Bookstore

Section 6.A.1 – Bookstore Operations

The Vance-Granville Community College Bookstore shall be leased to and operated by a reputable third-party vendor that has experience and expertise in operating college and university bookstores. The College receives a commission from this vendor based on annual sales. The operations of the Bookstore are handled through the provisions of institutional funds and all financial activities are kept separate from all other activities of the College.

The College budgets, accounts for, and expends the funds generated through Bookstore operating profits in accordance with G.S. 115D-5(a1). The Bookstore vendor shall be required to charge in accordance with industry standards and provide competitive and fair prices. The Board will periodically review the pricing structure and textbook options offered by the Bookstore vendor to ensure the affordability and accessibility of instructional textbooks and materials to students. Bookstore funds may be used as follows:

1. Funds in excess of these operating expenses may be used in support of:
   • Student aid and/or scholarships
   • Other expenditures of direct benefit to students (e.g. funding of positions for financial aid and students activities, etc.)
   • Other similar expenses authorized by the Board of Trustees to be made at the discretion of the President (e.g. new faculty positions for start-up of new programs, counselors, and instructional equipment, etc.)
   • The construction and renovation of the Bookstore itself or the Student Center
2. Funds may not be used for:
   • Supplemental salaries or bonuses of any personnel
   • Administrative support of the College other than that allowed above
   • College entertainment expense (Educational activities for non-personnel or College personnel to enhance student success is permissible. Functions in which the primary purpose is lobbying or soliciting donations are not permissible)
   • Construction not listed above

All expenditures shall be consistent with the mission and purpose of the North Carolina Community College System.

Section 6.A.2 – Bookstore Refunds

All refunds or exchanges require a valid receipt or packing slip. Shipping and handling fees are not refundable.

For textbooks and course materials, refunds are given before the campus-specific refund deadline. Course materials purchased after the campus-specific deadline must be returned within 7 business days of purchase for a full refund. Course materials purchased during the last week of classes or final exams are not refundable.

For digital course materials, eBooks are refundable within 14 days of the customer accessing the content, or 30 days after the purchase is made (without customer accessing the content), whichever occurs first. Refund requests cannot be fulfilled if more than 10% of the product has been viewed or if any page(s) of the content has been printed. Physical courseware items, such as digital code access cards, are refundable within 14 days from purchase and unopened. Digital courseware items, such as MyMathLab or McGraw Hill Connect, are refundable within 14 days from purchase (regardless of the amount of content accessed by the customer).

Computer hardware and software purchases returned unopened are fully refundable within 14 days of purchase. Electronic Software Download (ESD) purchases are final and non-refundable.

With the exception of gifts cards, which are non-refundable, all other merchandise that is unopened and in original condition can be returned within 30 days of purchase.

(approved May 15, 2023)