About the Summer Reading Program
CU’s Summer Reading Program strives to provide a common experience for our incoming students and to set the tone of emphasizing the importance of reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking for having a successful academic career. It was established in 2004 as a part of our Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which is our Writing-Engagement-Learning Program (WEL).
Hundreds of colleges and universities (whether large, small, public, or private) are instituting SRPs and are assigning first-year students a book to read over the summer, hoping to create a sense of community and engage students intellectually. Engaged students retain information and have greater academic success than students who do not engage the material. CU’s program wants to send a clear message to our incoming student that reading, preparation, and engagement are expected and are necessary for academic success.
The assigned book is to be read over the summer prior to coming to campus; it is accompanied by a list of questions for the student to answer in a written response. During the first semester on campus, discussion leaders will meet and lead a discussion of those questions and how the reading can connect to their lives and provide useful insight and meaning. The books used in our SRP are quite varied and provided at no cost to the student.
The WEL Committee seeks to select books that will provide a common incoming experience for students while bringing an inspiring and thought-provoking message to the students.