Simpson University announces Rent-A-Text program to provide students with an affordable alternative to rising education costs
For Immediate Release
04.19.2010
REDDING, Calif. – Simpson University announced today it will begin offering textbook rental services this fall at its bookstore. Rent-A-Text will offer students a rental option on textbooks that could save up to 50 percent off the price of new books.
“We are eager to launch the Rent-A-Text initiative. It is part of our commitment to making higher education as affordable as possible,” said Brad Williams, executive vice president at Simpson University. “The pilot program that was tested by Follett Higher Education Group across the country was very successful and resulted in significant savings to students and their families. We are anxious for Simpson University students to be able to realize those savings as well.”
The new textbook rental program will allow students to choose a preferred form of payment, including financial aid, and gives them the choice to buy their textbook at the end of the term if they want to keep it. In addition, the program also gives students the option to rent textbooks in the store or online with in-store pick up.
Rent-A-Text will be offered through Simpson University’s ongoing partnership with Follett Higher Education Group. The program is based on Follett’s comprehensive pilot program that saved students nearly $2 million on their course materials in just one semester at seven schools. More than 90 percent of students surveyed who rented textbooks expressed satisfaction with the program.
“We have been at the forefront of cost-savings programs for more than a century,” said Thomas A. Christopher, president of Follett Higher Education Group. “Helping to reduce costs of higher education is part of our mission and we look forward to working with Simpson University to deliver substantial textbook savings to students.”
Follett’s Rent-A-Text is expected to reach more than 400 campuses nationwide for the 2010 academic year. For more information, visit www.rent-a-text.com or www.facebook.com/rentatext.
Follett Higher Education Group of Oak Brook, Illinois, is the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. Follett services 5 million students and over 40,000 faculty members through more than 850 stores. Follett also services more than 1,600 independent campus stores with its wholesale services, and has the most visited e-commerce collegiate website, efollett.com, that provides services and products through a network of more than 900 campus stores.
Simpson University is a Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate and teaching credential programs. Simpson’s academic programs includes ASPIRE, a degree-completion program geared toward working adults in the north state. Simpson’s recent curriculum expansion includes degrees in biology, nursing, outdoor leadership, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. For more information about the university, or to arrange a personalized visit, call 1-888-9-SIMPSON or visit simpsonu.edu.
Contact: SU Public Relations
mediarelations@simpsonu.edu
(530) 226-4737
