South College Bookstore: Your Comprehensive Guide
South College offers a variety of resources and services to support its students' academic journey. Among these, the South College Bookstore plays a crucial role in providing access to required textbooks, learning materials, and other essential supplies. This article delves into the various aspects of the South College Bookstore, including its offerings, policies, and services, to help students navigate their academic needs effectively.
Locations and Accessibility
South College operates across multiple campuses and online, ensuring accessibility for all students. The college has locations in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, as well as online and Competency Based Education (CBE) options. Specifically concerning bookstores, a Barnes & Noble/South College Bookstore is maintained at the main campus in Knoxville and the Nashville campus for the convenience of students. Students at the Asheville and Atlanta Learning Sites and Online may also purchase books and supplies through the Barnes & Noble/South College Bookstore, with purchases sent to the student’s home or to the applicable Learning Site.
The Knoxville campuses include the Main Campus on Lonas Drive, which houses a Barnes & Noble bookstore, and the Parkside Campus. The Nashville Campus, located across from the airport on I-40, also includes a Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
Textbook Purchases and Financial Aid
To ensure a successful start to the semester, South College advises students to purchase all required textbooks on or before the first day of class. While Financial Aid is disbursed after classes start, students should plan to use these funds to purchase their textbooks. If another company or organization is paying for the textbooks, an Authorization Voucher must be on file in the Bookstore before charges can be made. Agencies include Rehabilitation Services DRS, Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC), Minnesota Workforce Center, Minnesota Department of Economic Security Trade Act Training (TAA), and Veterans Benefits (VETS). Bookstore student charges are allowed during a limited period each term.
South College participates in a range of financial aid programs. Financial Aid is available to students who qualify, and the financial aid staff work individually with students to determine eligibility as they seek the economic assistance they need to pay for college. Aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants and awards, work-study programs, and loans. South College participates in numerous federal, state, and private student aid programs, and offers funding directly.
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Getting textbooks is easy, with the option for free shipping through the first week of the term or order pickup at either Campus Store. All required textbooks, packets, kits, and other consumables are rented at no charge, but students are responsible for returning them to the Campus Stores at the end of each semester.
Textbook Returns and Refunds
Textbook returns are allowed through the second week of the Fall and Spring terms and through the first week of Summer session. A packing list or receipt is required for all returns. Returns cannot be accepted after the deadline. New textbooks must be in the same new condition for a full refund. Written-in, highlighted, or damaged books will be refunded as used.
All merchandise must be in the same condition as purchased and in unopened original packaging with original pricing. Clothing should not be washed or worn, and tags should be attached. Software and Electronics must be returned unopened.
A check will be issued for those purchases paid for with cash, unless allowable by college policy. A check will be issued for those purchases originally paid for by a personal check, but will not be issued until at least 14 days after the date of purchase. Purchases over $100 cash will also be refunded in check form. Purchases paid for by a credit card will be credited back to that card.
Book Buyback Program
The South Central College Bookstore offers a book buyback at the end of each semester to obtain books for the following semester. Buyback occurs during the last two weeks of the term, but there is no summer buyback on campus.
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Several factors determine whether the Bookstore can purchase a textbook. If the Bookstore needs additional inventory to fill an instructor request, it may buy back the book. If the Bookstore does not need a particular book, a used book vendor may purchase the book for use at another college store. They will pay according to the current market value if one exists.
The bookstore does not guarantee that all books will be bought back. Some books may have zero value or an edition change. The amount received for books is determined at the moment they are sold back. As the buyback progresses, the value may change.
Tips for maximizing buyback value:
- Sell books as early in the buyback as possible.
- Use a pencil to highlight.
- Keep books in as good condition as possible.
Online Learning Resources and Support
South College provides various resources for online and distance education students. Library orientations are available for Distance Education students new to the South College Library and its resources and services. Students who live 40 or more miles from any South College campus may have library materials shipped to their home address, with the borrower responsible for return shipping. The library will send qualified students requested books and articles from journals included in the library’s collections, with the exception of ebooks or electronic journal articles that students can download themselves from the library's databases. The library will also send qualified students books and journal articles requested through the library’s interlibrary loan services.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows all currently enrolled students, including Distance Education students, to borrow books and journal articles that the library does not have in its collection from another lending library. South College Library facilitates the interlibrary loan for its students. However, due to copyright law and licensing agreements, South College Library does not process ILL requests for textbooks or ebooks.
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Additional Resources and Services
In addition to textbooks, the South College Bookstore also offers school supplies. Students are not required to purchase books from the college bookstore, and some textbooks are reusable and can be purchased from other students if desired.
South College provides easily accessible resource center/libraries and quality academic services to meet the research needs of its students, faculty, and staff. The Resource Center/Library at each campus is open to accommodate the needs of day and evening students, with specific hours posted at each location. The library’s collections include general and reference books (both print and electronic), print and online periodicals, multi-media software, online services, and other print media. An online catalog is available on the library’s web page.
Through membership in Tenn-Share and LYRASIS, the library department can expand access to resources outside of its own facilities through intercollegiate borrowing. Participation in state library resources, Tennessee Electronic Library, NC Live, and GALILEO gives the South College community at all campuses additional access to a selection of multidisciplinary full-text databases from the Gale collection, plus other resources. Internet access allows library users the opportunity to locate and retrieve information from libraries, colleges, database services, and various other institutions throughout the world.
Student Support and Success
The goals of the Department of Student Services are an extension of the philosophy and goals of the college, serving to inform, educate, support, and encourage students in their endeavors. The college provides online orientation modules for student review in the New Student Orientation course in Canvas. Campus Welcome Sessions are also scheduled each term. Information provided is designed to acquaint new students with academic life and college services. All new students and those students re-entering after an absence of one year or more are asked to participate.
Students experiencing academic concerns should first contact their faculty members who are directly involved in the concern. Concerns not reconciled at this level should then be addressed with the dean/department chair and subsequently the Chief Academic Officer (Parkside Campus), the Dean of Academics (Online), or the Dean of Academic and Student Services (Asheville, Atlanta, Main, or Nashville campuses). Career and job advising can be addressed with the Director of Alumni & Career Services (Main Campus & Parkside Campus) or the Director of Student Affairs/Success (Asheville, Atlanta, Nashville campuses, or Online). Students with non-academic concerns should contact the Director of Student Affairs (Main Campus/Parkside Campus or Online) or Director of Student Success (Asheville, Atlanta, or Nashville campuses).
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