Learning Resource Center

Butler University Common Reading Program

The 2012 Common Reading was Outcasts United, by Warren St. John.  A majority of 2012 Faculty Orientation Guides recommended the book be used again as the common reading for the entering first-year class.  The story of a soccer team comprised entirely of refugee children, the woman who coached them, and the small town they changed, Outcasts United will serve again as the centerpiece of Academic Day during Welcome Week 2013.  Discover more about the story.

What is a Common Reading program?

Common reading initiatives are wide-spread and considered a best practice in First-Year Experience programming. Generally the purpose is "to provide a common academic experience for all first-year students and to strengthen the academic atmosphere of the institution from the first day the student arrives on campus" (Patterson, 2002, p.8).  A common reading is an opportunity to "intellectualize" orientation through a shared experience of all first -year students and with participating faculty. The opportunity enhances academic transition by providing a base from which students can engage with faculty in conversations about what is expected in college-level academic work, what constitutes scholarly behavior, and what the campus community considers important.

Patterson, L. (2002). New ideas in first-year reading programs from around the country. First-Year Experience Newsletter (FYE), 14(3), 8-9.

 At Butler University, the following priorities are considered when choosing a book:

  • Readability and potential for engaging students
  • Relevance to current social, global, and/or local community issues
  • Appeal to wide range of students
  • Interdisciplinary; raises interesting issues for discussion in a variety of courses
  • Possibilities for campus-wide programming

Previous books in the Common Reading program include Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind, Novella Carpenter's Farm City, and Dave Isay's Listening Is an Act of Love.

The Common Reading on Campus

The Common Reading program is a campus-wide initiative, involving all colleges of the university. A committee of faculty representatives, as well as Academic Affairs, Student Life, and the library, is convened annually to solicit submissions of book suggestions, read and review the books, and select the Common Reading text for use during the next academic year.  In addition, student readers review the short list of books and provide a student-centered perspective on the selections.  Many thanks to those faculty, staff, and students who gave their time and expertise to the Common Reading program.

Members of the 2013 Common Reading Committee:

  • Jennifer Griggs, Learning Resource Center
  • Emily Burke, Learning Resource Center
  • Caroline Huck-Watson, PuLSE Office
  • Susan Neville, First Year Seminar Director
  • Rocky Colavito, English Department
  • Renee Reed, Irwin Library
  • Gail Lewis, Jordan College of Fine Arts
  • Terri Jett, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Angela Lupton, College of Education
  • Jennifer Zorn, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • Mark Foglesong, College of Business
  • Rhoda Israelov, College of Business

Student Readers in 2012 were:

  • Olivia Yoch
  • Katie Hammitt
  • Marcella Columbus
  • Alex Davidson 

The committee welcomes submissions of suggested books from students, faculty, and staff.  If you are interested in serving on the Common Reading Committee, or are a student who would like to serve as a reader, please contact the Learning Resource Center.