Follett’s Experiential Learning Program gives students the opportunity to earn income and academic credit while taking on real responsibility in leadership, financial management, marketing, sales, operations, and customer experience. Students apply what they are learning in the classroom, build confidence, and develop career-ready skills through hands-on experience.
For colleges and universities, the program creates an accessible way to expand experiential learning by leveraging an environment already embedded in campus life. By connecting campus employment with the academic mission, institutions can give students meaningful professional experience while strengthening engagement and showing the value of learning beyond the classroom.
We’re redefining the campus store as a hub for leadership, creativity, and real-world business experience. Through our partnership with Saxbys, a national leader in experiential learning, students gain hands-on leadership experience in retail — unlocking skills that fuel their careers.
Paid, Career-Launching Roles: From Student CEO® to team leadership opportunities.
Real-World Skills: Budget management, financial literacy, team development, marketing, and customer service.
Proven Outcomes:
This program provides students with leadership experiences that help them stand out in today’s job market — where employers increasingly prioritize real-world experience over GPA.
Through paid, on-campus roles, students build confidence and develop critical skills in budgeting, team leadership, marketing, and customer service — gaining tangible, career-ready competencies that serve them well beyond graduation.
This experiential learning model helps campuses strengthen student engagement, foster community, and support retention goals — all while advancing career readiness outcomes.
By integrating student leadership opportunities into the campus store, institutions create a vibrant, student-centered environment that enhances the academic experience and empowers students for success after graduation.
Follett Higher Education’s experiential learning model is designed to give students the ability to directly impact their campus community while gaining valuable leadership and business skills. Through the student leadership role, students step into full-time leadership of a campus retail location, gaining hands-on experience overseeing operations, leading student teams, and making day-to-day business decisions. Discover how one student’s leadership journey became a turning point for growth, confidence, and career readiness.
See experiential learning in action through the story of Purdue University Student CEO Alan Wang. From leading a team and making real business decisions to strengthening his confidence, collaboration, and strategic thinking, Alan’s experience shows how hands-on leadership can turn a campus job into meaningful career preparation.
Northeastern University, Business Administration Major, Follett Student CEO
"This program gives me a front-row seat to what it takes to lead in retail—from managing budgets and leading a team, to creating an outstanding customer experience. It’s hands-on, high-impact learning that I know will set me apart in any industry I pursue."
Northeastern University, Business Administration Major, Follett Student CEO
“Every day I can look at my store’s profit and loss statements, make decisions that will impact them tomorrow, and get to interview and hire real employees. This has transformed me as a person.”
Purdue University, Accounting Major, Follett Student CEO
“The road wasn’t built by one person. It was a result of a dedicated team, strong partnerships, and countless small decisions made throughout the year.”
Georgia State University, Hospitality Major, Saxbys Student CEO
“To me, team development goes beyond just the Cafe—it's about turning this job into a meaningful career and focusing on character growth. I wanted to come in and really try and get to know everybody...building these personal connections creates a supportive environment where my team feels valued and understood. I learned a lot about the finances of an establishment, inventory, and COGS—things I'd never been exposed to before—and I feel like I’ve learned more through this experience than in a typical classroom. And while I'm still figuring out my next steps, I know I want to work with a dedicated team and pursue a career in operations management.”
Temple University, Accounting Major, Saxbys Student CEO
"One of the most meaningful parts of my journey as Student CEO has just been the way this experience helped me discover who I truly am, not just as a leader but as a student and a future professional. Before college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. That all changed when I stepped into the Student CEO role. I wasn’t just learning from a textbook, I was living it, solving real-time problems, and just working directly with the team every single day. Through all that, I discovered what I really loved, which was financial management, and that's why I made my decision to switch my major from marketing to accounting."
Community College of Philadelphia, Liberal Arts Major, Saxbys Student CEO
"At Saxbys, I was able to combine my academics and advocacy into one place. I am very passionate about community engagement and as Student CEO® I have been able to develop my community leadership even further. I am able to interact with guests and get to know them. I am able to run and manage a team who can rely on me as much as I rely on them. I have learned how to be a leader, and have developed skills like time management and team development. I now have a real understanding on how to own and operate a business."
Penn State University, Finance Major, Saxbys Student CEO
Every partnership starts with a conversation about your students, your goals, and what campus pride looks like for your community. Let us know you are interested, and a member of our team will reach out to talk through next steps. Let's talk about what an experiential learning partnership could look like on your campus.