Jansen reinvents bookstore amid renovations

Author: Tim O'Grady

Robert Jansen has enacted a plethora of changes since becoming manager of the Middlebury College Bookstore in January 2007. As he plans for the future, Jansen strives to create a world-class bookstore that delivers more value back to students.

One way he plans to achieve his goal is by reorganizing the current set-up of the Bookstore. The Bookstore is currently divided into two sections: one where school supplies, apparel and memorabilia are sold and another where textbooks are sold. The ongoing construction of Proctor Hall will provide a new, more efficient bookstore by June 2009.

"Instead of having our textbook sales in one location, and our school supplies in another, everything will be in one location" said Jansen via e-mail. Additionally, the new bookstore space will be about 30 percent larger.

Two new Bookstore policies were enacted this academic year in order to benefit students and Middlebury College as a whole. The new book return policy, which took full effect in fall 2008, sets stricter regulations for students to return books and reimburses students solely with store credit. Under the new policy, students may return books for any reason until the first Friday after classes have commenced. After this date, some books may be returned for partial credit depending on the title and when it is returned. In order for a student to be reimbursed fully for returned books after the aforementioned date, he or she must verify that they have dropped the class for which the books were bought for and must return all books within two days of dropping the class.

The bookstore staff cited several reasons as to why they amended the return policy. One reason was that the old policy negatively impacted students financially. Many students would buy used books from the Bookstore and then return them after finding a better deal online. This technique forced certain students to buy new textbooks because other students were borrowing the used ones, only to return the used books later in the week when classes are in progress and students are required to already own the books.

Additionally, the old policy was harming the College financially. The campus Bookstore is a profit-maker, and uses all net revenue to lower the cost of a Middlebury education. The actual cost of a Middlebury education is over $80,000; therefore, if the bookstore doesn't make enough revenue, the College must find other ways to subsidize the difference between what students pay and the actual cost of a Middlebury education.

The "Panther Rewards" program was established for the 2008-2009 academic year in order to reward students for keeping their money on campus and shopping at the Middlebury Bookstore. According to the Middlebury College Bookstore Web site, "this appreciation is really from Middlebury College as a whole, since all revenue earned by the Bookstore goes to offset other educational costs of the College." Student must initially sign up for the rewards program online then purchase a Panther Rewards Gift Card at one of the four amounts ($250, $500, $750 or $1,000). Students earn reward points for every dollar they spend on in-store or online purchases, which can be accumulated to buy gift certificates. Panther Rewards members also have additional benefits such as members?only sales and giveaways.

"Over 1,000 students signed up for the Rewards Program, earning over 300,000 points; it will represent the largest transfer of educational investment dollars from students back to students in the history of the Middlebury College Bookstore," wrote Jansen in an e-mail.

The two new changes in the Bookstore strive to deliver more value to students and reward those who keep their money on campus. Despite the beneficient intentions of the policies, many students believe that textbook purchasing can be improved.

During the Community Council's meeting on Oct. 15, many students contended that booklists should be available for students to view before registration. Not only would students be able to search for cheaper textbooks online, they said, but it would also aid students with course selection since many students select classes based on what books will be read.

"Students that really need the ability to buy less expensive books ... do not have the option to go online to search for cheaper books without getting an academic penalty," said Bobby Joe Smith '09, Community Council member and Student Government Association president.

In order for booklists to be available earlier, more pressure would have to be put on professors to hand in their syllabi on time. Only 20-30 percent of faculty currently turn textbook lists in time. Professors at the Oct. 15 Community Council meeting said they understood the importance of handing in their syllabi on time, but some argued that the restrictive deadlines may impact the academic quality of courses since professors are rushed to hand in a syllabi at a certain date.

"[Professors take a lot of time to] come up with the most updated syllabi, with updated books ... so that you can get the best intellectual quality for what your tuition pays," said Faculty Co-head of Ross Commons and Professor of Religion Maria Hatjigeorgiou.

The recently approved College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 will put more pressure on universities to inform bookstores and students about the required texts for classes. This new act will require IHEs (Institutions of Higher Education) to provide the International Standard Book Number for each required and recommended book in course schedules. Additionally, it will require IHEs to inform college bookstores about course schedules for the subsequent year and certain information about the textbooks being used.