June 2008 International First Year Experience Conference, Dublin Ireland Common Reader Implementation Strategies — Ball State University Inside this packet: Presented By Melinda Messineo, PhD Ball State University Detailed Summary This presentation will include Timeline of process 2-4 round elimination, the actual This presentation will provide “decision points” where partic- materials and discussion de- reading and assessment, the ipants will be alerted to alterna- solicitation of community feed- signed to assist a university in Sample title solicita- 5 tive approaches that might also tion wording implementing a common read- back, the final selection, the be considered. There will be author contact, the book order- er program. The presentation time for participants to ask Sample assessment 6 will begin with a description of ing, the creation of support tool for selection questions and share their own materials, the on - line discus- Ball State University’s com- process insights. The materials provid- mon reader program inception sion, the book distribution, the ed include sample title solicita- Sample list of titles 7 discussion groups, the fall pro- and current goals. The majority tion wording, a timeline of the of the time will be spent taking gramming and finally ideas on Sample review ses- 8 process, an assessment tool for how to structure the author’s sion outline participants through a “typical the selection process, a sample academic year” beginning with visit. This presentation will list of titles, a discussion group Sample discussion 9 address challenges and discuss how one might solicit titles, group survey leader survey, sample book continuing through the for- how the program has changed support materials, and more. Sample passport 10-11 over time and why. mation of the selection com- incentive guidelines mittee, the first Sample book support materials attached Sample passport attached http://www.bsu.edu/freshmanconnections/
Calendar Decision Points August/September October Next we present this reduced list along with synopsis and links to We solicit volunteers to serve We then send out second title so- reviews to the committee for on the committee from past licitation via e - mail. review. committee members, past DECISION POINT – Do you The committee members identify discussion group leaders, and have enough titles after second their top picks. past freshmen connections request? Is there a more effective team members. We work to DECISION POINT – How will venue to solicit titles? Publishers have full time and contract this decision be made? now have booklets of titles they faculty, academic advisors, recommend, sites also have lists. The top picks are compiled into library staff, residence hall a list. The number of finalists staff, community members Next we compile the suggested depends on the committee, the and students represented. titles. list, and where natural breaks in the voting occur. DECISION POINT – Think DECISION POINT – What in- about your constituents. formation do you want to include Confirm author availability, af- Who has a stake in the pro- for consideration? fordability, and book price and cess? Who should you in- We then compare the list to the availability. Sometimes titles are clude? removed at this point because selection criteria. You can send the criteria with title solicitation to they no longer meet the crite- We then send out first title ria. The list is posted on an on - help recommenders. solicitation via e - mail. line discussion board. DECISION POINT —What are DECISION POINT – How Think about your your program goals and objec- will you get the word out? DECISION POINT – What is tives? What criteria are necessary constituents. Who has your budget? Are there other What is the best way to seek to reach these goals and objec- community feedback? groups that might co - sponsor a a stake in the process? tives? speaker as well? Who should you include in the selection Decision Points cont. process? November/December be experts on any given book? DECISION POINT – In addition Often it comes down to people to number of votes, you also will This list now represents the voting on books they have not want to measure placement so you books to be read. We assign read entirely. need to weight the responses ac- 3 books to each member for a cordingly. thorough read. Copies of all Sometimes committee members of the books are made availa- have already read a number of the The committee then selects 3 titles ble to everyone on the com- books so we assign them unfamil- to send to the Freshman Connec- mittee at OTLA for check iar titles. tions Coordinating Council. This out. The committee is asked list of three is again posted on the to read the first part of these January discussion board for comment. books so they are familiar with all of the books. After everyone reads, we gather DECISION POINT – Will you together to select the finalists. have an oversight committee that DECISION POINT – What This may take any number of makes the final selection? Who is the minimum number of rounds as people discuss the pros will the members be and why? people (or percent of the and cons of each book. What will they base their final de- committee) that you want to cision on? Page 2
Decision Points cont. January cont. March May The Coordinating Council Committee members assist in cre- We begin the on - line discussion. now makes a more official ating the support materials. These contact with the agents of all go to students, discussion group DECISION POINT – Do you of the books to work out the leaders and faculty. have a site to post a discussion potential logistics of each board? How will students know DECISION POINT – What visit. Again, books may be do you want to include? about and access the site? Who lost at this point because will monitor the site? What will How will these materials be dates or contract amounts can used? Who is your audience? the role of faculty/staff be in not be negotiated. engaging in the discussion? What is your budget and timeline? February book distribution to leaders The committee makes a final April DECISION POINT – Will selection. The book is an- leaders buy their own books? nounced to the community. We begin to solicit discussion How will they get them? The books are ordered. group leaders in mid - spring. June/July DECISION POINT – Will DECISION POINT – Will the institution pay for the you run discussion sessions? We begin the book distribution books or will students buy When? Where? How will to students. them? How will you you get students to attend? make them available to What is the goal of the session We prepare discussion group How will the support students? Orientation? leaders in late summer. How will you measure materials be Mail them to students? success? Contract is finalized with used? Who is your Learning teams meet to plan author. We begin planning fall program - for fall. audience? ming in mid - spring. DECISION POINT – your What is your budget August institution may have a unit on DECISION POINT – Will you and campus who is the only area have additional fall program - We hold the discussion groups timeline? authorized to make contracts. ming? What will the theme for the and other fall programming. Find out the process before semester be? How will you you begin. Things to ask choose additional events? What is September agents: Will the author also your budget? Time - frame? Are have public meals with there others on campus you would The author visits campus. students? Does this include pool resources with to sponsor Q and A session? A book programs? signing session? What are the process begins The author’s transportation again…. requirements? Are they negotiable? Page 3
Common Reader Implementation Strategies — Ball State University Timeline of Process ugust ember er er er Augus Sept eptember Octob October Novemb ovember Dece ecemb mber -Select Committee -Solicit Titles -Committee selects -Distribute books to -Committee short list committee to read reads -Committee reads -Confirm feasibility of each title nuary uary March il May Janua Februa Fe Apr pril - Select final book -Committee meets to - Design sup- - Solicit discussion - Begin book select top three group leaders port materi- distribution to - Announce book als leaders -Community invited to - Begin planning comment on top three - Order books fall programming - Feasibility confirmed - Finalize contract with - Spring assess- author ment of fall experi- ence une uly ugust ober June July Augus Sept eptember ember/Oc /October - Author visit - Distribute books to - Distribute books to -Prepare discussion students students group leaders - Additional programming - Learning communi- - Learning communi- - Book discussion (- solicit titles for next year) ties begin team plan- ties finalize team plan- groups ning ning (- Select next commit- - Continue planning - Continue planning fall tee) fall programming programming -Prepare discussion group leaders Page 4
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