Drake University has selected a new partner for textbooks, course materials, and Drake branded merchandise. eCampus.com will supply course materials and operate the Bulldog Shop, our on-campus retail store, beginning with the Summer 2023 term. This new partnership will focus on increased affordability and convenience through a simplified ordering experience for students and a customer-centric campus retail operation, tailored to the needs of Drake students, faculty, staff, alumni, fans, parents, and community members.
eCampus.com was selected after a comprehensive and competitive review. Survey data from faculty and students helped shape the vendor evaluation criteria. A faculty survey from last fall showed a need to improve the adoption process and overall customer service, while student surveys revealed a shift to online purchases and increasing preference for digital content. Affordability was also identified as a priority. Vendors were asked to highlight their capabilities in each of these areas.
A faculty bookstore advisory group was instrumental in evaluating potential vendors, providing input on the adoption tools from each vendor, course material selection support and other vendor offerings. A special thanks to the following members of the Bookstore Advisory Group:
- Natalie Adkins, Associate Professor of Marketing
- Vira Babenko, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Gillian Gremmels, Dean, Cowles Library
- Carrie Dunham, Associate Professor Cowles Library
- Erik Maki, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
- David Senchina, Professor Kinesiology and Immunology, Biology
- Keith Summerville, Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability
Improving the Student Experience
Another key focus of the selection process was the student experience. The eCampus.com online storefront will give students the opportunity to purchase or rent new and used textbooks online, as well as access to digital content. Students will be provided time and money-saving options, such as price comparison information from other vendors like Amazon or Chegg, free shipping to the campus store, and a price match guarantee program. eCampus.com’s custom-branded online storefront and dedicated customer service will be available to students 24/7.
Improving the Faculty Experience
The move to eCampus.com also allows Drake to structure support for faculty in a more purposeful way. Cowles Library will now be a key resource for faculty throughout the adoption process. Librarians are well positioned to assist in identifying course material resources, including making recommendations to faculty who are interested in using Open Educational Resources (OER) or selecting from the thousands of eBooks in the library’s online collections.
“Drake librarians are eager to bring our expertise to course materials, and eCampus.com has welcomed our involvement, which we appreciate,” said Jill Gremmels, dean of Cowles Library. “We take seriously our goal of being the information provider to the University, but for too long, course materials have been outside that scope. We already own and license over 900,000 ebooks, and we can help professors find both OER and library-provided resources that are available at no cost to students.”
Bulldog Shop Operations
eCampus.com will also assume operation of the Bulldog Shop in the Olmsted Center. The store will continue to offer Drake branded merchandise and support graduation. eCampus.com brings a customer-centric focus to the retail operation and is committed to engaging with the campus community. eCampus.com has also committed to employing students, offering opportunities for retail and marketing positions for student employees. The Bulldog Shop will also accept Bulldog Bucks in the store, allowing greater flexibility for students.
Transition Information
Faculty will submit summer and fall adoptions using eCampus.com’s intuitive online adoption platform called FAST. The last information session about how to adopt using FAST is set for Wednesday, April 5, at 2 p.m.
To join the zoom training session click the link below and “Join Demo” button and it will take you to the training presentation.
https://ecampus.zoom.us/j/8653458271?pwd=OHZUa3ZUWVkzYzU3elNGZFduZEVHQT09#success
The Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) requires higher education institutions to provide the complete list of required and recommended textbooks (including ISBN and pricing information) to the bookstore in a timely fashion. Thus, prioritizing the transition to the FAST adoption platform is an important first step in this process.
To allow for inventory and preparations for a reopened store, the Bulldog Shop in Olmsted Center will be closed May 22–29 and re-open on Tuesday, May 30. A special grand opening event will take place at the beginning of the fall semester.
— Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer