Membership

As a not-for-profit cooperative, owned by its active members and governed by a Board of Directors with a student majority, the Co-op is the largest collegiate bookstore in Connecticut and is the official bookstore of the University of Connecticut.

Membership Eligibility, Types & Fees

Student Membership

Incoming Students (Fall 2009 and after) Any new student who is or will be enrolled in any course at any University of Connecticut campus location may become a member of the Co-op. Students must activate their membership by going to www.bookstore.uconn.edu beginning in August. Currently that membership fee is $0 (free!). New students must activate their membership during the Co-op's rebate year (June 1st - May 31st) in order to be eligible for patronage rebates.

Pre-Fall 2009 Students Matriculating undergraduate and graduate students who have already attended classes at UConn prior to the fall semester 2009 have been assessed a one-time refundable cooperative bookstore deposit fee of $25 that appeared on their first fee bill when they came to the University. After these students leave UConn they will be offered the opportunity to receive a refund of their deposit or to convert their deposit fee into a lifetime membership.

Non-Student Membership Any person who is or has been connected with the University of Connecticut as a faculty or staff member may become a member of the UConn Co-op. Any former student or alumni may also become a Co-op member. Non-student dues are non-refundable and entitle members to all the benefits of active Co-op membership.

Two options for Non-Student Membership:

Lifetime Membership You may pay a one-time $25 fee for a lifetime membership.
Annual Membership An initial membership fee of $5 is charged for the first year of membership with an additional $1 membership fee every year thereafter up to a maximum of $25. At any time an annual membership may be converted into a lifetime membership by paying the difference between the total annual membership previously paid and $25.

Benefits of Active Membership

As an active member of the Co-op you receive many benefits, some of which are:

• a voice in the governance of the corporation & voting privleges,

• eligibility for patronage rebates; a portion of the Co-op's surplus (profits) determined as a percentage of your purchases at the Co-op,

• verification of textbook purchases for the American Opportunity Tax Credit,

• notary public services at no charge,

• receipt look-up services at no charge.

Plus, all the benefits that the Co-op provides to all of our customers which include: banking services, book special orders, package shipping service, bus tickets, and much more.

Patronage Rebates

The patronage rebate plan is the Co-op's way of returning a portion of the Co-op's surplus (profits) to our members. Each year the Co-op's Board of Directors determines what portion of any surplus is needed for the Co-op's operation and growth and what portion can be rebated to the members.

You are eligible to participate if you are a current member of the UConn Co-op. Your share of the rebate is based on your purchases from the Co-op during the rebate year: June 1-May 30.

At the time of purchase you must identify yourself as a Co-op member when asked and give your Co-op number (University ID/Social Security or PeopleSoft #). Your purchases are recorded through your member number. We urge all members to save their sales receipts. They allow you to verify that your member number was used and allow you to verify the Co-op's records of your purchases.

Your total rebate depends on the amount of your eligible purchases (P) which is then multiplied by the rebate % rate (R) as set by the Board of Directors.


Your Total Rebate = P x R

All you have to do is pick up your patronage rebate voucher. Vouchers are distributed at the Co-op on the Storrs campus beginning the start of classes for the Fall semester. Regional campus customers may request to have their rebate sent to their nearest campus location. Vouchers not picked up by mid-September will be mailed to you. Make sure to keep us informed of your current address.
Address change forms are available at the Co-op or you can e-mail us your address change.

Vouchers expire March 31st of the following year.

Board of Directors

The UConn Co-op is an independent, self-supporting business organized as a not-for-profit cooperative corporation. As such, it is owned and governed by its members. Overall oversight and governance is vested in a Board of Directors, who are elected by the members.

Role of the Board.
The Board of Directors is elected to represent the members and in so doing represent the interests of the University community at large and the University of Connecticut. The Board provides oversight, governance, advice and consent concerning the operations of the Co-op's business. The directors establish broad policies and directions, act on major operating issues and give direction to the president/COO, who then conveys that to the staff.

Board Structure.
The Board consists of fifteen (15) elected directors and the president/COO who serves in an ex-officio (non-voting) capacity. Of the 15 elected positions:
: • At least eight (8) must be students, of which at least four (4) must be undergraduates and one (1) must be a graduate student; (Note: this assures that the Board has a voting majority of students.); • At least two (2) must be members of the faculty or staff of the University with at least one (1) being a member of the faculty;; • At least one (1) must be a student or member of the faculty or staff from a regional or professional campus.; • At least one (1) must be an alumnus or alumnae of the University.; • The remaining three (3) positions are elected on an at-large basis from the categories above.


Board Elections.
Elections are held each year in the Spring. In even numbered years, eight (8) directors are elected; in odd numbered years, seven (7) directors are elected.

Potential candidates must complete a candidates nomination application and, if a student, have his or her nomination petition signed by the appropriate number of members.

Directors are elected to a two-year term starting with the Annual Meeting in the September following their election. Occasionally, members are appointed by the Board to complete the term of a director who has resigned. Email Carol Tabor, the member relations coordinator, or call her at (860)486-1309 if you need further information.

2009-2010 Board of Directors

Undergraduate Students:

Dipti Dedhia	Kerri Richardson
Christopher Grohs
Jeremy Jelliffe
Gregory M. Kostka

Graduate Students:

Kristen N. P. Marie Evans	Michael Metzger
Jeremy Lingenfelser	Adam Scianna

University Faculty/Staff:

M. Kevin Fahey	Gim Seow
Rachel L. Jackson

Alumni:

Susannah Richards	Jonathan Sierakowski
Matthew Shapiro

President/COO:

William P. Simpson

2010-2011 Board of Directors