Launching Fall 2026, Holyoke Community College’s Cougar Access program will provide affordable course materials for Holyoke students

LEXINGTON, Ky., July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Holyoke Community College, a two-year college located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, has announced an expansion of its partnership with eCampus.com to support the launch of Cougar Access, a new equitable access course materials program beginning in Fall 2026. The program will provide students with access to physical and digital textbooks and course materials on or before the first day of class, helping to reduce overall costs and improve access.

eCampus.com and Holyoke Community College first partnered in 2024 to enhance the college’s online retail and course materials operations through a customized online storefront. Building on this foundation, Holyoke Community College has worked with eCampus.com to create forward-looking solutions that better meet the needs of their students. With this new equitable access model, a convenient, cost-effective, and inclusive course material experience will be provided to all students.

Through eCampus.com’s technology platforms, Holyoke Community College students will automatically receive all required course materials based on their class schedules. Physical textbooks will be delivered to campus for pickup at the Campus Store, while digital materials will be provided through Canvas, the College’s learning management system, or through eCampus.com’s digital bookshelf. eCampus.com will integrate directly with Holyoke Community College’s Student Information System, allowing students to access their customized student dashboard through Single Sign-On (SSO), simplifying the process and removing barriers to access.

“Since 2024, our partnership with eCampus has enabled us to provide students an affordable and convenient option,” said HCC vice president of administration and finance Narayan Sampath. “The launch of the Cougar Access program in fall 2026 is another big step towards reducing the barriers of affordability and access. Students now will have all their books and supplies before the first day of class. A student on average spends between $800 and $1,000 a year on books and supplies. With the launch of the Cougar Access program, the majority of our students will pay less than half of that.”

Cougar Access stands out for its focus on textbook affordability and reducing the financial strain and the stress associated with attaining the correct course materials for students. Faculty members are encouraged to choose cost-effective, yet quality content that best serves the needs of the students. This approach is backed by enhanced software offering transparent pricing and the inclusion of Open Educational Resources (OER), fostering informed academic choices.

“Access to affordable course materials plays a vital role in supporting student achievement,” said Matt Montgomery, President and CEO of eCampus.com. “We’re deepening our partnership with Holyoke Community College to deliver a streamlined, equitable solution that ensures students are prepared from the first day of class. By removing barriers to access and reducing costs, this program helps create a stronger foundation for student success.”

About Holyoke Community College

The Commonwealth’s oldest community college, Holyoke Community College opened its doors in 1946 as the first two-year college in Massachusetts. In the decades since, the college has paved the way for generations of learners from western Massachusetts and beyond, a beacon of hope and opportunity for people seeking better lives. Please visit us at hcc.edu.

About eCampus.com ALL Access

eCampus.com ALL Access is amplifying student success by providing an all-inclusive solution to discover, manage, and distribute course materials. The ALL Access program, part of the eCampus.com Course Material Solutions suite, helps institutions provide students with their required course materials—print or digital—for one low, flat-rate fee included on the student bill. Faculty and administration benefit from an intuitive online adoption tool with the academic freedom to choose the content and format that best serve the needs of professors and students, regardless of publisher or platform. Students enjoy significant savings off current textbook prices, all delivered to their doorstep or desired campus location. Learn more at ecampushighered.com.

About eCampus.com

eCampus.com is a premier online retailer of textbooks and digital course materials. Consistently exceeding industry standards, eCampus.com’s mission is to provide the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way for K-12 and higher education students to buy, rent, or sell textbooks and digital content. Founded on July 2, 1999, eCampus.com reshaped the textbook industry by taking the traditional college bookstore online. Remaining an edtech leader in future-proof course material solutions, eCampus.com serves over 400 schools, colleges, and universities. Their comprehensive course material solutions suite includes full-service online bookstores, inclusive access and equitable access programs, and expert campus store operations and management. Through products that simplify the adoption, management, and procurement of course materials, eCampus.com propels student success by delivering the right course materials, at the right time, and the right price. Learn more at ecampus.com and ecampushighered.com.

Press Contact:

Tiffaney Lavoie
859-514-6885
https://www.ecampus.com

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SOURCE eCampus.com

SHANGHAI, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup drew to a close, the Chinese national team was absent from the pitch, but the passion of Chinese fans remained strong. Facing this reality, Coca‑Cola launched the “This Moment Toast to our FIFA World Cup” campaign across China, transforming the global tournament into a celebration that every consumer could call their own.

At the closing party of the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Fan Gathering on July 19, in Beijing, China, Coca-Cola successfully set a new Guinness World Records title for the most contributions to an online photo mosaic – which came together to form a giant TIFO in a virtual landscape. Leading up to this moment, TIFOs had traveled across football grounds and city leagues nationwide, inviting fans to join. Their late-night viewing moments and the joy of sharing a Coca‑Cola were woven into a giant TIFO, preserving individual memories and making them a collective legacy.

The custom anthem “JUMP,” performed by Coca-Cola Brand Ambassador Liu Yuning and international artist J.Balvin, blended traditional Chinese folk music with global rock rhythms, crafting a World Cup anthem tailored to Chinese fans. Its MV featured a red TIFO across Chinese landmarks, bringing local passion to the world stage. By scanning QR codes on Coca‑Cola packaging, fans could join the TIFO — turning every can into their own way to cheer for the World Cup.

Coca‑Cola also introduced a real‑time AI avatar of Chinese football icon Fan Zhiyi — an interactive companion for live sports viewing. Powered by Baidu Yijing, it offers 24/7 conversations with fans. Recreating Fan with remarkable fidelity, the avatar lets users discuss match action, share insights and converse naturally throughout the tournament. Unlike pre‑programmed virtual characters, it delivers a dynamic, always‑on experience — moving Coca‑Cola from post‑match content to in‑match participation, while setting a benchmark for Chinese AI in major sporting events.

Coca‑Cola’s campaign went beyond brand communication — it showed how a global brand can become part of consumers’ lives — connecting through shared experiences and co-created moments. Music stirred emotions, TIFO embodied co-creation, and AI delivered companionship. When the tournament ended, what stayed were not marketing messages, but the joy of sharing a Coca‑Cola with friends, the pride of being part of the TIFO, and the fun of chatting with AI Fan Zhiyi. This is the essence of a brand-consumer relationship.

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SOURCE Coca-Cola

GUIYANG, China, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CNS: Cheers filled the football pitch as the semifinals of China’s Village Super League, or “Cun Chao,” kicked off in Rongjiang County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, from July 18 to 19. Outside the stadium, another lively scene unfolded as visitors browsed local specialties including golden passion fruit, tea and Rosa roxburghii drinks.

Around 100 booths showcased agricultural products from across Guizhou, while livestream e-commerce, tastings and interactive activities turned the popular rural football event into a new platform for promoting local produce.

At a livestreaming booth, golden passion fruit grown in Rongjiang was presented to online consumers.

“In the past, consumers outside Guizhou knew little about Rongjiang’s golden passion fruit. As the Village Super League became popular, more people came to know Rongjiang and its products,” said Yuan Kepeng, a staff member of a participating company.

According to Yuan, the passion fruit sold during the livestream came from local farmers, with customers now extending beyond Guizhou to coastal areas including Guangdong Province.

Zhang Yunfeng, who has been livestreaming Guizhou agricultural products for three years, moved his studio to the edge of the football pitch, introducing passion fruit, bayberry juice and local tea to viewers.

Zhang said the tournament brought more viewers into his livestream. Many first asked about Rongjiang and the football matches before turning their attention to local products, with some placing orders because of their interest in the Village Super League.

“The value is not just about how much we sell,” Zhang said. “What matters more is letting more people know what good products this place has to offer.”

The tournament is also turning visitor flows into local consumption. A tourist surnamed He from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, brought her child to Rongjiang during a family trip. They watched the football, sampled local specialties and joined activities at the market.

“I wanted to watch a match in person and let my child see more of Guizhou,” she said.

The market is part of a provincial initiative to promote agricultural brands and support farmers. By combining sports, markets and livestream commerce, the event seeks to connect the crowds drawn by rural football with local agricultural products.

In recent years, grassroots sporting events including the Village Basketball Association, or “Cun BA,” and the Village Super League have attracted growing numbers of visitors to Guizhou’s countryside, bringing new opportunities for tourism, consumption and local businesses.

After the final whistle, visitors continued browsing the market while online orders kept coming in. The popularity of rural sports is helping Guizhou’s farm products reach consumers far beyond the football pitch.

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SOURCE CNS