UAS Bookstore Survey

  1. Please indicate how you principally interact with the UAS Bookstore:

    Valid Missing Mean
    37 0 NA
    As a local student : 3
     
    As a distance (eLearning) student : 30
     
    As an instructor : 2
     
    University employee : 1
     
    Member of the public : 1
     
  2.  
  3. Please indicate where you live:

    Valid Missing Mean
    37 0 NA
    UAS Housing : 0
    Juneau community : 0
    Outside of Juneau : 37
     
  4.  
  5. The UAS bookstore website provides online ordering of textbooks and merchandise, general information on the bookstore and faculty book adoption information.

    How helpful is the bookstore web site to you?

    Valid Missing Mean
    37 0 NA
    Very helpful : 10
     
    Somewhat helpful : 11
     
    No opinion : 6
     
    Somewhat unhelpful : 0
    Very unhelpful : 2
     
    I have never used the web site : 8
     
  6.  
  7. How do you usually buy your text books?

    Valid Missing Mean
    36 1 NA
    Juneau campus bookstore : 2
     
    Juneau online bookstore (MBS Direct) : 10
     
    Other local bookstore : 0
    Other online bookstore : 12
     
    Whoever has the best price : 12
     
    Comments:
    Selected: Whoever has the best price
    If i cannot afford the prices.
    As a student I use MBS Direct associated with whichever campus is offering the class ... I also use CourseSmart if the book is available electronically
    Selected: Other online bookstore
    Prices are outrageous and the whole system is designed to artificially inflate the cost of the text books while releases new books every year with very small changes ensuring that students are forced to spend, spend, spend.
    Selected: Juneau online bookstore (MBS Direct)
    When the bookstore will give me a voucher I buy them from MBS Direct.  If not then I have to try and purchase them from another site where the books are cheaper
    Selected: Juneau campus bookstore
    There should be a more relaxed policy on book returns at the semesters beginning.  They are really expensive. There should be a student discount for books and items in store.  Especially the art materials.  I really like the selection of art materials as well...bravo!
    Selected: Other online bookstore
    MBS is an over-priced nightmare. I find that digital versions are significantly cheaper from the publisher websites (usually $80-$150 for ebook and required access). If there is no digital version I'lI buy from Amazon, usually for one third the price that MBS charges. Unfortunately, instructors seldom let students know about these cheaper options, which is a disservice to their students.
    Selected: Juneau online bookstore (MBS Direct)
    I purchase about 1/2 my books at MBS Direct and about 1/2 at other sources such as Amazon or other online text book vendors.  I want both hardcover and e-text version choices for my purchases of all textbooks.
    Selected: Whoever has the best price
    The burden of extremely high text prices is an unnecessary drag on the growth of economically productive graduates. It is not only an ineffective system, and a waste of potential economic growth; it also eats at trust, leaves one feeling as if someone is deliberately and unfairly taking advantage of students' vulnerability in needing texts to acquire education.
    Selected: Other online bookstore
    Juneau bookstore prices are ridiculous.
    Selected: Other online bookstore
    Although for my Summer class, I had to purchase a required textbook.
  8.  
  9. I use the campus bookstore to purchase:

    Valid Missing Mean
    37 0 NA
    Textbooks : 17
     
    School supplies/backpacks : 5
     
    Art supplies : 4
     
    Clothing : 8
     
    General books : 4
     
    Gifts : 8
     
    I do not shop at the campus bookstore : 12
     
    Other : 1
     
    Comments:
    Selected: General books
    I don't really see any other items besides books,
    Selected:
    When I'm in Juneau
    Selected: I do not shop at the campus bookstore
    It's a scam.
    Selected: Other
    I live outside of Juneau but I love shopping at the colleges/universities bookstores. They are fun!
    Selected: Textbooks
    I've never seen anything else for sale other than textbooks on MBS Direct.
    Selected:
    I was there for a summer class and I thought it was a very nice store.
    Selected: I do not shop at the campus bookstore
    The bookstore prices are ridiculous and the buy-back is at a terrible rate.
  10.  
  11. Do you use the bookstore to purchase books using financial aid or agency funding prior to disbursement?

    Valid Missing Mean
    36 1 NA
    Yes : 3
     
    No : 33
     
  12.  
  13. Looking ahead, what are the best things about the current UAS Bookstore that UAS should strive to preserve?

    Valid Missing Mean
    20 17 NA
    Comments:
    no comment
    provide more up to date stuff and also affordable pricing
    Online tools are essential for a distance university.
    I've never been there, so I don't know.
    The section with the books by local and UAS faculty
    Staff,services and product-
    Preserve? Nothing. The current system is horrible.
    keep making it easy to get textbooks for distance students
    N/A
    N/A
    I have not used the uas bookstore.
    international items and art supplies and books,
    The ability to select a campus and a class or classes and the site specifies the specific books I need for those classes.
    The spirit of UAS and all that it stands for.  
    Surveying student opinions. That is a great first step.
    Great selection! I always find cool things when I visit.
    The only thing that the University should preserve is the online service attached to the bookstore. I find it necessary to find my book ISBNs.
    Hard to find books, like the Mecklenburg guide to fishes, etc.
    Authorizing people calls in to pay for textbooks using a credit card.
    N/A
  14.  
  15. Looking ahead, what changes or new or enhanced services should UAS consider for the bookstore?

    Valid Missing Mean
    20 17 NA
    Comments:
    no comment
    less and less graphics because us online students have a very very SLOW internet services.
    Focus should be on financial sustainability. Students should be asked to pay higher fees or tuition for additional services, especially those services consumed by a minority of student body.
    Don't know.
    na
    Burn it down and say ten hail mary's.
    maybe more sales and special events.
    In regards to question 6:  The bookstore will NOT give out vouchers to students who's financial aid hasn't arrived at the school.  This is frustrating because financial aid never shows up and processed until after the semester starts.  They make very LITTLE effort to accommodate the students.  I have only been able to get a voucher when I e-mail them the letter with the check number and amount they will be getting.  Even then I sometimes do not get a voucher. I have sent in a letter just like this before AND called and talked to the lady in charge to make sure she got everything I needed in order to get a voucher.  She NEVER responded to my voucher application.  I get scholarships and grants because I cannot afford schooling on my own. I actually had to drop an entire semester before due to not getting a book voucher. My books cost around $700 dollars a semester and I definitely to not have that kind of money to buy my books.  I have attended other schools, KPC for example, who allow me to get a voucher as long as I have proof that they are giving me money.  If for some reason I don't get money the amount is already charged to my account and becomes my responsibility just like it would if I was not getting funding.  I feel that it is ridiculous that the bookstore is this unwilling to accommodate the students, especially distance students that get scholarships and grants.  I recommend reviewing and revising the bookstore policies and procedures to better accommodate your students.  Also, please make sure your staff reviews and responds to ALL bookstore voucher applications.  I find it ridiculous that I sent in an application, called, and sent an e-mail with more information and never received a response to my application.
    N/A
    less expensive books
    Help for people in low income bracket that isn't scholarship based but off of if you use food stamps.
    Add more merchandise to the online site so those outside of Juneau can order items. Put more pictures of the items, not just the logo on the clothing items.
    More e-Text version availability of textbooks!  I want a choice of e-text or hardcover.  I often buy both versions of all texts available so that I have a choice.  I travel a lot, so e-text is great when I am sitting on an airplane or in a car.  I prefer hardcover when I am at my desk doing assignments.  However, even sitting at home, the e-text version on a iPad or laptop is great too when I am just reading.  Yes, it does double the price of my books, but I do not mind paying that additional cost if I am getting the extra benefit for my money.  The textbook companies should offer a more expensive version of the hardcover which includes an electronic-version.  I would buy it every time!
    It would be nice if more of the clothing was offered on line.  Years ago I got a t-shrit.
    Commit to support for revising the current system of publishing and pricing texts.
    Please be on campus. As a distance student who often comes to Juneau having the book store off campus is frustrating.
    Mainly continue on with/improve upon the website.
    Move it into the main UAS building, such as in the lobby where the coffee is made, and combine the two.
    Selling all products from the UAS bookstore online.
    Giving students the opportunity to purchase books even though they have not received their financial aid disbursement.
  16.  

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