Center for Student Achievement
Lawshe Building, Room 122
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094
Phone: 219/989-2339
1-800 HI-PURDUE, x.2339
Locally within Indiana & Illinois
E-mail: csa@purduecal.edu

Academic Resource Center
Gyte, Room 102
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094
Phone: 219/989-3227
1-800 HI-PURDUE, x.3227
Locally within Indiana & Illinois
E-mail: arc@purduecal.edu

CSA Staff

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Criteria for One Book / One University Selection Process

Following the guidelines used by Purdue University West Lafayette for their Common Reading Program, below are six general criteria to consider when nominating a book for the One Book / One University program:  availability, engagement, good writing, relevance, potential and programming opportunities.

  • Is the book available?   In multiple formats (ADA accessibility).   Reasonably priced paperback ($10 or less). 
  • Is the book engaging?   Appealing to a wide range of students across majors and disciplines.  Appropriate in length. 
  • Does it offer good writing?  Literary quality.  Richness of content and themes.
  • Is the book relevant?  Relevance to freshmen and transfer students, current society, or local community.  Exploration of cultural differences and diversity or a contemporary issue.  For the first year of One Book/One University, consider selections based on the following three themes: Global Diversity, Coming of Age, Education and Technology
  • Does the book have a broad potential for use?  Potential to spark interesting discussions in a variety of courses.  Interdisciplinary.  Opportunities for creative assignments, multimedia approaches, and possibilities for additional programming – especially in first-year courses.  
  • Does the book have programming potential?  Possibility of a speaker to come to campus.