Southeast Missouri State University will keep its in-house textbook rental program, but will outsource operation of its bookstore.
The Board of Regents approved a plan for Follett to run the university’s bookstore at their meeting on Wednesday.
Vice President Kathy Mangels says print textbooks are still the majority of what students use now, though she anticipates that will change to e-books. Mangels says Follett will be able to incorporate more electronic learning materials into the university’s online learning management system.
“These are kind of new initiatives, something we really can’t develop in house,” Mangels said. “This allows us to pilot it, to try it in a small scale, and see what types of products like this work for our campus.”
For right now, she says the university’s textbook rental is very efficient and the best value for students.
“The bookstore, where you access your electronic course materials, there are some opportunities there where a company [like] Follett, who’s a leader in the industry, they can give us access to pilots and try some new ways to access course materials that we don’t have the capability on our own,” Mangels said.
Follett will invest $475,000 to renovate the bookstore and textbook rental. The bookstore will remain in the University Center. Follett was awarded a one-year contract that can be renewed every year up to five years.
The Board of Regents also approved a measure to switch banking services from Commerce Bank to U.S. Bank. Mangels says the university will save over $400,000 over four years by making the switch.
