Texas A&M International University Students to Receive Free Course Materials This Fall Through Follett ACCESS Pilot Program
WESTCHESTER, ILL., Jul 22, 2021 – Follett Higher Education Group, the largest campus retailer in North America, and Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) have teamed up to provide free course materials to more than 8,000 students as classes resume on campus and online this fall.
The pilot program, TAMIU Books IncludED, will be funded by the University through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP). More than 630 course material titles from 132 of Follett’s publisher partners are being procured for the program.
“We know that campuses are eager to get back to pre-pandemic life, but many students continue to struggle with financial burdens that have intensified over the past year and a half. The leaders at TAMIU recognized this and took impressive action to alleviate course material costs for their students,” said Roe McFarlane, president of Follett Higher Education. “Follett is proud to play a part in this solution and support TAMIU students as they continue their education this fall.”
TAMIU Books IncludED is the latest college-branded Follett ACCESS program to launch this year. Nearly 300 Follett campuses currently participate in some form of Follett ACCESS, a first-of-its-kind program that delivers course materials (textbooks, eBooks, Open Educational Resources, etc.) to every participating student at an institution before the first day of class as part of tuition or course charges. Students enjoy tremendous course material savings through Follett’s bulk purchasing ability.
TAMIU students will receive their free course materials in multiple formats, including eBooks and Open Educational Resources (OER), which are gaining momentum with faculty and students as preferred learning mediums. To assist TAMIU students with the new process of obtaining their course materials, the University has created a dedicated information website at go.tamiu.edu/booksincluded.
TAMIU President Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the Follett program helps the University to deliver its mission of access and success.
“TAMIU Books IncludED offers students and their families substantial savings, provides access to books and course materials on day one of classes, and champions TAMIU students’ journeys to success. If you have access, you have success. If you have less stress, you have more success. We’ve been proud to work with our higher education partner, Follett, to help our students realize this remarkable opportunity,” Dr. Arenaz said.
“Follett shares a common goal with our partners at TAMIU – providing students with affordable and accessible pathways to success. With the TAMIU Books IncludED program, students will start the year with all their materials in-hand, ready to learn – and we know that sets the stage for a successful academic year,” added McFarlane.
Follett has witnessed positive student outcomes on campuses that have implemented Follett ACCESS, including one campus that saw an increase in average GPAs and another that saw a reduction in class withdrawals. Likewise, faculty on participating campuses benefit from the freedom to choose content from more than 6,000 publisher partners, while their students are ready to engage on day one of class.
“We’re thrilled that TAMIU chose to pursue their own Follett ACCESS program and join the hundreds of other campuses throughout North America that are seeing incredible results,” said Amy Turpin, Follett’s manager of academic programs. “Follett ACCESS is really a simple concept – course materials for all – that is making a dynamic impact on student preparedness and success.”
For more information on Follett ACCESS, including program details, benefits and case studies, visit follettaccess.follett.com. To shop TAMIU gear and learn more about campus store offerings, visit TAMIUBookstore.com.
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About Texas A&M International University | www.tamiu.edu
A Member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a primarily Hispanic-serving, State-assisted university founded in 1970. Its 300-acre campus is located in northeast Laredo on former ranchland.
The campus is home to a diverse enrollment of over 8,000 students from 31 countries and 28 US states. TAMIU offers transformative undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education and nursing. As its name affirms, the University maintains a special focus on developing an international academic agenda for the State of Texas. The University’s 30,000+ graduates lead lives of change and impact around the world.
About Follett Higher Education Group | www.highered.follett.com
FHEG is a prominent and historic omnichannel retailer and educational service provider that operates over 1,100 campus store locations and 1,250 ecommerce campus store websites. Currently ranked #57 on Digital Commerce 360’s 2021 Top 1000 list, Follett provides emblematic and non-emblematic general merchandise and course materials within the higher education marketplace.
FHEG serves both two-year and four-year colleges through long-term contracts with approximately 800 campus partners. FHEG manages the institution’s online and in-store channels to assort and sell a wide array of merchandise and services that support students, faculty, campus administration, alumni, and the surrounding community. We enable faculty to teach, students to learn, institutions to run and fans to celebrate.
About Follett Corporation | follett.com
Follett Corporation is the world’s largest single source of educational materials, digital content, ecommerce, and multi-media for libraries, schools and institutions. Headquartered in Westchester, Illinois, Follett provides education technology, services and physical and digital content to millions of students at 70,000 schools, and more than 2,700 physical locations and campus eCommerce platforms in North America. Through Baker & Taylor, Follett’s reach also extends to the public library markets.
Media Contact:
Follett Higher Education
Samantha Swick, Director of Marketing and Communications
708.884.1387
sswick@follett.com
