Colorado State University, OfficeMax Form Strategic Partnership Providing Discounts to CSU, Students, Alumni and Friends

In an ongoing effort to strategically and creatively address budget issues, Colorado State University has entered into an innovative partnership with OfficeMax®, a leader in office supplies and services, that will save CSU money, provide scholarships and internships to students, and provide significant office supply discounts to students, alumni and friends of the university.

“Colorado State University is committed to finding new operational efficiencies and to creating new revenue streams through innovative thinking,” said Amy Parsons, vice president for Operations at CSU. “Colorado State’s strategic partnership with OfficeMax accomplishes both of these goals along with providing many additional benefits to the CSU community.”

Colorado State announced today that OfficeMax is the new official office products supplier of the university. This partnership will yield an average contract cost savings of 14 percent on the university’s 1,000 most commonly purchased office supplies. In comparison with list prices, contract costs are those negotiated with the university and ordered by departments and offices through CSU’s centralized ordering system. Additional non-contract supplies also will be discounted up to 75 percent off list price for the university.

As part of the agreement, OfficeMax is supplying at least two paid internships each year, which will provide valuable business management experience for Colorado State students. Beginning in the fourth year of the partnership, OfficeMax will fund up to five $1,000 scholarships annually for students.

Additionally, all Colorado State students, alumni and friends will be offered affinity program discounts averaging 20 percent off list prices. All sales from the affinity program will result in an additional 4 percent rebate back to Colorado State. Discounted pricing for affinity groups is available at www.alumni.colostate.edu and all OfficeMax retail locations. Affinity purchases will require a CSU/OfficeMax Retail Connect card. For specifics about how to qualify for affinity program discounts, go to www.alumni.colostate.edu.

Colorado State and OfficeMax also will lead the way in environmental practices to support green university operations. To reduce waste, for example, OfficeMax deliveries will be made in reusable plastic corrugated delivery totes instead of deliveries being made in typical cardboard packaging used by most suppliers – a program introduced nationally by OfficeMax in 2010. OfficeMax also will provide recycled general use office paper, ranging from 30 percent to 100 percent post-consumer content, and office supplies identified as environmentally preferable products.

Colorado State will gain efficiencies working with OfficeMax by placing orders electronically via the university’s e-Procurement connection, which provides the university community with an easy-to-use self-service buying approach via a “punch-out catalog.” Past order histories and preferences are instantly accessible to university employees, product returns can be processed online, and live online assistance is available when ordering. Colorado State offices will also benefit on next-day delivery on all orders placed before 4 p.m.

Colorado State and OfficeMax will explore additional ways to collaborate and share ideas and best practices, possibly including sharing training and teaching seminars.
-30-