November 3, 2009
Common Reading Program invites book suggestions for 2010-11
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Faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to suggest a book to be used with incoming students for 2010-11. This book will be the second selected as part of Purdue's Common Reading Program.
The program's mission is to provide a common academic experience for all new students -- an experience that sets high academic expectations for students from the beginning of their undergraduate careers. It is co-sponsored by Student Access, Transition, and Success Programs and Purdue Libraries, and is funded by the Office of the Provost.
2009-10 is the first year for the program. The selected book is "Stealing Buddha's Dinner" by Bich Minh Nguyen, associate professor of English. The book was provided free of charge to all incoming freshmen and transfer students over the summer, and students had the opportunity to hear from Nguyen at two convocations before the start of classes.
More than 4,500 students attended the convocations, and nearly three-quarters of all Boiler Gold Rush attendees indicated in a post-program survey that they read the book over the summer. Many faculty are making use of the book in their courses and programs -- particularly in first-year seminars and learning communities across the colleges and schools.
A book selection committee made up of faculty, staff, and students will review book suggestions over the next month and will announce next year's selection in the spring. The book will be distributed to new beginning and transfer students during the summer advising and registration program.
To suggest a book, go to
http://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eJuFrLYIqQ1JISU&SVID=Prod. The submission form will be available for the next few weeks.
Questions about the committee's work should be directed to Drew Koch, director of SATS, at akkoch@purdue.edu. For more information about the program, visit www.purdue.edu/sats/commonreading.