Brand-name acquisitions bring new perks to students

University administrators appear optimistic their new partnerships with Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Chick-fil-A will be a hit with students.
Recommendations voiced by students helped bring the two companies to campus, said Gregg Lassen, vice president for business affairs.

“If we can keep you on the campus in between classes, you will have a better University experience,” Lassen said. “If the students are driven, and that vocal, about wanting something on campus, I would bend over backwards to try and get that for them.”

The bookstore, which was operated by the Texas Book Company for 21 years, is temporarily housed in the Physical and Health Education Building until the new University Center is finished in 2010.

Lassen said finding brand name retailers is one of the main goals of the University. “Brands matter, so the reputation of a high quality bookseller is key,” he said. “They have a reputation of managing the textbook process professionally with a training program that is superior. I am excited that they are a major company and they have the ability to acquire high quality merchandise for our students.”

Some students, including senior accounting major Christa Strong, are hesitant to buy into the change. “I am concerned with Barnes and Noble because I am not sure if they have changed the prices on books,” she said. “I spent $900 on my books this semester and I am concerned that the prices are going to go up since I am about to be a graduate student.”

Strong said fellow students have shown concern over the bookstore for not ordering certain textbooks. “I do know some students have needed to buy some not required text from the bookstore and they have said that they are not ordering them,” Strong said. “They are starting to freak out and they need to get the books for our accounting classes and that is all I have heard.”

Lassen said students faced difficulties with the bookstore after they closed for two days. “We all recognize and we need to apologize that this was not the most opportune time to make a switch,” Lassen said. “The contract expired and there wasn’t really an alternative but the benefit that we had with dealing with a professional company is they have come in and did two week’s worth of work in two days.”

Lassen said the process to get Barnes and Noble as a partner to the University saw officials and students combing through proposals to find a good fit.
“We sent that out and all of the major book store providers and the incumbent responded,” he said. “It was a great experience and the committee was very excited to get the Barnes and Noble brand into the University.”

The Student Government Association held a town-hall meeting in the spring and many students said Chick-fil-A was their preferred dining experience.
The new Chick-fil-A replaced the Sports Grill in the University Center. The grill is scheduled to return when the new University Center is completed.
University officials are preparing for the official grand opening of Chick-fil-A, which began serving up its trademark sandwiches earlier this month.

“This has been a very exciting opportunity for us,” Lassen said. “Our partnership with Aramark has helped us to leverage their partnership with them and as soon as we could make this possible we said yes ... it will be a great addition to the University.”