The American higher education system is highly diverse and complex, with no single model but rather a plurality of approaches. This presentation will explore two concrete examples: one involving a new bookstore contract for a single state university and another covering a contract for 13 institutions. The goal is to help the audience examine how the bookstore contracting process unfolds at their own institutions, identify key stakeholders, and ensure that diverse voices are included in shaping a bookstore contract that meets the needs of all parties involved.