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UNC Asheville Alumni Summer Book Club
Purpose
To develop and maintain a common book/reading experience program that will provide a continuing education opportunity for UNC Asheville alumni, as well as faculty, staff, and community friends.
Target Audience
The program’s target audience is UNC Asheville alumni and constituents, regardless of location or proximity to each other or to the university.
Program Concept
The book selected for summer reading will be based on the author selected for that fall’s Goodman Endowed Literary Writer Series, hosted by the Literature and Language department. Group discussions will primarily be conducted online, with a staff member serving as the discussion moderator/manager. However, those participating in the program may opt to gather together to discuss the book in person, with or without a local discussion leader.
In Phase 1 of the program (June/July), the moderator/manager introduces the book to the group, posts initial discussion topics, and guides flow of “conversation.” UNC Asheville faculty members specializing in topics related to the specific parts of the book (plot, setting, characters, timeline, historic events, cultural traditions and practices, etc.) would lend their insight during Phase 2 of the online discussion (August/September). Phase 3 encompasses the program’s anchor event – the on campus reception for the featured author (October).
Anchor Event (s)
The anchor event for this program is the Goodman Endowed Literary Writer Series reception. The Literature and Language department selects a writer for the series each spring. That writer agrees to have a reception and/or reading on campus that fall. The alumni book club would promote the series, the selected author, and the opportunity for alumni to gain further insight about the book directly from the author by attending the reception/reading.
Program “Soft Launch” Announcement (June/July 2013)
In recognition of the Goodman lecture series and extensive campus academic expertise, the Alumni Association will start an online book club where members can meet regionally or participate solely online, beginning with Wiley Cash's book as the focus of their study. In reflection of the liberal arts mission, the club will draw from multiple areas of faculty expertise and touch on many subjects across disciplines. Anyone interested in participating should contact the Alumni office at [email protected], or stay tuned for updates on the website, alumni.unca.edu. Community members, regardless of city, as well as faculty/staff, students and alumni are all welcome to be involved.
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Some Universities with Similar Alumni Book Clubs
University of Minnesota Morris Alumni – Morris Alumni Book Club Creighton University Alumni – Creighton Alumni Book Club John Hopkins University Alumni – Hopkins Online Book Club Duke University Alumni – Duke Reads University of Connecticut Alumni, Common Read – A Novel Group of
Huskies: The UConn Alumni Association’s Global Book Club Mars Hill College Alumni – Mars Hill College Alumni Book Club Wake Forest Alumni – Wake Forest Alumni Book Club Carleton College Alumni – Alumni Network: Alumni Book Club American University – Washington, DC Alumni – Alumni Book Club Series Notre Dame Alumni – Notre Dame Club of Chicago Oakland University Alumni – Film Book Club Babson College Alumni, First-Yr – Alumni Summer Book Club
*Italics indicate actual meetings take place with readers and discussion leaders (not virtual book clubs)
Sample Club Features & Set-up
Group open to – alumni, students, faculty, friends of university Led by – Literature and/or English faculty member, librarian, alumni office staff member Platform – blog, virtual book club website, university’s website Selection – chosen by group leader, picked by club members, features alumni authors Books – focus on chosen theme, written by alumni, tie into First-Yr/Freshmen/Common Read
Sample Verbiage/Wording
From Johns Hopkins
Welcome to the new Hopkins Online Book Club.
The Hopkins Online Book Club connects alumni through participation in a virtual book group and online discussion.
Hosted by a different faculty each month, the Book Club begins with a taped conversation available online (as well as a transcribed version) with that month's faculty presenter. The conversation continues with the online discussion for the duration of that month.
This program is currently on hold while we develop the second phase of our online community and future site of book club discussions, Connect.
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Please check back in 2013 for updates on the book club. In the meantime, please enjoy the previous book club selections and introductions by faculty hosts by clicking on the book links below.
From Creighton University
Creighton Alumni Book Club
Join the Creighton Alumni Association as we dive into reading and begin our very own book club! We’ll choose a different book each quarter and then discuss it online with other alumni. The discussion will be guided by either the author or a renowned faculty member or alumnus.
Join us this summer and read “The God Box” by Mary Lou Quinlan. If you are in the Omaha area, join us for a presentation/one act play performed by Quinlan. The first 100 alumni who attend will receive a free copy of the book. For more information about the event, click here.
Watch for more information about the book club coming soon!
In the meantime, if you would like to join the club, please email Sarah Lukas (BA’02, MA’08), in the Alumni Relations Office at [email protected].
Happy Reading!
From Babson College
Join the Alumni Summer Book Club!
We invite faculty and staff to join the Alumni Summer Book Club – don’t miss the chance to meet the main character on August 29th!
On Monday, August 29th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm there will be a talk, Q&A session, and book signing in Sorenson Theater with the main subject of the book, Cedric Jennings.
Join the third annual alumni summer book club and read the book required of all the First-Year undergraduates. What are the First-Year Students Reading this Summer?
This year, the choice is: A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind.
The book is available with free shippingfor alumni and a discount for employees at the college bookstore: 781-239-4375 or [email protected].
Please email [email protected] to register or with questions.
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