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PREFACE: The Cal Poly Shared Reading Program

“Cal Poly asserts that reading is a key institutional value, a tool for community building, and an unending source of mental pleasure.”
Flight, Sherman Alexie

New Fall 2009 Students

New Cal Poly students read Flight by Sherman Alexie during the summer and discuss it as a common intellectual experience during fall orientation.

PREFACE Program Goals:

  1. Project high Cal Poly academic expectations
  2. Convey that reading is integral to intellectual inquiry
  3. Provide a common intellectual experience
  4. Build community on and off campus

PREFACE Packet of Information

  1. Tips for College Reading (PDF)
  2. Author Biography (PDF)
  3. American Indian Movement Fast Facts (PDF)
  4. Reading Questions Guide, Flight (PDF)

Community Involvement

Because of the success of the program, PREFACE has expanded to include a county-wide reading effort. PREFACE collaborates with the San Luis Obispo City-County Libraries in recruiting and training community volunteers to facilitate discussion sessions with Cal Poly students as well as providing off-campus discussion sessions specifically for county residents.

PREFACE & SLO County Reads host a number of programming events that address aspects of the book's topics and themes.

More detailed information is forthcoming.

For more information, email PREFACE