1. How long has your campus had a common reading program?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  1-2 years
30%39
  3-4 years
31.5%41
  5-7 years
16.9%22
  more than 7 years
18.5%24
  don't know
3.1%4
Total Respondents  130
(skipped this question)  1
2. Where is it administratively based?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Student affairs
16%21
  Academic affairs
33.6%44
  Academic department
13%17
  Library
6.1%8
  Other (please specify)
31.3%41
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
3. Who is involved in book selection (please check all that apply)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Students
48.9%64
 Faculty in the disciplines
84%110
 Librarians (whether faculty status or not)
43.5%57
 Student affairs staff
49.6%65
 Academic affairs staff
51.9%68
 Bookstore staff
5.3%7
 Other (please specify)
32.8%43
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
4. Who is involved in leading book discussions? (Please check all that apply)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Students
39.7%52
 Faculty in the disciplines
80.2%105
 Librarians (whether faculty status or not)
29%38
 Student affairs staff
38.9%51
 Academic affairs staff
34.4%45
 College bookstore staff
3.8%5
 We don't hold discussion
1.5%2
 Other (please specify)
29%38
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
5. Who participates? (Please check all that apply)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 First year students
93.1%122
 Students at all levels
22.9%30
 Faculty and staff
55%72
 College bookstore
10.7%14
 Local community members
23.7%31
 We don't hold discussions
 0%0
 Other (please specify)
16%21
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
6. What are the program's goals? (Please check all that apply)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 To model intellectual engagement
86.3%113
 To add an academic component to new student orientation
57.3%75
 To encourage reading
64.1%84
 To develop a sense of community
87.8%115
 To provide students an opportunity to understand diverse perspectives
63.4%83
 To provide students an opportunity to explore their transition to college
51.9%68
 Other (please specify)
19.8%26
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
7. What qualities do you look for in books for your program?
extremely importantimportantsomewhat importantnot importantResponse Average
It needs to be a book incoming students will enjoy reading (extremely important, important, somewhat important, not important)
47% (59)37% (47)16% (20)0% (0)1.69
It should be a book that will stir discussion
66% (83)30% (38)3% (4)1% (1)1.39
It must have literary value
18% (23)53% (67)25% (32)3% (4)2.13
It should have a theme that relates to students’ transition from high school to college
13% (16)21% (26)26% (33)40% (50)2.94
It should provide perspectives on diversity
24% (30)50% (63)24% (30)2% (3)2.05
It should be intellectually challenging
22% (28)49% (62)25% (32)3% (4)2.10
It should raise questions of meaning and values
43% (54)46% (58)6% (8)5% (6)1.73
It should relate somehow to contemporary events
13% (16)39% (49)38% (48)11% (14)2.47
Total Respondents  127
(skipped this question)  4
8. How is your program assessed? (Please check all that apply)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Satisfaction surveys of students
59.5%78
 Surveys of faculty and staff
38.2%50
 Qualitative - e.g. focus groups, interviews, or ethnographic observation
20.6%27
 Quantitative - e.g. analysis of the characteristics of participants with comparison to non-participants
11.5%15
 We haven't assessed our program
19.1%25
 Don't know
13.7%18
 Other (please specify)
18.3%24
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
9. If you have assessed your program, how would you characterize the results?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  The program is very successful
13.7%16
  The program is largely successful
29.1%34
  The program is only moderately successful
19.7%23
  The program is largely unsuccessful
0.9%1
  Not applicable
20.5%24
  additional comments
16.2%19
Total Respondents  117
(skipped this question)  14
10. Campus Attitudes What is your impression of how various constituents feel about the program?
very positivepositiveindifferentnegativedon't knowResponse Average
Students in general
9% (12)52% (68)25% (32)7% (9)7% (9)2.50
Faculty in general
18% (24)57% (75)20% (26)0% (0)5% (6)2.15
Librarians in general
38% (50)37% (48)8% (11)1% (1)16% (21)2.20
Student affairs staff in general
34% (45)47% (62)9% (12)0% (0)9% (12)2.02
Higher administration
47% (61)41% (54)5% (7)0% (0)7% (9)1.79
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
11. How often do you hear faculty, students, or staff express the following assumptions or beliefs about the common reading program on your campus?
very oftenoftenoccasionallyvery rarelydon't knowResponse Average
The common reading gives new students something to talk about.
24% (31)36% (46)24% (31)10% (13)6% (8)2.39
The wrong books are chosen.
8% (10)14% (18)32% (41)37% (48)9% (12)3.26
The common reading program provides an academic component during new student orientation.
24% (30)28% (35)18% (23)18% (23)13% (16)2.69
The program isn’t sufficiently connected to the curriculum.
12% (15)21% (27)26% (34)30% (39)11% (14)3.08
The book discussions are superficial.
2% (2)9% (12)28% (37)41% (53)20% (26)3.68
The faculty should be more involved.
16% (21)15% (19)33% (42)27% (35)9% (11)2.97
Having a common reading celebrates the importance of books and reading.
15% (19)25% (32)34% (43)17% (22)9% (12)2.81
It’s disappointing that the book discussions are limited to orientation.
5% (6)12% (15)18% (21)41% (49)24% (29)3.67
Having a common reading builds community.
26% (34)44% (57)18% (23)10% (13)2% (3)2.18
Having a common reading gives students a chance to explore different perspectives and opinions.
21% (27)43% (56)25% (33)5% (7)5% (7)2.32
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
12. Is the common reading used in credit-bearing courses?
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Often
41.2%54
 Sometimes
28.2%37
 Rarely
17.6%23
 Don't know
5.3%7
 If used, in what courses?
53.4%70
Total Respondents  131
(skipped this question)  0
13. What are the greatest strengths of your common reading program?
 Total Respondents  
109
(skipped this question)  22
14. What are the greatest challenges?
 Total Respondents  
114
(skipped this question)  17
15. If you would like to receive the results of this survey, please provide your e-mail address. All communications will be treated confidentially.
 Total Respondents  
99
(skipped this question)  32
16. If you would be willing to be contacted for follow-up questions, please provide your e-mail address. All communications will be treated confidentially.
 Total Respondents  
72
(skipped this question)  59