The University’s contract with Ambassador College Bookstores ended a few weeks ago. Because of complaints that the old bookstore failed to carry the books that the students needed when they needed them, the University opted to try something new: something better. Follett Higher Education Group is known for its professionalism and currently manages 19 on-campus college bookstores in Connecticut alone. Although we cannot predict entirely what awaits us in this new bookstore, Follett does promise to absolutely carry the books students will need and to offer many products that were not previously available.
However, with all of this good news comes a little bad news: it may take longer to get up and running than was hoped for. Although the company mentioned December 8th as a possible date of opening, it’s only sure that it will be open before the next spring semester. It seems highly probable that things won’t be running until the beginning of January. Everyone is crossing their fingers that it will be in time for students to purchase their books for the new semester, and it probably will be.
In the meantime, Edina Oestreicher, Director of Student Affairs, has taken the steps to ensure that school supplies such as loose-leaf paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, will be available to students before next semester. This all will be offered through Twisted Café. When the proposal
to sell school supplies in Twisted Café was made to the University, the University eagerly supported and offered budget for the school supplies to be bought and Twisted Café will be able to keep all of the profit. This should all be up and running by the week of the 19th of November.
This mini-bookstore will however in no way be able to buy back used textbooks from students. Because it seems that the bookstore will not open until next semester, students looking to sell their old books may have to look elsewhere.
University of Bridgeport
Sunday, July 13, 2025