SU Elections 2026 Q&A: Course Materials Access Plebiscite

The University of Alberta Students’ Union (SU) 2025 election is giving students the opportunity to vote on a plebiscite question regarding the Course Materials Access (CMA) program.

CMA, previously known as the First Day Access program, will be introduced in fall 2026. The opt-out program will provide students access to all of their required digital and printed course materials on the first day of classes.

Under the program, students will pay a flat fee of $259 for the fall and winter terms and $139 spring and summer terms. The option to opt-out before the add/drop deadline will be made available through Canvas.

Students with all Zero Textbook Cost courses would be automatically opted-out of the program.

Concerns about the program have been raised repeatedly by various student leaders. Such concerns include the opt-out rather than opt-in design, the flat fee, and the projected amount of students the program would benefit.

The plebiscite question is: do you believe the university should go forward with the Course Material Access program?