Giving Back

BGSU Bookstore Support for Student Engagement

The BGSU Bookstore's relocation to the renovated and expanded Bowen-Thompson Student Union in the Spring of 2002 has been a real success story. The Bookstore's performance clearly validates President Ribeau's decision, just prior to the move, to keep the Bookstore under university management. It is also a tribute to the fine job being done by the Bookstore's leadership team as well as all of the Bookstore's full-time and part-time employees.

With this success, it is appropriate for the Bookstore to give back to its "customers" by providing modest support for scholarship and grant programs that will enrich the educational experience of our undergraduate and graduate students while, in many cases, enhancing their opportunities for engagement with external communities both locally and beyond the confines of Northwest Ohio.

The BGSU Bookstore Scholarship programs will provide funding each year on many academic levels:

• For Graduate Student Research Grants or travel awards, to help subsidize participation in academic conferences, meetings and performances or the costs of conducting scholarly research;
  
• Bookstore Engagement Scholarships will be provided to 15 undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, to support scholarship and community service/engagement projects in partnership with faculty with faculty mentors and outside community organizations;
• Faculty funding in support of the student projects associated with the Engagement Scholarships;
  
• A Community Engagement Book Loan Program providing funding to 50 incoming first year BGSU students from selected area high schools per academic year to cover the costs of all required course materials on a "loan" basis.

The initial funding for the Bookstore Engaged Scholarship Programs was through the creation of a substantial endowment fund, from which the interest partially funds programs. Bookstore operating funds will also be devoted directly to funding the scholarship programs.

Additionally, provided the bookstore continues to maintain expected income levels, funds will be contributed annually to the established Bookstore Scholarship endowment fund, to increase the ability to fund future scholarship programs.

It is also anticipated that BGSU Bookstore staff will also be involved with a number of the community engagement projects.