About the Book in Common Program
The Book in Common provides one book that all of CSU, Chico 's incoming students read. The goal of the Book in Common is to engage students in an intellectual community and introduce them to the life of the mind at Chico State. The Book in Common becomes a touchstone, a common point of entry, for all incoming students. Its goal is to start minds, start conversations and start reflections on the individual, the self and society. The Book in Common is one part of a larger goal of enhancing the First Year Experience and intellectual engagement of students.
The Book in Common is the first step down a long - hopefully a lifelong - journey of inquiry, reflection and thoughtful action for students and graduates of California State University, Chico.
Criteria used to select the Book in Common:
- The Book in Common should be engaging to students, to draw them, enthusiastically, into reading and intellectual reflection
- The Book in Common should deal with relevant and enduring topics
- The Book in Common should have broad appeal across academic disciplines and individual interests so that many are drawn to read it
- The Book in Common should lend itself to use and discussion in a variety of courses and contexts
- The Book in Common should touch on important social issues, and value the diverse cultural perspectives found in contemporary society
- The Book in Common should resonate with the unique characteristics of CSU, Chico as a particular place and site for learning
Students are exposed to the Book in Common during Summer Orientation and during the first weeks of class. Faculty are encouraged to adopt the Book in Common for classroom use to provide a structured context for reading and discussion. Campus events are arranged around the Book in Common, the author and the book's principal themes. Through all of these activities, the Book in Common provides first year students, as well as students continuing their education at CSU, Chico, with a means for discussing and reflecting on common and enduring themes, enhancing a sense of connectedness and belonging to the intellectual community fostered by the University.
