Institute of American Indian Arts Takes Definitive Step to Bolster Retention and Graduation Rates With Rafter's Textbooks-in-Tuition Program, Rafter360(TM)

SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 30, 2015) - Rafter, the pioneering course materials management company, facilitated the smooth implementation of its Rafter360 textbooks-in-tuition program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) for their Fall 2015 semester.

IAIA, located in Santa Fe, NM, has 400 full-time students, 70-75 percent of whom are eligible for Pell grants, and many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. As a non-urban campus, university administrators viewed textbook sales as a service that should be provided to students. However, the campus bookstore was running at a loss and no longer had a sustainable model. Seeing increasing numbers of students not acquiring required textbooks, university administrators knew they had to find a new way to provide students the tools to succeed.

"We needed an innovative solution," said Larry Mirabal, CFO at IAIA. "This is a pretty special and unique place. So many times, we're solving problems and addressing challenges here in special and unique ways, and I think we've found a company that's committed to doing that as well."

Rafter360's breakthrough textbooks-in-tuition model provides students with 100 percent of their assigned materials by the first day of class for a flat rate price that can save them over 50 percent in textbook costs. The reduced fees are incorporated into tuition, making textbooks a predictable and budgeted expense that can be paid for with financial aid, ensuring that all students, including low-income and first generation students, have the same access to course materials.

Even though the university was initially looking only to solve the textbook issue, Rafter360 also helps bolster retention, success, graduation rates, and recruitment.

"Having a book in their hand on the first day of class is a huge deal for students. It creates ownership of their education. It's going to have a snowball effect," said Mirabal. "That ownership of their education will ultimately result in a greater degree of student success. That's what we're all about."

"Being a tool for universities to bolster student success is exactly where we wanted to be when we first dreamed up Rafter360," said Sara Leoni, CEO of Rafter. "We are proud to see the program implemented at an institution like IAIA knowing that it will help each student get closer to the finish line of their education."

Rafter's dedicated service team prides itself on providing knowledgeable, rapid responses to questions, resolving any issues and delivering on promises. "We know we can pick up the phone and we can get not only a warm body but somebody that knows what they're doing, which makes a huge difference," said Mirabal.

To learn more about Rafter360 or to register for an upcoming webinar, visit www.rafter.com/our-solutions/rafter360/.

About Rafter
Rafter is an established course materials management company. Hundreds of campuses and over 2.7 million students have used Rafter's technology to save nearly $700 million on textbooks. The company's mission is to help students save money and be prepared for success in the classroom. Building on its course materials experience and long-term relationships with hundreds of colleges and suppliers, Rafter is redesigning and transforming the entire process of course materials management with its Rafter360™ solution. Based in San Mateo, California, Rafter was founded in 2006. More information about Rafter360 can be found at www.rafter.com/our-solutions/rafter360/