University Bookstore

Barnes & Noble College (BNC)

The University of San Francisco's Bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble College (BNC), the University's contracted provider for bookstore management and course material services.

This page provides guidance on:

  • Department FOP(A) Bookstore Charge Authorization and Revocation – how to authorize or revoke employee permissions for department-funded Bookstore purchases using a departmental FOP(A) = Fund, Organization, Program, and, if applicable, Activity Code.
  • Barnes & Noble College (BNC) Adoptions and Insights Portal (AIP) – how to access the portal to submit course material requirements or indicate that none are needed for each class. Faculty and Administrator Introduction training videos are included below.

FOP(A) Bookstore Charge Authorization and Revocation Process

Authorization Requirements

  • Employees must be pre-authorized by their division Budget Manager to charge purchases to a department FOP(A).
  • The Budget Manager is responsible for both authorizing and revoking University Bookstore charge permissions.
  • Students, including those representing student organizations or employed by departments, are not eligible to charge department-funded purchases at the University Bookstore.
  • Stop amounts and automated budget caps are not supported. FOP(A)s must be submitted without budget limits; budget oversight remains the responsibility of the HTSM Level 1 Approver.
  • University Bookstore authorizations follow Hilltop Shop Marketplace (HTSM) and Banner Finance approval workflows. The designated HTSM Level 1 Budget Manager must submit the USF Bookstore College/Department FOP Charge: Employee Authorization or Revoke Permission Form to eprocurement@usfca.edu.

Processing Timeline and Confirmation

  • Processing may take up to 10 business days.
  • Purchasing & Ancillary Services (PaAS) will review and verify each request, then send confirmation to the Budget Manager, authorized employee(s), and SM8455@bncollege.com.
  • The confirmation will specify the effective date for the authorization or revocation.

Additional Guidelines

  • Department discounts apply only to in-store purchases at the University Bookstore and do not apply to online purchases or P-Card transactions.  
  • University Bookstore department charges are processed in HTSM as After-the-Fact (ATF) requisitions during the next University financial month-end close or later, depending on Barnes & Noble College (BNC) invoice submission and internal processing.
  • PaAS will assign the appropriate Banner account code for the transaction.
  • HTSM Level 1 Budget Managers are responsible for ensuring that sufficient funds are available and for approving the requisition without delay.
  • If the assigned FOP(A) has insufficient funds, the Budget Manager should promptly assign an alternate FOP(A) on the ATF requisition or post a comment to the requisition that a budget transfer has been completed. 
  • May expenditures may not qualify for the current fiscal year. Please consult the ABS Fiscal-Year-End Calendar for applicable deadlines.
  • Questions regarding University Bookstore department purchases should be addressed to eprocurement@usfca.edu.

Initiating a Department-Funded Purchase

To initiate a department-funded purchase at the University Bookstore using a departmental FOP(A), the authorized employee should:

  1. Notify the Bookstore Sales Team that the transaction will be charged to a departmental FOP(A).
  2. Present a valid USF ID upon request.
  3. When authorized on multiple FOP(A)s, ensure the correct FOP(A) is specified at checkout.
  4. Confirm with the Bookstore Team that the purchase qualifies for the 20% department discount and verify that the receipt reflects the discount on eligible merchandise.

BNC Adoptions and Insights Portal (AIP) for Textbook and Course Material Selections

Faculty and designated college representatives can conveniently access the Barnes & Noble College (BNC) Adoptions and Insights Portal (AIP) 24/7 through myUSF by following this pathway:

myUSF Portal »  All Apps  »  BNC Adoptions and Insights Portal

Why timely textbook and course material adoptions matter

  • Students receiving financial assistance, including scholarships, grants, or other forms of aid must purchase their textbooks, course materials, and supplies through the University Bookstore. Purchases made elsewhere are not eligible for reimbursement under University or financial assistance program policies.
  • Submitting textbook adoptions on time allows the University Bookstore to secure the most cost-effective options for students, including used, rental, and digital formats.
  • On-time adoptions also increase the number of titles available for rental, which can save students up to 80% off the price of a new textbook.
  • Timely adoptions help ensure students receive the greatest value during the end-of-term buyback period.

AIP Portal textbook and course material selection due dates

To ensure students have access to affordable course materials and the University Bookstore can source all required titles on time, faculty and designated college representatives are asked to submit textbook and course materials selections in the AIP portal by the following dates:

  • Intersession and Spring Semesters: October 31
  • Summer and Fall Semesters: April 1

Timely submissions allow the University Bookstore to secure used, rental, and digital options, helping students save money and ensuring all materials are available before classes begin.

AIP POrtal Training resources

university bookstore contact information

If you have questions or need additional information regarding textbooks and course material selections, please contact SM8455@bncollege.com or call (415) 422-6493.

To learn more about Barnes & Noble College (BNC) and its product offerings, please visit University Bookstore website. 

Purchasing and Ancillary Services

2130 Fulton Street
Hayes-Healy Lower Level
San Francisco, CA 94117

(415) 422-5898