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News & ArtsWednesday, October 7, 2009
Books / Retail Seattle University Is Weighing Its Options
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Back in May, I wrote about Seattle University's independent bookstore and how the SU administration was considering turning over the bookstore to chain booksellers:
A list of bookstore-outsourcing facts prepared by SU staffers that was given to The Stranger claims lease operators usually keep their average payroll at about 8 percent of total expenses. The SU Bookstore estimates that if the corporate averages were applied to their store, four full-time positions would be lost. And lease operators do not allow for work-study positions, while SU Bookstore provides $100,000 annually in work-study and financial-aid assistance.
The Seattle University Spectator just ran a story about the outsourcing, and it turns out that things are progressing slowly:
The university hired consultants from Campus Bookstore Consulting, a Massachusetts-based firm that specializes in college bookstore analysis. These consultants have been around the university for the last several months examining book prices, customer service and general profitability. CBC will also be conducting focus groups Oct. 6 and 7 with faculty and students.“Everyone has an opinion as to whether the bookstore is doing a good job or a bad job,” said Ron Smith, vice president of Finance. “The committee thought it would be prudent to have an outside view—someone who doesn’t have anything to gain one way or the other.”
So it sounds like SU is getting closer to a decision. CBC doesn't always side with the big boys: They recently encouraged Lewis & Clark College in Portland to drop Barnes & Noble and run their bookstore on their own. If the figures at the SU Bookstore hold up—they're currently doing twice the profitability of most college bookstores—they could very well stay independent.
1
I know when I was in college the main thing was ensuring the bookstore's profitability was super high. But then so was I.
2
I go to SU and the reason their profitablity is so high is because their text books are much more expensive than online retailers and other bookstores. They also don't pay as much for book buy back. But I'm willing to pay the price for the convenience. It's also nice to know that my money is paying for the work study of fellow students.
3
Paul,
Please stay on top of this story because it's HUGE and YOU OWN IT!!!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Please stay on top of this story because it's HUGE and YOU OWN IT!!!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
4
I would like to say, as a Seattle University student, that I'm not convinced an that outsourced bookstores would drop all work-study positions, or harm the university in any way.
I work for OIT at Seattle University, which is currently outsourced to Sunguard Higher Education, and I am a work study student for them; being a contractor (which our janitorial and food services are also) doesn't exclude student workers.
Work-Study doesn't come (or at least much of it) from the profits of the bookstore to begin with, work study is money awarded Seattle University by the Federal Government to pay students with. Thus the name "Federal Work Study"
If an outsourced bookstore would mean better pricing without a sacrifice to quality, I'm all for it.
I work for OIT at Seattle University, which is currently outsourced to Sunguard Higher Education, and I am a work study student for them; being a contractor (which our janitorial and food services are also) doesn't exclude student workers.
Work-Study doesn't come (or at least much of it) from the profits of the bookstore to begin with, work study is money awarded Seattle University by the Federal Government to pay students with. Thus the name "Federal Work Study"
If an outsourced bookstore would mean better pricing without a sacrifice to quality, I'm all for it.
5
@4, so you're OK with your school continuing to outsource departments to outside companies? You can walk through Seattle University's campus and be surrounded by departments that aren't truly part of the university, as you mentioned--IT, janitorial and food services, and soon the bookstore. For giant schools like UW, this kind of outsourcing goes mostly unnoticed. But for small schools like SU, it creates big holes in the foundation of the institution and its mission to the community. Why not outsource the faculty and become the University of Phoenix?
And as far outsourcing not sacrificing the quality of service, take a short walk up to SCC's Barnes & Noble bookstore. It's a soulless skeleton of an establishment that just meets the basic needs of its customers. Nothing more.
And as far outsourcing not sacrificing the quality of service, take a short walk up to SCC's Barnes & Noble bookstore. It's a soulless skeleton of an establishment that just meets the basic needs of its customers. Nothing more.
6
I go to SU too and the only thing I want from my bookstore is lower prices. I don't really care if the bookstore is outsourced or not.
7
Agreed. If students pay less, that's an outrage!
Paul, please keep on this developing scandal. Don't let Drudge steal your lead.
Paul, please keep on this developing scandal. Don't let Drudge steal your lead.
8
@5
I am OK with the university focusing on the things a university should be focusing on, quality of education. I don't see how more-than-likely lower book prices is harmful to the university.
How does a more efficient IT department create 'holes in the community?' How does a food provider that specializes in meals consistent with Seattle U's mission (local, sustainable, ethically grown) create holes in the community? How does a custodial service that has a green commitment, as well as fair standards towards it's workers somehow determent the universities mission? I've worked at Seattle U for 2 years so far, as well as been a student, and I can say that Seattle University couldn't handle those tasks as efficiently, economically, or practically.
You're slippery slope argument of Seattle University becoming "University of Phoenix-like" is poor on two grounds: 1) It's a display of elitism and ignorance to assume that a larger school must be worse off and 2) There is no logical connection between an outsourced bookstore and 'outsourced faculty' whatever that even means.
I am OK with the university focusing on the things a university should be focusing on, quality of education. I don't see how more-than-likely lower book prices is harmful to the university.
How does a more efficient IT department create 'holes in the community?' How does a food provider that specializes in meals consistent with Seattle U's mission (local, sustainable, ethically grown) create holes in the community? How does a custodial service that has a green commitment, as well as fair standards towards it's workers somehow determent the universities mission? I've worked at Seattle U for 2 years so far, as well as been a student, and I can say that Seattle University couldn't handle those tasks as efficiently, economically, or practically.
You're slippery slope argument of Seattle University becoming "University of Phoenix-like" is poor on two grounds: 1) It's a display of elitism and ignorance to assume that a larger school must be worse off and 2) There is no logical connection between an outsourced bookstore and 'outsourced faculty' whatever that even means.
9
I have mixed feelings. It depends on the company really. When Southcenter mall was taken over by the Australian Westfield, they outsourced their mall security to a rink-dink outfit. They pay was still low, but they treated their employees terribly. Such as forcing them to put up a uniform deposit (maybe people's first paycheck was $20). They had you break you buy equipment policy, so if you were running to an emergency and dropped your $400 walkie talkie and broke it they could potentially take it out of your paycheck. They also outsourced custodial services as well, so at least 2 people who had been there for over 15 years making $15/hr were fired and replaced with people making $8/hr. I doubt WFF pays their custodial people $15/hr at SU, but the few union custodial people left in the residence halls do make better money and benefits. I'm sure management would love to get rid of those remaining union people and replace them with WFF to save money. True, students can do work study with outsourced companies, but I think the article meant that B&N would specifically make it part of the contract that student workers aren't allowed. I suspect that way, the more B&N people working the more they can charge SU. If work study students are doing some of the work, B&N can't bill them for it. Somehow I doubt B&N will pass those profits on to the B&N employees. I'm not saying B&N is the devil but the devil can sure be in the details. If SU does outsource, they better get the details right. One thing I can say for sure, outsourcing rarely benefits the employees. OIT's contractor doesn't pay any more than full time IT used to make in house. Maybe less since there's a 3rd party taking a cut. And what incentive does B&N have to charge less than students are already paying? If I was the pointy hair boss at B&N my thought process would be "well they're already used to paying X dollars for books, why reduce prices, when it's more money for us. We'll just give discounts on books we normally discount at B&N retail anyway." The only thing that usually benefits consumers is cooperative type organizations. They only thing that usually benefit the lowest paid workers are unions. I love many things about SU and SU may do some great social work but don't be fooled, it is a business. Big business.
More...
10
Maybe SU doesn't NEED a bookstore at all. People can easily buy books from Amazon or take a vehicle or public transportation to buy anything else they might need. It's an urban campus -- It's not like students here are in the middle of the wilderness like some other small liberal arts schools.
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