Brock University has entered into an agreement with Follett Canada to assume operation of its Campus Store as of May 26. 

Follett Higher Education is the largest campus store operator in North America with more than a dozen stores at Canadian universities and colleges under their management.  

 “This transition will allow the Campus Store to respond more efficiently to the changing needs of the Brock community while supporting the University’s overall financial sustainability strategy,” says Arja Vainio-Mattila, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “By leveraging Follett Canada’s extensive university retail experience, buying power, technology, digital resources and e-commerce solutions, we can expand access options and provide an even better experience for the campus community.” 

The store will continue to provide students with affordable textbooks, digital courseware, apparel, accessories, degree frames and gifts both online and in store. Profits from the Campus Store will be reinvested in the University to support academic programs and services. 

“The Campus Store has faced significant external pressures that have resulted in sales declining by 40 per cent over the past 10 years,” says Ed Wall, Associate Vice-President, Ancillary Services. “Continued self-operation of the Campus Store now requires a University subsidy, taking much-needed resources away from Brock’s academic programming. Partnering with Follett gives us an opportunity to maintain our services, provide students with the course materials needed for their classes and offer a wide variety of Brock branded apparel and merchandise.”  

Existing programs such as used textbooks, price matching and textbook buyback will continue. Follett will also introduce new avenues of access, including a textbook rental program and access to technologies and Open Educational Resources through a suite of academic tools. Follett can also source content from all publishers and in all available formats, allowing faculty to select the resources that best fit their students and programs. 

Over the next several weeks the Campus Store and its website will operate as usual while staff work with Follett to set up systems and processes ahead of the official May 26 transition date. For more information, FAQs are available here.