are not updated.
When will I know the final price of my books and will it be too late to opt out at that point (shipping implications)?
The pricing of all book options will be available through the Tree of Life website. Tree of Life uses a market pricing model which allows them to find the best prices available to provide the students cost savings. Prices could fluctuate slightly during the registration period but will be locked within 3 weeks of the semester start date. You will be able to change your option up until the shipping date. As you consider if you want to participate in the Textbook Butler Program, please be mindful of the shipping date. The initial shipping date for the semester will be approximately 3 weeks before the start date of the semester. If you have further questions about the timing of changing your options, please contact your student account representative.
Since some courses have the same required books, will I receive the book multiple times?
No, the Textbook Butler Program will not ship you a book that you have already received from Tree of Life. However, please note that if you have received a book from any other vendor previously and it is a required textbook for a future course, the Textbook Butler Program will ship that book to you when you register for the course. You will be able to work with Tree of Life, prior to the class start date, to return duplicate textbooks.
If I add a course to my schedule after I receive my initial textbooks for the semester, what will happen? Will I get books for the courses added after I get my first shipment?
If you have opted into the Textbook Butler Program, Tree of Life will fulfill all required textbooks. They will monitor your schedule and upon notification of a change, will provide you with any additional required textbooks. This will continue throughout the semester. If you have already made payment arrangements for the semester prior to the additional charges being applied, you will need to update those payment arrangements. Your confirmation status for the semester could be changed if your payment arrangements are not updated.
If I opt in to rental and I drop a course before it begins, can I return the book for a refund of the rental cost?
Yes, if you drop a course before it begins and ship the books back before the course begins, you will be able to return the rental book for a full refund of the rental cost (less any shipping charges that may have been applicable). If you drop a course after it begins, you will not be eligible for a refund of the rental cost. You will be able to get more information about the return policy from the Tree of Life Bookstore website (https://www.slingshotedu.com/support).
If I opt out of the Textbook Butler Program, how will I know what books I need?
You will be able to access this information from the campus store website. A search tool will be available based upon semester, course number and section number. Once you have located the course number, the required text information with the ISBN numbers will display.
Can I get a loan or advance from my student account to purchase books somewhere else?
No, if you opt out of the Textbook Butler Program, you will not be able to receive a loan or advance from your student account to purchase your books through another vendor. You will be able to reimburse yourself for those purchases, if you have excess funds once your aid funds have all been received for the semester and your refund has been issued to you.
How will I purchase a required custom publication if I opt out of the Textbook Butler Program?
Custom publications are items that are printed and only available from LeTourneau University. Because these items are not available from other vendors, you will be able to purchase these directly from the Campus Store if you have opted out of the Textbook Butler Program. For more information about how to purchase custom publications, please contact the Tree of Life Campus Store at 903-233-3690 or CampusStore@letu.edu.
When will I receive my books if I opt in to the Textbook Butler Program?
This could be as early as three weeks before the start of the semester, or anytime thereafter, if your registration and confirmation have not been completed at the time shipping begins.
How will I know when my books have been shipped?
You will receive an email from Tree of Life once the books have been shipped.
How will I pay for my books?
The charges for your books provided through the Textbook Butler Program will be applied to your student account. Payment for your books will be made through the same methods that are used for your tuition, fees and all other registration related charges. If you have already made payment arrangements for the semester prior to the charges being applied, you will need to update those payment arrangements when the charges have been applied. Your confirmation status for the semester could be changed if your payment arrangements are not updated.
When will charges appear on my student account if I participate in the Textbook Butler Program?
The charges will be applied to your student account once the books have been shipped to you. This could be as early as three weeks before the start of the semester, or anytime thereafter, if your registration and confirmation have not been completed. You will receive an email when the charges have been applied to your account. If you have already made payment arrangements for the semester prior to the charges being applied, you will need to update those payment arrangements when the charges have been applied. Your confirmation status for the semester could be changed if your payment arrangements are not updated.
Can I buy my textbooks from the Campus Store directly instead of having them charged to my student account through the Textbook Butler Program?
No, you can not purchase your textbooks directly from the Campus Store. To purchase books through Tree of Life and have them charged to your student account, you will have to participate in the Textbook Butler Program. The charges for all books filled through the Textbook Butler Program will be applied to your student account. You will make payment for these charges through the same methods that you make payment for your tuition and fees. **Custom Publications can be purchased directly from the Campus Store, however. Students who opt out of the Textbook Butler Program can purchase textbooks directly from the Tree of Life website. To purchase directly from Tree of Life online, the student must make payment at the time of purchase. These charges can not be applied to the student account.
Can I sell my new or used book back to Tree of Life at the end of the semester?
Yes, you can sell back new or used books at the end of the semester. Please note that if textbooks will be required in future courses, you will want to keep them. The Textbook Butler Program will not send you a textbook again if you have already received it from Tree of Life.
You will be able to get more information about the buyback process from the Tree of Life Bookstore website (https://www.slingshotedu.com/support).
When are my rental books due back and how will I return them?
Your rental books are due back no later than 2 weeks after the ending date of the course. You will print off a return label free of charge from the Tree of Life website. **IF the books are not returned by the due date, your student account will be charged for the full purchase price. If you have already made payment arrangements for the semester prior to the charges being applied, you will need to update those payment arrangements when the charges have been applied.
If I drop a course and have received books, can I return them for a credit?
If you drop a course before the course begins, you will be able to return the book to Tree of Life for a refund of the purchase or rental price (less any applicable shipping charges) provided your return shipment is prior to the course start date. For information about the return policy regarding books for courses that are dropped after the course begins, please visit the Tree of Life Bookstore customer service website (https://www.slingshotedu.com/support).
If I return a book, how will I receive the credit?
If a textbook return is eligible to receive a credit, Tree of Life will process that credit back to you. If you participate in the Textbook Butler Program, the refund will be processed back to your student account. If you purchased the textbook directly from Tree of Life, the refund will be processed back to you directly. You will be able to get more information about the textbook return policy from the Tree of Life Bookstore website (https://www.slingshotedu.com/support).
