FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Bookstore will be restructuring its retail operations, University officials have announced.

The change will come in response to a University decision to not renew its retailing contract with Follett Corporation of Woodridge, Ill. after nine years of being under contract with the company.

David Martinson, associate vice chancellor for business affairs, said the decision was made to benefit the University financially.

"We have had a very good relationship with Follett, and still do," Martinson said. "This was just a better route for us financially. Follett treated our staff with the utmost respect, and we could not have had a better relationship."

The transition from Follett has the potential to generate additional revenues for the University, and according to Ali Sadeghi, UA Bookstore general manager, the transition will take anywhere from three to six months.

"We don't want to rush the process, because we want the transition to be very smooth," he said.

There are approximately 64 to 84 Follett employees currently working at the University Bookstore, depending upon the time of the year. Martinson said all employees will retain their positions with the bookstore and will shift from being employeed by Follet to being employed by the U of A.

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