Company: Associated Students UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Company Description: ASUCLA, the Associated Students UCLA, was created when UCLA first opened its doors back in 1919. Even in the very early years, ASUCLA meant student government, student publications, and student services such as a bookstore and cafeteria. Today, ASUCLA has evolved into a four-part organization. These four entities of ASUCLA collectively make up the largest student association in the country.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories - Education
Nomination Sub Category: Postsecondary Learning Solution
 Nomination Title: Associated Students UCLA's Bruin One Access
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 18 words used.
Bruin One Access website
Inclusive Access website
2023-2024 ASUCLA Annual Report
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
Bruin One Access was launched on Sept. 16, 2024, available to all UCLA undergraduate students through the UCLA Learning Management System, Bruin Learn. A subscription tier in the UCLA Store Textbooks program, this service builds upon Inclusive Access, which launched in 2016. Inclusive Access provides students digital access to individual course materials for those who only need some, or few, materials for their courses.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 345 words used.
Bruin One Access provides undergraduate students with their required course materials for the quarter at a flat rate of $129. This new service is leading the way to increasing accessibility of course materials for undergraduates, offered seamlessly through Bruin Learn.
A survey conducted in 2021 found that 65% of college students chose not to purchase their course materials because they were too expensive. According to the California Student Aid Commission, data collection from 2022-2023 further found that the average college student spent $630 on course materials during the academic year. At $129, Bruin One Access eliminates the financial unpredictability associated with academic expenses that can be limiting to college student’s success. Under this subscription model, undergraduate students are provided with all of their course materials required for each class, regardless of the number of classes or units taken each quarter, for $129. Bruin One Access eliminates the guesswork for budgeting students so they can be assured their materials will be provided at one low-rate cost each quarter.
Another benefit of the program is its day-one access model. Professors list required course materials for students directly through Bruin One Access, in which the UCLA Textbooks department then works diligently to procure. Considering UCLA’s quarter system poses a rigorous and fast-paced academic on-taking, it’s essential students are equipped with their materials by day one of classes. This immediate access best positions undergraduate students for success, which sets Bruin One Access apart from competitor textbook services that take time to process an order (not including any additional shipping fees) and deliver or rent materials post-first class.
An opt-in model, Bruin One Access offers the multiple aforementioned benefits for students, easily and conveniently accessible through the UCLA Learning Management Solution. But if students don’t need all of their required course materials, it’s simple — they can easily opt out of Bruin One Access and select Inclusive Access for individual course material needs. Or students can choose to opt out of both programs altogether as these services intend to provide multiple educational solutions in formats that fit each learning style.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 349 words used.
Ongoing the second quarter for Bruin One Access, feedback is limited. Data has been collected from the inaugural quarter, totaling 21,728 students opting into the subscription program, which offers both Bruin One Access and Inclusive Access. This represents an impressive participation rate of 74.52% of those students who had the option to participate in the program.
Translating participation into actual books, per se, Bruin One Access supplied 2,471 course materials to students in the fall 2024 quarter. Tied into the success of Inclusive access, 66,496 course materials were provided by the program in the fall 2024 quarter. The total savings from the fall, as compared to the costs of traditional print textbooks, are not yet available as of Jan. 24, 2025. Bruin One Access is only available to undergraduate students at this time.
An impressive start to the program, it was important to understand the sentiment of the program behind the numbers, coming directly from students. Looking on Reddit, it was understood that students are easily frustrated with another “bill,” as the Bruin One Access model displays on their Bruin Bill portal. However, it was insightful to see that the natural student-to-student conversation about Bruin One Access via Reddit posts breaks down the true value of the subscription program. Bruin One Access is not intended to be an all-in-one solution for everyone; rather the program is a cost-affordable subscription option for those who have multiple, hefty textbook needs each quarter. In a conversation where students shared how they felt about the program, another shared a clarifying point: “Bruin One Access is meant to ensure there is predictability in the maximum cost of your books each quarter.”
With students getting accustomed to the new service, its counter program part, Inclusive Access, goes hand-in-hand as students begin to realize and inform one another on Reddit to choose the best course material options based on the convenience and price that this UCLA Store program offers.
The UCLA Store will deploy a survey soon, as students become more familiarized with Bruin One Access to collect program feedback.
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