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North Park University Launches Online Bookstore to Reduce Financial Barriers for Students

In an effort to boost textbook affordability for its students, North Park University is making all required course materials available through a new online bookstore that provides expanded options for low-cost textbooks. The institution partnered with course content platform Akademos to create the online textbook marketplace.

The Akademos platform offers new, used and rental textbooks, as well as both digital and hard-copy formats. To streamline the shopping experience, students get a customized view of their registered courses and corresponding materials for each class. Course materials can be purchased using students' existing financial aid funds, helping ensure that textbook costs are not a roadblock to success.

"At a time when many students and families are still experiencing financial hardship during the recovery from COVID-19, we need to do everything we can to make college affordable," said Scott Stenmark, vice president of finance at North Park, in a statement. "The launch of this new full-service, digital bookstore will ensure that our students' financial aid dollars can go farther — and reduce the financial barriers to college access."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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