UW Common Book
Initiated by Undergraduate Academic Affairs in 2006, the UW Common Book aims to introduce and engage freshmen in the University’s intellectual community. During summer orientation, University of Washington freshmen receive a common text with the expectation that they read it before fall quarter begins.
Centered in Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the UW Seattle campus, UW Bothell and Tacoma may also choose to incorporate the book into their campus curriculum.
The UW Common Book is implemented with the partnership of First Year Programs and the support of the University Libraries, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the University Book Store, and UW Alumni Association.
Disability Resources for Students
The University of Washington is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability that would impact your ability to read the common book without reasonable accommodation, please contact Disability Resources for Students to request the common book in alternate format e.g. audiotape, large-print, electronic text, Braille.
Disability Resources for Students is located in 448 Schmitz Hall, 206-543-8924 (V/TTY), 206-685-8379 (fax), uwdss@u.washington.edu.
2008 UW Common Book Goals
- To promote a common text to be read by students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the University of Washington to develop a sense of community focused on intellectual inquiry.
- To offer entering freshmen a focus for conversation and social exchange.
- To provide students with opportunities to reflect about their roles as learners and leaders.
- To integrate the text into appropriate classes in a meaningful way, and to extend book-related activities throughout the University.
- To encourage participation of the wider community at campus events and to develop co-sponsored events with local libraries, businesses and interested organizations.
2008 UW Common Book Selection Committee
Thank you to these individuals who volunteered hours of their time to recommend the UW Common Book:
Co-Chairs
- Jill McKinstry, Director, Odegaard Undergraduate Library, Libraries
- Ed Taylor, Dean and Vice Provost, Undergraduate Academic Affairs
Committee Members:
- Assistant Professor Anis Bawarshi, Department of English
- Gabe Gallardo, Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
- Kaye Kovacs, Student, ASUW
- Professor Wolfram Latsch, Jackson School of International Studies
- Laura Little, Senior Lecturer, Psychology
- Carol Niccolls, Office of the President
- Steve Oliver, First Year Programs
- Betty Schmitz, Director, Center for Curriculum Transformation
- Professor Kate Stovel, Sociology
- Associate Professor Andrew Tsao, School of Drama
- Professor John Webster, English, Director of Writing Council
Special thanks to:
Selection History
2007: Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert. The web site for the 2007 UW Common Book is archived here.
2006: Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder. The web site for the 2006 UW Common Book is archived here.