[author image=”http://echo.snu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Jessica-De-La-Cruz.jpg”]
Jessica De La Cruz, Staff Contributor
Jessica De La Cruz is a junior English major destined for greatness. She’s currently working on world domination plans with her associate, Amy Calfy. However, that has come to a temporary halt until she receives her bachelor’s degree. [/author]
It is always hard to figure out the total expenses of college. There are so many things to consider. However, it is almost inevitable that one of the biggest expenses of college is books.
Now there are some ways you can cut this cost down. You can share a book with your friend, rent, buy used, or (probably not the best option) not have a book at all.
However, the SNU bookstore has come to a different solution to provide cheaper options for students. The university is partnering up with Tree of Life bookstores to offer this service to students. This program will be implemented on July 1, 2016.
Tree of Life bookstores is seen as the best choice as they align with the mission of SNU; they are a family owned Christian company. They are in many universities around us such as Oklahoma Baptist University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Oklahoma City University and many more around the country.
In an email sent out by Dr. Scott Strawn, the Vice President of Business and Finance, the organization in these universities “has a strong track record of driving down the price of course materials for students by at least 15-20% on average. They are able to provide these savings by leveraging technology to support aggressive acquisition and commodity style purchasing of course materials.”
The company has two different business models it follows. One is the “Bookstore Direct Model,” where there is an auto-fulfill program that can be used with or without a physical bookstore, and a commission is paid. The other is the “Traditional Outsource Model,” where the company pays a rental comission to SNU and runs the bookstore as their own.
SNU is looking at all their options within the company and trying to figure out which model, or infusion of the models, that will best work with the university and students. The company will also provide top-of-the-line products.
However, with this change, certain individuals who work for SNU will be affected. Dr. Strawn said, “This change impacts numerous employees of SNU–several with very long track records of distinguished service. This fact makes this change difficult even with compelling evidence that it is the correct decision.” We live in a world where technology has changed the way we go about our daily lives, including the way we shop for books; unfortunately, this “change is never easy.”
If you would like to learn more about the Tree of Life bookstore, read up on their website. They provide information about their mission, business models and partners. I suggest we all become familiar with this new change coming to SNU, and email Scott Strawn at sstrawn@snu.edu with any questions you may have.