October 2, 2008

Common reading program invites book suggestions

Faculty, staff and students are invited to suggest a book that will be used as part of Purdue's common reading experience, a program to be implemented for entering students in fall 2009.

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.

"This effort  will  provide a common intellectual experience for the University's newest students" says Jim Mullins, dean of libraries and co-sponsor of the effort.

Pam Horne, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions and the other co-sponsor, says the effort is intended to help facilitate academic connections between new students, faculty, staff and peers  throughout the students' first year at Purdue.

"We hope to link programs, events and other campus activities together with this reading experience," she says, "in order to foster meaningful discussion and dialogue among and between these new students and the campus community."

A book selection committee made up of faculty, staff, and students will begin reviewing book suggestions during the next few weeks and will choose the book for fall 2009 before the end of fall 2008 semester. 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_3wmFMiXbjGau4rW&SVID=Prod

Questions about the committee's work should be directed to Drew Koch, director of Student Access, Transition and Success Programs (akkoch@purdue.edu) or Marianne Ryan, associate dean of libraries (marianne@purdue.edu) who are co-chairs of the effort.