However,  while MS provides the .mdb file (which does not match the SQL
DB!!>) they do not tell you how to accomplish the labs using Access instead
of SQL.  (how uncool)

I need help with the following line:
    ' *** beginning of code sample
    'open the recordset using argument for StudentID
    rsAccountBalance.Open "Select AccountBalance from Students Where
StudentID = " & Str(iStudentID), , cnStateUBookstore, adOpenStatic,
adLockReadOnly
    '*** end of code sample

I get a "Type Mismatch" error at this point.  The connection,
cnStateUBookstore, has been set before this code and used to retrieve data
successfully earlier in the program.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You,
David

    rsAccountBalance.Open "Select AccountBalance from Students Where
StudentID = '" & Str(iStudentID) &"'", cnStateUBookstore, adOpenStatic,
adLockReadOnly, adCmdText

If the table field type is a string in Access, you should change your sql to

Select AccountBalance from Students Where