A new partnership between University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and eCampus.com could save students up to 60 percent on their textbooks, helping to keep higher education affordable.
UWM announced its five-year contract with the online bookseller on Tuesday, joining Hampton University, National Louis University and other educational institutions already working with eCampus.com to provide savings and convenience to students.
“We are very excited about the new relationship between UWM and eCampus.com. This partnership will enhance student success by making textbooks and course materials more affordable for students,” said Michael Laliberte, UWM’s vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “Additionally, this new model will provide students with added incentives to reduce their costs of purchasing textbooks.”
Students will buy textbooks through the UWM Bookstore for the 2015 fall semester. They will return them to eCampus.com at the end of the semester. After that, they will buy them online at the UWM Virtual Bookstore powered by eCampus.com. Students will be able to order books online any time of the day and have them delivered directly to their residence with free, two-day shipping.
As part of its commitment to UWM, eCampus.com will share in the cost of renovating the bookstore as a vibrant Panther Spirit Shop housing the eCampus.com Store@UWM, which will have kiosks and staff to assist students in ordering their textbooks. Students will be able to order, rent, sell and return books at the eCampus.com Store@UWM.
The Panther Spirit Shop also will include a Tech Store and a new array of Panther spirit items.
Students could save up to 60 percent on their textbooks and materials. Based on an average textbook cost of $800 at UWM, the potential yearly savings is $480 a student. eCampus.com’s premier Internet pricing model adjusts textbook prices based on market pricing, ensuring students save as much money as possible.
“Virtual bookstores are the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver books to students, allowing students to bypass waiting in long lines and high textbook prices,” said Matt Montgomery, president and CEO of eCampus.com.
The partnership also provides an exclusive rewards program for UWM students, faculty members, parents and alumni. eCampus.com has partnerships with more than 300 popular online retailers, giving UWM students credit toward their books for purchases they and their families make online. It is currently the only rewards program to offer students a way to earn extra savings on textbooks.
Purchases made by alumni and faculty members also earn credit, with that money going to help provide scholarships for current and future students. eCampus.com has committed to providing UWM students with tens of thousands of dollars in textbook scholarships over the next five years, along with supporting general scholarships, event sponsorships and campus promotions.
“This program offers savings to students that just wouldn’t be possible with a brick-and-mortar bookstore,” said Scott Peak, UWM’s executive director of Auxiliary Services. “Schools across the country are going to be moving to online book sales because it is so cost-effective. With the traditional model, bookstores spent large sums shipping books they didn’t always sell and that cost got passed on to customers. This new model is student-friendly and ensures the only books being shipped are those students want and need.”
Construction on the new Panther Spirit Shop and Virtual Bookstore is expected to begin in late September or early October, with a reopening in January. Bookstore operations will continue on the lower level of the current bookstore during construction on the main floor.
