Cal Poly Partners

SAN LUIS OBISPO &#8211; David Watts started working with Follett Higher Education when he was a student at San Diego State University. Now, 20 years later, he has taken over the helm at the Cal Poly University Store.
The new director of the University Store arrived a couple of months ago to ensure a smooth transition of management of the on-campus store, as well as Cal Poly Downtown and the University Store e-commerce site.
Watts moved to the Central Coast from California State University, San Bernardino, and in his time with Follett has worked at UC Berkeley, University of Kansas, the Claremont Colleges, and the Coastal Community College District.
Transitioning University Store management to Follett will bring a wider range of affordable course material options to Cal Poly faculty and students as well as the opportunity to offer more Open Education Resources (OER) content and courseware, some of which are completely free. There is also a 10 percent discount program for faculty and staff.

New University Store Director Brings 20 Years’ Experience

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – Cal Poly Corporation today announced that it will soon transition management of the Cal Poly University Store to Follett Higher Education, bringing new products, savings and support for campus store customers.  Store operations under the new agreement include the on-campus University Store located in the University Union, Cal Poly Downtown and the University Store e-commerce site. The transition is scheduled for July 1.
“It is vital that Cal Poly have a partner who represents the university’s commitment to ongoing improvement and reinforces our ability to meet the needs of today’s campus and today’s students,” said Lorlie Leetham, executive director of Cal Poly Corp. and associate vice president for commercial services.  “Follett has had remarkable staying power in the higher education industry and has demonstrated its commitment to innovative store design and services – particularly attractive features for a campus with our proud history.”
With this new partnership, Cal Poly faculty and students will have access to Follett&#8217;s wide range of affordable course material choices. Cost-saving print options include used books as well as Follett’s text rental program that delivers significant savings compared to purchasing new. Follett also offers a number of digital academic tools that provide access to needed materials, including affordable open educational resources (OER) content and courseware.  New store services also include Follett’s year-round buyback and price match programs.
&#8220;We look forward to serving Cal Poly students, parents, alumni, fans, faculty and staff,” said Clay Wahl, executive vice president of Sales Operations at Follett Higher Education Group. “Our goal is to enhance the Cal Poly University Store experience with hassle-free shopping and great products and services that celebrate the campus spirit.&#8221;
Beyond course materials, Follett will refresh general merchandise offerings to create a one-stop shopping experience for class and campus essentials. Cal Poly University Store customers can expect a custom merchandise assortment that reflects local interests and national trends in supplies, technology, clothing, gifts and more. Follett’s products and services will be available in-store and through <a href="https://www.bkstr.com/efollettstore/home">eFollett.com</a>, the leading online source for textbooks and fan gear.

Cal Poly Corp. Selects Follett to Operate the Cal Poly University Store

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – The Cal Poly Corp. has reached agreement with <a href="https://www.follett.com/higher-ed">Follett Higher Education Group</a> to operate the Cal Poly University Store effective July 1.
Store operations under this agreement include the on-campus University Store located in the University Union, Cal Poly Downtown and the University Store e-commerce site.
The Follett selection is the result of a Request for Proposals process launched by the corporation last November. Key elements of the contract include three-year guaranteed employment for all University Store staff at current salaries and employment opportunities for all part-time and student staff.
“Retention of our existing staff and textbook affordability for students are critical components of our partnership with Follett,” said Lorlie Leetham, executive director of Cal Poly Corp. and associate vice president of commercial services. “We are grateful to our University Store team for their dedication to the campus community and their patience and support through this process.”
Follett currently operates more than 1,200 campus stores across the country and has been a higher education service provider for more than 140 years. The new contract is expected to provide Cal Poly with expanded courseware offerings and services, and access to Follett’s retail design offerings and other resources. Follett will enhance the shopping experience for Cal Poly customers, offering state-of-the-art technologies and systems to support the campus community.
“It is vital that Cal Poly have a partner who represents the university’s commitment to ongoing improvement and reinforces our ability to meet the needs of today’s campus and today’s students,” said Leetham. “Follett has had remarkable staying power in the higher education industry and has demonstrated its commitment to innovative store design and services – particularly attractive features for a campus with our proud history.”

Cal Poly Corp. Selects Follett Higher Education Group to Operate University Store

Cal Poly Downtown Store Wins Beautification Award

Cal Poly Magazine’s “The Year in Review”

Cal Poly Downtown Moves to Larger Location in the Heart of Downtown SLO

Cal Poly Corporation is pursuing requests for proposal (RFPs) to bring in a new on-site food service management team for Campus Dining and to possibly put the Cal Poly University Store under third-party management, according to a Cal Poly Corporation press release. An RFP is a document submitted by an organization to potential companies who will bid to take over management in some form.
<a href="https://mustangnews.net/cal-poly-corporation-pursues-requests-proposal-university-store-campus-dining/">Read full story here</a>

Cal Poly Corporation pursues alternative management for Campus Dining and University Store

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA &#8211; Cal Poly Corporation is pursuing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) to evaluate alternative management models for the Cal Poly University Store and Campus Dining.
The University Store RFP is intended to determine if outsourcing store management to a third party will generate more benefits than continuing to self-operate. These benefits could include improved facilities and space utilization as well as enhanced courseware offerings, merchandise and services for Cal Poly students, faculty and all members of the university community.
“We are looking at what the market might offer if we were to outsource some or all of our campus store operations,” said Lorlie Leetham, executive director of the Cal Poly Corporation and associate vice president of commercial services.
A critical factor in evaluating proposals will be the retention and transition of University Store staff.  The corporation estimates that the RFP process will take place over the next nine to 15 months. The University Store underwent a similar RFP process in 2010, at which time it was decided that the store would remain self-operated.
The corporation has also issued an RFP to attain an on‐site food service management team to lead its existing campus food operations – Cal Poly’s Campus Dining.  The corporation is not looking to privatize its food operations. Rather, the aim is to improve the level of excellence and efficiency related to its food services, including quality, service, value and variety. The on-site food service management team will assess, plan and implement effective strategies for food service operations.  This process will not affect the status of Campus Dining or other Cal Poly Corporation employees.
“We have many factors to consider, but our top priority is to ensure we are meeting the needs of today’s campus and today’s students,” said Leetham.
Leetham also said that universities across the country have been utilizing third party management and outsourcing services for many years for a variety of reasons.
The Campus Dining RFP process will remain underway throughout the fall, with a target for having consultants on-board by early January. The <a href="/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/RFP_201617-01_Campus_Dining_Management_Services.pdf">RFP</a> is available for public review on the corporation’s website.

Cal Poly Corporation Pursues Requests for Proposal for University Store and Campus Dining

Student success is the #1 goal at the University Bookstore. We strive to deliver the products and services necessary to give students the best opportunity to succeed, and do so in an affordable and accessible manner.