On‑time faculty adoptions directly shape the student and store experience. Whether adoptions come in early, on schedule, late, or change unexpectedly, they influence everything from affordability and inventory availability to store workflow and student success. That’s why a strong, consistent communication strategy with faculty is essential.
To increase on-time adoptions, college stores typically rely on three main communication paths: passive, direct, and indirect engagement. Most stores benefit from using all three. Here’s how each one supports a more reliable adoption process.
1. Passive Communication: Broad, Informational Outreach
Email reminders are a helpful starting point for educating faculty about why adoption deadlines matter — especially when those deadlines feel early from a teaching perspective. Emails allow stores to explain how adoption timing affects student affordability, inventory availability, and the store’s ability to provide multiple format options.
But emails alone depend on busy faculty reading and responding. Because inboxes fill quickly, passive communication shouldn’t stand alone. To reach more faculty effectively, stores typically need to supplement email reminders with more personalized outreach.
2. Direct Communication: Personalized, Human Connection
Direct outreach (phone calls, scheduled meetings, events, etc.) can be the push some faculty need. These one‑on‑one conversations allow store staff to:
- Clarify why deadlines exist
- Answer adoption process questions
- Walk faculty through the system
- Build trust and rapport
This face‑to‑face or voice‑to‑voice connection helps humanize the store and emphasizes the urgency of timely submissions. However, even personalized outreach may not catch everyone, and stores often need one more layer to reach the remaining non‑responders.
3. Indirect Communication: Strategic Support From Academic Leadership
Late adoptions affect the bookstore and students. They can increase student costs, create out‑of‑stock issues, raise store acquisition and shipping expenses, and reduce buyback value for students. Because the impact reaches across campus, academic leaders often play an essential role in supporting timely adoptions.
When emails and direct outreach have been exhausted, stores may need to partner with department chairs, deans, or the provost to secure the last remaining adoptions. These leaders have established relationships with faculty and their communication often carries more weight.
For best results, build these relationships before adoption season. Share:
- Why deadlines exist
- Your planned communication timeline
- When you’ll reach out to leadership for support
- How they can help encourage timely submissions
- Ask them if they have suggestions for better reaching faculty
How On‑Time Adoptions Benefit Students
Faculty may not always see the direct link between their adoption timing and student outcomes. Here are a few key points to share:
Lower Costs
Early and on‑time adoptions give the store time to source lower‑cost formats, such as used, rental, digital, marketplace, or discounted new. Late adoptions narrow those options, raising student costs and increasing the chances of backorders or delays that affect academic performance.
Better Buyback Value for Students
When the store knows a title will be used next term, it can offer students a higher retail buyback rate instead of wholesale pricing. That improves student affordability and helps the store reduce acquisition costs for the next term.
More Books in Stock When Students Need Them
Late or last‑minute changes often result in higher prices, higher rush shipping fees, and delays in receiving books. This can lead students to seek alternative online sellers which increases the risk of wrong editions, shipping delays, or counterfeit materials.
