Follett Higher Education announces partnership with experiential learning provider Saxbys on collegiate retail
Follett Higher Education, which operates campus stores in North America, has announced a new partnership with experiential learning specialist Saxbys for a new collegiate retail learning program.
A pilot program will launch at Northeastern University in 2025-26, with another expected to open in Purdue University in Spring 2026.
This is the first time Saxbys has launched an experiential learning location outside of its own cafes as the program will now partner with Follett campus bookstores.
A 2024 study conducted by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning found that 86 percent of college faculty staff say there is a need for more skills-based learning opportunities, but less than a third of colleges currently offer these.
The partnership will offer hands-on business and leadership experience within campus retail locations, with each campus employing a “Student CEO” who will lead operations of the campus bookstore.
The Student CEO will lead a team of their peers and manage the day-to-day business of the bookstore, with support from Follett and Saxbys experts.
Each Student CEO will work full-time for six months, and will retain their student status while earning wages and academic credit.
"Many institutions are embracing experiential learning programs that allow students to learn by doing and gain valuable career skills. We're thrilled to announce a new partnership with Saxbys, a company known for championing opportunities that empower the next generation of leaders. This partnership is about helping students gain practical experience that complements what they learn in the classroom and helps ease the transition from college to career,” Emmanuel Kolady, CEO at Follett Higher Education comments.
The program aims to give students a range of in-demand and transferable career skills.
Saxbys CEO Nick Bayer adds: "We created the Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform to redefine how the next generation of leaders prepares for life after graduation. Our Experiential Learning Platform provides immersive opportunities to learn through real experiences developing and leading teams, building community and managing P&Ls in an environment where every decision matters and every outcome, good or bad, is a lesson. By combining leadership development with hands-on responsibility, we're helping students develop the competencies, confidence, and resilience to thrive in any career path."
