NACS – Elevating Student Success Through Campus Retail

​As part of the CAS Member Organization Spotlight Series, we are thrilled to feature the National Association of College Stores (NACS), a leading organization dedicated to advancing campus retail and supporting student success. With decades of advocacy, education, and research, NACS plays a pivotal role in shaping campus store operations across higher education institutions.

About NACS
NACS serves as the primary trade association for campus-based retail businesses, championing the success of its member stores and the students they serve. The association advocates for the collegiate retail industry, develops professional education, fosters networking opportunities, and creates valuable connections between institutions and business partners. NACS’s research division, OnCampus Research®, delivers critical insights into the collegiate marketplace, guiding the evolution of campus retail. Their Government Relations Office also plays a key role in advocating for the industry at the state and federal levels.

Mission Alignment with CAS
NACS’s mission to integrate the collegiate retail industry into the higher education ecosystem closely aligns with the CAS Vision. By promoting the development of campus stores as integral hubs for student success, NACS collaborates with CAS to improve standards, ensure quality assurance, and advance the professionalism of campus store staff. The joint efforts of NACS and CAS benefit campus stores, empowering them to enhance student learning, development, and overall success.

Impact of CAS Collaboration
NACS has long been an active participant in CAS, benefiting from the resources and insights provided by the organization. For over two decades, NACS’s engagement with CAS has facilitated the exchange of best practices with other student service associations, raising the visibility and understanding of campus stores' roles in supporting student achievement.

In 2024, the CAS Campus Store Standards were introduced, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating campus store performance beyond financial metrics. These new standards help retail professionals assess their store’s impact on student success, offering a much-needed qualitative perspective on collegiate retail.

A Success Story: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
A standout example of CAS collaboration is the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), where the VolShop campus stores became the first to undergo a comprehensive self-assessment using the new CAS Campus Store Standards. This pioneering initiative paved the way for other campus stores to adopt these standards and measure their success in ways that reflect their contribution to student success.

How Campus Store Professionals Can Engage with CAS
NACS continues to support the adoption of CAS Campus Store Standards by offering resources such as an “Introduction to the Campus Store Standards” course on NACS University and a “Standards in Action” webpage to showcase real-world use cases. These tools help campus store professionals utilize the standards to enhance their operations and better advocate for resources within their institutions.

Join NACS at the Textbook Affordability Conference (TAC)
NACS also encourages professionals in the collegiate retail field to participate in the Textbook Affordability Conference (TAC), which will be held on November 3-4, 2025 in Chicago. The TAC provides a platform for campus store professionals, faculty, and other stakeholders to collaborate on strategies for improving textbook affordability and student success. Learn more about TAC 2025 here.

Explore CAS Resources
NACS and CAS continue to work together to support campus stores in creating lasting impacts on student success. To explore CAS Campus Store Standards, Self-Assessment Guides, and other resources, visit the following links:

• CAS Standards for Campus Stores CAS Campus Store Standards
• CAS Self-Assessment Guides CAS Self-Assessment Guides
• NACS Resources NACS Website

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By leveraging these tools, campus store professionals can enhance their operations, contribute to the holistic development of students, and continue to play a key role in campus life.