Akademos to manage course materials process through CSS online bookstore and benefit administration, faculty, and students
How do you compete effectively in the college textbook environment? A significant decline in bookstore sales for the past 5+ years has caused many university administrators to look at the campus bookstore model differently and re-examine its role in serving the student population. Course material needs are changing and books are being replaced with access codes, eBooks, and custom CoursePacks. Shoppers have more options, the convenience and price factors of eCommerce has helped sales grow 15% in the last year alone.
The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) in Duluth, MN, has been at the forefront of this changing environment, having moved their bookstore online in 2012 while self operating an on-campus retail store. To the benefit of the students, the financial contributions stay within the college. As course materials needs of the students and faculty continues to evolve, it is important to continually examine the best path for future growth, textbook affordability, and student success.
The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) online bookstore will be powered by Akademos course materials platform
Akademos Provides Improved Visibility, Convenience, and Affordability to Administration, Faculty, and Students
Because of their commitment to providing low-cost textbooks and course materials through innovative technology while increasing utilization, the College of St. Scholastica has chosen us to expand their online bookstore operations and manage the course materials process. This move will bring increased benefits to administration, faculty, and students, including advanced adoption and data analytics tools, a personalized shopping experience, and enhanced customer service tools and support.
In addition to the wide variety of low-cost formats across the 18 million+ title supply chain, CSS administration and faculty will benefit from a comprehensive Adoption & Analytics Portal. This platform offers a step-by-step guide for course material adoptions, recommendations, and adoption history, and the ability to compare real-time prices for course materials. The analytics tool will also enable leadership to track critical data, including student purchasing and bookstore utilization.
“We’re pleased to be working with the College of St. Scholastica and look forward to helping them support the exceptional academic achievement of their students,” said Raj Kaji, CEO, Akademos. “In our experience, more affordable and accessible textbooks and course materials drive bookstore utilization, which results in more prepared students and the overall success of an institution.”
CSS Online Bookstore to Help Prepare Students for Success Today and for the Future
Competing effectively in any environment takes forethought, creativity, and commitment. The College of St. Scholastica continues to offer its campus community relevant services that are customized to support what is most important for the future of their students and the institution as a whole. We are proud to partner with them in support of their cost saving and student success initiatives.
Find out more about the College of St. Scholastica and Akademos partnership in the full press release.
To learn more about how Akademos can help guide your institution towards the best option for its bookstore, contact us for more information.
