Who Gets the Common Book?

The selected book is distributed to first-year students free of charge during orientation sessions in the summer. Faculty and staff also receive a free copy of the book so they may prepare for the upcoming year’s events. Program organizers encourage all faculty members to use the book in their classes, take part in the year-long programming related to the book, or discuss the book with first-year students in informal ways.

What Programs Incorporate the Common Book?

Orientation
New students receive their book in a facilitated classroom discussion during summer orientation sessions. A packet of materials provides the student with reading strategies and a writing assignment. Students are expected to read the book and complete their assignment before returning to campus in the fall.

First Flight & First Year Seminars
When students return to campus in the fall, they assemble for an all-campus convocation which touches on the Common Book. From there, they participate in their First Year Seminar course meeting where the common book writing assignment is due and posted to their personal ePortfolio. Structured discussions around topics presented int he common book during First Flight allow for a common bond among new Otterbein students.

First Year Seminar
Students will continue to engage in discussions surrounding the themes presented in the Common Book throughout the academic year. The First Year Seminar serves as one mechanism to engage students in discussions and programming related to the book. Peer Mentors connected to each First Year Seminar section have read and are trained to facilitate discussions related to the Common Book.  Peer Mentors also help connect students to co-curricular programs offered throughout the year.

Author Visit
A focal point of the Thomas Academic Excellence Series is the visit by the Common Book author. The author speaks to the entire campus at a convocation, usually in October, followed by a book signing. Many authors have visited individual classes. Each year, students in Theatre 1000 interpret the Common Book’s issues through a series of playlets.

Common Book Selection Criteria:

• It encourages scholastic intellectual development for new students.
• It is compatible with Otterbein’s mission.
• It is appropriate for a wide variety of disciplines and classes.
• It is by a significant contemporary author who can visit campus.
• It is not a book read in high school.
• It is challenging but not overwhelming to entering first-year students.
• It provides potential for hands-on experiences or service learning.
• It will sustain discussion for a year.

Otterbein’s Common Book Program creates a shared experience for the campus community, but especially for incoming students. All new students will receive a copy of the 2024 Common Book for free. You can pick it up on orientation day or once classes start from Student Success and Career Development in 027 Towers Hall.

After you read the book, complete the Common Book assignment and be ready to turn it in to your FYS class.