UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Faculty Senate Virtual - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Faculty Senate – Virtual Bookstore Update December 9, 2015

Fall Semester – first roll out Launch Course Materials (adoptions) Tool ~March, 2015 • Integrated the adoption tool with library for open source and • library material that is free for students. Amazon still working with library to surface even more open source material through the tool. Faculty can also contact the library to seek alternatives to high-cost textbooks through its Open Education Initiative. Launch of Amazon@UMass location (Campus Pickup Point or • CPP) - July, 2015 Students report high satisfaction with CPP -fast and • convenient - even during peak rush: >99% customers receive their packages in <2 minutes. Over 85% of adopted items were in-stock and eligible for Free • One-Day consistently throughout peak (first week of September) 2

First Semester Major Issues/Responses: Issue Response Customers didn’t Marketing/ education on how to get FOD receive Free One-Day shipping and what is/is not eligible was done (FOD) and continues Students were CPP messaging was revised, took advantage confused about how of opportunities for clearer messaging on to get free shipping info pages and directly to students Amazon updated forecasting methodology Items out of stock / and working with adopters to enter incorrect items information earlier in the tool Communication was Developed updated communications & confusing around training plan and improved communication adoption process Working with adopters to enter information Lack of sufficient earlier in the tool - earlier adoptions improve rental/used items textbook buyback for students 3

For spring semester, Amazon Added a person to follow up with professors and • be a resource for faculty Added a person to work with publishers in order to • establish new relationships and in stock levels Put a phone line into the Campus Pickup Point (CPP) • so faculty and student could call directly to someone on campus The two full time Campus Pickup Point (CPP) • managers are trained and have resources to deliver training to departments and faculty Increased the number of textbooks purchased both • direct from publishers and from students during buyback.

What Amazon has heard so far …. Needed Tool Status Improvements Would like to add this capability. Scoping and tech Re-adopt from work required as well as getting a better understand previous semester how this might work Submit Adoptions Currently the tool allows users to submit adoptions across multiple across multiple sections at the same time, but not courses courses Ordering a desk Looking to find a solution copy Next Step …. Survey Faculty to Looking to deploy in Spring semester – will work solicit feedback/ with rules committee ideas 5

Goals Remain Reduced text costs for students Excellent customer service for the campus How to help students achieve lower costs? Adopt early Increases number of books repurchased during buyback Increases inventory of used books Gives Amazon and students lead time to find best prices 6

Questions/Comments/Problems Let us know - ryanka@admin.umass.edu 545-1581