The Student Stores Request For Proposal Advisory Committee is tasked with evaluating seven proposals from companies who want to privatize Student Stores — and one proposal from the store’s current management.
Brad Ives, committee member and associate vice chancellor for campus enterprises, said the committee will hear presentations from finalists in late March. The chance of privatization garnered attention on campus in the fall after one major company, Follett, offered to lease Student Stores.
According to the Division of Finance and Administration’s webpage about Student Stores outsourcing, the committee will share pros and cons of the proposals but will not send in a direct recommendation. The division will use the committee’s recommendations to come to a final decision.
An external consultant, Campus Bookstore Consulting, will moderate the advisory committee.
Student Body President Houston Summers, who is one of two students on the 13-member committee, said the group is an advisory committee, and the final decision lies with higher-level administrators.
“This committee was brought together to ensure that not just one or two individuals were making the final decision,” Summers said.
“To my knowledge, this advisory committee will put together groups of recommendations — I would imagine something to the effect of ‘this is our favorite choice, or our favorite combination of choices that serves the University best.’”
Summers said the committee met once before Spring Break to discuss expectations for members.
