News and Insights on College Textbooks, Course Materials & Bookstore Services

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.  

New USD online bookstore meets the convenience and affordability needs of students while retail store supports student life

Student expectations are becoming increasingly challenging for administrators. When 1 in 3 freshmen do not return for their sophomore year, there is significant pressure to find strategies to successfully retain students. From the admissions process through graduation day, many institutions are looking for unique ways to serve the changing needs of their campus communities.

In a world where time is a commodity and the rate of inflation for education expenses has far surpassed that of health care, the idea of a traditional college experience is taking on a new dimension. The erratic economy over the past two decades has dictated the need for low-cost and innovative alternatives to higher education. This need coupled with the rise of a digital world has bred a college experience that can be specialized and completed from anywhere. Online programs allow students the opportunity to participate in class and complete coursework when it fits their schedule and at a price that is increasingly more affordable. More than three million students in the U.S. are currently pursuing a degree entirely online. This number is only expected to grow as student interest increases, institutions expand their online offerings, and employer acceptance of an online degree rises.

In an effort to make online education more affordable, we have seen an increase in accredited online-only universities. Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU) was built to provide a best-in-class online university - making it their mission to remove the barriers to affordability and accessibility with a high-quality, faith-integrated education that is intentionally accessible, career-relevant, and committed to student success. Backed by over a century of experience in providing superior on-ground educational opportunities with Azusa Pacific University, LAPU is taking online education to the next level.

The other weekend, I stopped by the local mall for the first time in well over a year, and I noticed a few surprising changes. For one, it was past lunch hour, yet the food court was still packed - and not everyone was eating. Many were simply using the space as a place to hang out.

Another thing that surprised me was that the mall still had a Barnes & Noble, although it had very little foot traffic, especially for a weekend. Inside, half the store appeared to be your typical Barnes & Noble that I remembered - books and magazines; but the other half of the store was dedicated to toys, games, and gifts.

I realized that what’s happening at the mall as well as Barnes & Noble mirrors what’s happening with many campus bookstores at colleges and universities. Call me Captain Obvious, but it’s pretty apparent that both the mall and campus bookstore need to evolve in order to survive - becoming more of a multi-purpose destination to not just shop, but to meet, eat, and socialize.

Amy is the newest Director of Business Development at Akademos, responsible for building new partnerships in the Western US. She has worked in Higher Ed for over 20 years, specializing in Retention,  Data Analytics, Financial Aid and Enrollment. Amy is passionate about bringing new ideas to the industry to foster a successful student lifecycle.

The student of today looks much different than 10, or even 5, years ago, which is why it can be extremely difficult to diagnose what may be at the heart of declining enrollments and higher attrition rates. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 30 percent of students who entered college in the fall of 2014 did not return for year 2.¹ The 6-year graduation rate in the U.S. is reported at  59%², however, some believe this to be even lower due to the method upon which colleges are reporting these rates, and if transfers are included as part of the calculation.  For many schools, the cost to retain a student is more cost-effective than recruiting a new one, and this shift will continue as we see a trend in educational sectors closing schools, merging or moving to predominantly online models.

The 2019 Survey of College & University Academic Leadership provides valuable insight into the critical issues facing colleges and universities today and potential solutions for the future.

The findings of the 2019 Survey of College & University Academic Leadership provide unique data & analysis on the many obstacles colleges and universities face when reducing the high costs of textbook and course materials for their students. This survey highlights academic leadership's perspective and trends on today's hot-button issues including:

• Textbook affordability
• Student purchasing behavior
• The impact of high textbook and course material costs on student success
• Best practices to improving textbook affordability and accessibility
• Emerging trends in digital materials and new learning models

 Request your free copy of today!