KU redevelops common book experience for 2025 launch

Dear Jayhawk,

For more than a decade, KU’s common book program has created a platform for community conversations around relevant societal issues. During that time, the program has grown from its initial focus on the first-year student experience to one that offers broader campus engagement fueled by interdisciplinary partnerships. The Provost’s Office convened leaders from KU Libraries, the Hall Center for the Humanities, and Academic Affairs to extend the reach and impact of the program with expanded partnerships, programming, and staffing.

During this academic year, the program will relaunch as KU Reads: A Common Book Experience. All members of the KU community are encouraged to submit book nominations via the online form before Sept. 22. After a review process and recommendations by the KU Reads Selection Committee and Advisory Board, the program will announce the 2025-2026 book selection early in the Spring 2025 semester.

Following the activities around the 2023-2024 book selection, “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler, the existing KU Common Book program began a brief hiatus, pausing to redefine the program with a focus on deeper integration into the general education curriculum with attention to KU Core 34, and to facilitate expanded programming.

“We have honored the best elements of previous common book initiatives and have found ways to expand the reach of the program,” said Kim Warren, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. “KU Reads will create new opportunities for students and community members to think about the big questions that we face today.”

The KU Reads Selection Committee, made up of students, faculty and staff, will review the nominations throughout the fall 2024 semester, with the final selection of the book made by the KU Reads Advisory Board and leadership of the three program sponsors, KU Libraries, the Hall Center for the Humanities, and Academic Affairs. Nominated books not chosen this cycle will be considered for future years.

This fall, campus partners continue to create opportunities to participate in reader and speaker events. Upcoming opportunities include a Hall Center for the Humanities speaker event with Bonnie Garmus, author of the New York Times best-selling novel “Lessons in Chemistry.” Garmus will speak at Liberty Hall Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. There are a limited number of free copies of “Lessons in Chemistry” available at Watson Library and the Hall Center for the Humanities. Related programming for this event can be found on the Common Book website.

“As we relaunch this vital and much beloved program as KU Reads, I am particularly excited about our focus on a more formal integration into the general education curriculum and the expansion of vibrant community programming,” said Carol Smith, Dean of KU Libraries. “With the provost’s support for a new full-time faculty role to lead the effort, KU Reads is well poised to meet its full potential as an integral part of the academic and cultural fabric of our university.”

Respectfully,

Barb and Carol

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor

Carol Smith

Dean of KU Libraries