Program Goals

1. To strengthen literacy practices by encouraging instructors, students, staff, and the surrounding community to read and learn together as a way of developing a sense of community focused on intellectual inquiry, creative curiosity, and conversation;
   
   
2. To welcome and contribute to students' developing sense of intellectual self-confidence and involvement in the rich heritage, wonder, and power of ideas and their ability to change lives and livelihood as integral to the learning experience at BC;
   
   
3. To integrate the text into classes in meaningful ways and develop book-related activities across the college that encourage connections, collaboration, and learning across academic disciplines and among individuals that may not otherwise occur;
   
   
4. To connect the common book program to other campus initiatives, such as First-Year Experience, Student Success, or Global Education, which strengthen liberal arts learning, including critical thinking, written and oral expression, research and information literacy, and intercultural understanding; and
   
   
5. To encourage civic engagement by involving diverse communities in campus events, developing co-sponsored events within the college and among community partners, such as local bookstores, libraries, schools, and others, and promoting opportunities to connect the book with opportunities to serve local or global communities.

1. Develop critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills and abilities;
2. Gain an emerging sense of confidence as learners, thinkers, readers, and writers;
3. Develop a sense of community among peers and with instructors;
4. Develop connections among ideas, experiences, disciplines, and academic and personal goals; and
5. Relate the issues raised by the common book to their lives as new or returning college students.