Topics: administration, faculty relations, digital textbooks
It’s good to have powerful talking points on hand when you’re engaged in a campus discussion about the benefits of digital innovation or educational technology. Many people have strong views about the role technology should play in education — and in our lives. Faculty can be especially strident about anything they fear might harm instruction, including digital course materials.
The course material industry offers a variety of ways to lower textbook costs, but the most tried and true way is to provide students with greater access to used books. However, maximizing the number of used books your store has available can take a lot of time and resources. That’s why MBS created SimpleSource. SimpleSource gives stores an easy way to manage their entire wantlist process from wholesale inventory to marketplace sourcing.
Topics: ed tech, faculty relations, faculty, digital textbooks
Our previous segment of this ongoing series offered a front-lines, first-person view of a teacher’s experience with using eTextbooks in class. In our second installment, we look more broadly at how faculty perceive digital course material options and offer advice for generating more interest in digital on campus. Our goal: provide our collegiate retail readers with insight that eases communication with faculty about cost-saving options that can boost student success.
Social media is a fantastic tool for college stores. It helps you connect with students, alumni and parents in a consistent and meaningful way. However, developing a great social media presence requires strategy and fair amount of patience. Find out how the GVSU Laker Store has turned their social media efforts into a valuable store resource.
As universities work to become more inclusive, they are turning to new methods of course material selection and delivery. The goal: reduce costs and increase student preparedness. Industry innovations are growing in popularity — like print OER, courseware and inclusive access, which incorporates textbook charges into tuition.
Collegiate retailers are asked to lower student costs, increase school revenue and decrease overhead expenses all while providing students with a great customer experience. Creative solutions and retail innovations have helped many college stores meet these demands.
What if your college store had one more employee who devoted 10 more hours each week to developing your campus store's marketing plans and materials? What could your store accomplish? You don't have to spend more on staffing to find out. We have already laid the groundwork and all you have to do is implement it.
Since 2011, Foreword Online has developed complete (and completely free) marketing plans, covering: holiday marketing, charity and community outreach, unique events and sales, faculty relations plans, and more. Below, sorted by time, topic and audience, are the plans and resources you need to keep your store's marketing fresh from month to month.
Finding ways to amplify student engagement both in the classroom and with the campus is increasingly vital to student achievement and persistence. Most students come to campus with the same goal: they want to earn their degree and graduate. However, a significant percentage of students do not persist through their entire educational journey.
As an answer to the demand for more affordable course material options, publishers developed the publisher consignment rental program. Publisher consignment rentals are a collection of rental-only titles that have been selected by the publisher. These books are offered at a lower price point than a new book and provide faculty with the latest editions for their classrooms. But what does that mean for the college store? Recently, we with sat down with the Mineral Area College Bookstore Manager Aaron Miller to discuss his experience carrying publisher consignment rentals.
Topics: bookstore events, marketing, finals
Collegiate retailers know that performing well on a chemistry final depends on many factors, including whether you’ve eaten well. As students prepare for finals this season, remind them your store is an excellent place to find healthy food that fuels academic achievement. Host a Finals Fuel Sale Event, highlighting the snacks and convenience foods your store offers that nurture the whole student — body, heart and mind.
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