UNL STudents beware

[Eric the Red]

Dear UNL Students and Parents:

 

You may have received mail and phone calls recently from Nebraska Bookstore asking you to contact your state senator in support of Legislative Bill 556. I am writing to explain why the University of Nebraska opposes this legislation.

 

The communications you may have received say that LB556 would give students more freedom to purchase textbooks at stores off campus using a student NCard. The truth is that students already have the option of using the NCard at off-campus stores as a debit card, if they choose to do so.

 

The Nebraska Bookstore is falsely claiming that the purpose of their proposal is to help needy students by giving them access to more used books. In reality, students already have access to used books through the University Bookstore on campus. Some students also find reduced-cost textbook options through on-line providers including Amazon.com, ebooks.com, VarsityBooks.com and other sites.

 

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has a history of working to keep the cost of textbooks down. In 1998, UNL stopped operating its own bookstore in the Nebraska Unions and solicited competitive bids for the contract to operate the on-campus stores. Several interested bidders submitted proposals, including Nebraska Bookstore. Follett Corporation won the bid, giving UNL students access to the buying power of the nation’s number one college bookstore retailer with more than 700 stores nationwide. The agreement guarantees smaller markups on new textbooks and greater access to lower-cost used books. Under the contract, Follett also makes significant financial contributions to the university, which in turn reduces student fees and helps enhance our student activities and academic programs.

 

Currently, when students first arrive on campus, they receive an NCard and can select any one or all of the following functions (the debit card option adds no cost to the initial card):

 

an NCard that serves only as a student ID card to be used for on-campus identification and verification of student status for discount programs, as one example.

an NCard that permits students to make purchases on campus only, with the bill for all purchases paid back to the university the following month.

an NCard that functions as a Wells Fargo debit card, allowing students to make purchases in stores off campus. The Wells Fargo partnership in this program allows for off-campus debit card purchases to be handled by a reputable bank, providing peace of mind regarding security and accuracy for card holders selecting this option.

The University Bookstore allows students to use their NCard for on-campus purchases. Purchases can be made at the off-campus Nebraska Bookstore as well as from other merchants, using the debit card option.

Currently, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln bills students monthly for on-campus NCard purchases only. LB556 would make the university responsible for collecting student debts incurred not only for on-campus purchases but also for purchases made by students at businesses off campus. We believe the mission of the University of Nebraska is to educate students and not to collect bills for external merchants. I will testify against this legislation on behalf of the University of Nebraska.

 

My primary concern about the information Nebraska Bookstore is distributing is that it implies that UNL does not care about the costs of an education, when in fact we have taken steps to find alternative sources of revenues so we do not have to pass along increased costs to students. We have outsourced our bookstore and contracted with Wells Fargo to provide free debit card services and checking accounts to our students. Both contracts directly benefit students in two ways—with lower prices for books and banking services and by providing the university with more revenue sources to support students and educational programs to serve them.

 

As always, thank you for the privilege of providing educational opportunities to serve you and your family.

 

Sincerely,

 

Harvey Perlman

Chancellor

 

No tax or tuition funds were used in providing you with this information.