Anyone who has been in the bookstore located in Southeastern’s War Memorial Student Union has probably noticed the many sales on supplies and the “all sales are final” signs posted around the store.

 In addition to this, students, faculty and staff should not expect the shelves to be restocked by the Texas Book Company (TBC), which is the company that provided supplies for the store in the past.

“The current contract with Texas Book Company will end on April 27, 2012,” said Robin Rodrigue, director of the Office of Auxiliary Service’s Marketing and Strategic Initiatives department. “In January 2012, Southeastern solicited a Request for Proposals for the operation of the bookstore and Follett Higher Education Group was awarded the contract.”  

Follett will operate the University Bookstore for the contract term beginning May 1, 2012 and ending April 30, 2022.   

This is the second time that the bookstore has changed companies in the past four years.

The last day to make purchases with checks was on April 17, which is also the last day that departments can place orders.

The bookstore will also be closed to complete the transition from Wednesday, April 25 to Friday, April 27, which means that any student that needs supplies and other items available at the bookstore should be purchased before then.

Books, supplies and other items will still be available by the new company Follett Higher Education for the rest of the semester starting on Monday, April 30 with newly ordered supplies until it is under control of Follett.

“Initially, store inventory may not be at full capacity as Follett completes orders,” said Rodrigue. “However, school supplies, scantrons and other merchandise will be available when the store opens on Tuesday, May 1.”

Some products and supplies will remain the same, but since Follett works with its own set of vendors there will be new supplies and items available as well.

All current Bookstore employees will have the opportunity to work under the new management team with no current employees at risk of being displaced.

For more information on the Bookstore’s transition, contact Sherri Wagner in the University Bookstore at 985-549-5393 or online at [email protected].

You can also contact Connie Davis with Auxiliary Services at 985-549-2094 or by email at [email protected].