(08-18-2019 02:06 PM)PaulJ Wrote: (08-16-2019 08:40 PM)eastisbest Wrote: (08-16-2019 12:52 PM)indianasniff Wrote: I think my kid at Purdue bought like one book last year
Purdue had a first in the nation relationship in which Amazon was their preferred textbook dealer. Even set up droppoints of sorts on campus. It was another one of Mitch Daniels innovations to lower cost of college. I've discussed some of them here before but usual blowback is UToledo couldn't do these things. Not sure what is unique that Toledo couldn't have done something like this.
Some book retailer in Ohio complained. Eventually Amazon pulled back somewhat from the deal but I guess they still have something on campus. So I'm not sure what the pull back was.
"I've discussed some of them here before but usual blowback is UToledo couldn't do these things. Not sure what is unique that Toledo couldn't have done something like this."
UT has exclusive contract with Barnes&Noble as official "UT bookstore" so restricts what UT can do officially with other vendors including Amazon, but of course does not stop students from finding their own cheaper options.
UT chose that, right? It wasn't forced upon them? They could have just as likely then, have chosen Amazon or any other, right? How do they price compare?
There's no magic going on in W. Lafayette. Nothing special in the water or the location. They chose a President who came out of the business industry with understanding of loss leader investment, will power, and pursuasiveness and no particular hold over him, not another academic with good intentions but no real experience who was obigated. Before taking the courage to disrupt the good'ol boy system, they were in the same shape as any other university before this. Something Toledo could learn from at all levels. Try to get people who have been produced by failed systems to recognize that they might be better in the long run if they set aside some of the synchophants long enough to listen to those from outside successfull systems is just not in the Toledo culture.
Someone needs to take a step or the University on Bancroft will become known as THE Ohio St University: Toledo.
Purdue didn't do anything that UT couldn't have done to some extent anyhow. Still could do if they can get someone in place with the will power to tell the excuse makers, the synchophants, the it can't be done here's, thank you for your contributions, enjoy your next gig. No, UT tears down perfectly good walls to put up windows and feed the construction pork. Put the money into instruction and research. Save the costs by removing redundancies. This is what Purdue did. This has attracted a lot of confidence from alums and industry who are now investing both in campus initiatives and off campus industrail and research facilities that will help Indiana grow. They've invested money and expertise into local and state education to produce a higher quality IN-STATE applicant. They didn't wait for a grant pork from state or federal authorities. They used their own money. And it's paying back.
Investment, risk, reward.
OT:UT Bookstore 
