2008 Woodie Awards
New partnership brings books and more
Barnes & Noble in Campus Center
Ashley Kasdorf
Issue date: 1/7/08 Section: CampusCenter
|
Sagamore Staff
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has partnered with a notable bookstore and coffee chain to fill a significant part of the new Campus Center.
Indiana University's leadership began looking into various bookstore management options after considerable conversation with IU trustees and other stakeholders.
"This decision was made by the Indiana University Board of Trustees to engage in a business plan with Barnes & Noble for the management of all eight campuses," says Dan Maxwell, IUPUI Campus Center Director.
Making such a big decision not only involves the future of the university, but also the students who will utilize the amenities is not a quick task.
"After a four or five month deliberation process, Barnes & Noble was selected," says Paul Maloney, vice president of Barnes & Noble.
Overall, Barnes & Noble not only had everything IUPUI was looking for, but they, too, wanted to provide the best shopping experience for the IUPUI family.
"The university was interested in adopting the best possible customer services for students, faculty and visitors in leveraging a business agreement that would provide the maximum cash-flow going forward," says John D. Short, assistant vice chancellor and IUPUI liaison with Barnes & Noble. "As you look around the world of higher education best practices and industry comparatives, you see both models-third-party business partnerships and internal self-operation."
The distinction for Indiana University and IUPUI is the core emphasis on the business partnership, which provides strengthened teamwork between Barnes & Noble representatives and campus. This partnership will advocate the business service mission between students and faculty.
"Because IUPUI has a great deal of experience with other business partners such as hotel, food service and print design services, we are uniquely advantaged to succeed even further," Short says.
However, the process for obtaining such a big contract for IUPUI's campus can be an ordeal though.
Be the first to comment on this story