The University of Findlay has selected Barnes & Noble College (BNC), a Barnes & Noble Education company, to manage all course materials, retail and online operations for the University of Findlay Ruscilli Bookstore, effective January 2023. BNC will offer a suite of innovative programs and services to support academic success for students and faculty, in addition to delivering an expanded merchandise assortment and an engaging retail experience.
“This will be a great move forward for the University of Findlay. We have enjoyed our independent bookstore for many years, but this partnership will expand our reach to more students, alumni, parents, and UF friends with Barnes & Noble’s online access to books and UF branded merchandise,” said University President Katherine Fell, Ph.D. The look of the bookstore may change, and Barnes & Noble will provide online access, but the bookstore will still be a big part of the University of Findlay. “The name of the bookstore will remain the Ruscilli Bookstore, in recognition of the family’s generous donation that made possible this beautiful facility. It will also remain fully under the ownership of UF,” added President Fell.
The University of Findlay Ruscilli Bookstore will ensure students and faculty are supported with everything they need to succeed, including the industry’s largest inventory of affordable physical and digital course materials backed by a price-match program, convenient options for ordering and receiving materials such as in-store pickup or delivery.
Beginning Fall 2023, the University of Findlay will offer BNC First Day® Complete, a course material delivery model that will provide all UF students with all their course materials for the term. First Day Complete will drive affordability, access and incredible convenience for students, bundling the costs of materials in students’ tuition. The program results in a 40% to 50% reduction in cost to students, and ensures they have all their course materials for the semester available to them before the first day of class.
After students have registered for their courses, they will receive an email from the bookstore prompting them to select their preferred delivery method. The bookstore will prepare the materials for each student and notify them when the materials have shipped or are available for in-store pickup. Digital materials will be delivered directly through students’ learning management system.
In addition, as a bookstore-operated program, First Day Complete provides all the benefits of a complete access model, without limiting faculty choice. Faculty members can choose the materials that are best suited for their teaching, regardless of publisher or format.
Faculty will also gain access to the market-leading BNC Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP), which allows them to easily research and submit affordable course material selections, further driving choice and student success. AIP will also provide UF academic leadership with the ability to view real-time adoption rates and submission progress at the school or departmental level, and communicate directly with faculty from within the portal.
“We are very excited to partner with the University of Findlay as its new bookstore operator,” said Mark Eckhart, Vice President Strategic Partnerships for Barnes & Noble College. “We look forward to offering a wide range of academic solutions and a seamless retail experience that will help to drive success for UF students. And through First Day Complete, we can provide students with their materials at even lower prices, available to them before the first day of class.”
The University of Findlay Ruscilli Bookstore will also offer an expanded assortment of UF apparel, gifts, school supplies and more. And through its strategic alliance with Fanatics and Lids, BNC will deliver an unparalleled, best-in-class assortment of school apparel and an exceptional retail experience to the school community. Merchandise will be available both in store and online through the website or mobile app, delivered with a dynamic and personalized experience.
In order to update the bookstore and transition everything over to Barnes & Noble, the University of Findlay Ruscilli Bookstore will be closing its doors for renovation. The bookstore will be closed Jan. 30 to Feb. 3. During this time, the website will also be down in order to launch the new Barnes & Noble website upon reopening.
About Barnes & Noble College
Barnes & Noble College is a leading operator of college bookstores in the United States. Barnes & Noble College currently operates over 770 campus bookstores and the school-branded e-commerce sites for each store, serving more than 6 million college students and faculty nationwide. General information on Barnes & Noble College can be obtained by visiting the Company’s website: www.bncollege.com.
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