Nomination and Selection Process

Two students sit facing each other, smiling.
Nominate the next KU Common Book

Anyone from the KU community can nominate a book for the program at any time. The review of nominated books takes place in September and October with an announcement of the next year’s book in December. Nominations that are not selected remain in the pool for future years.

Selection Process

The steering committee is responsible for the first review of nominated books. Books are reviewed based on appropriateness for college-level reading, critical response, flexibility for inclusion in a variety of courses, cost and availability of the book and author, and potential for co-curricular programming.

A selection committee is responsible for reading and reviewing a short list (approximately 10-12) of nominated titles provided by the steering committee. Each book is read and reviewed by at least two members of the selection committee. Books are reviewed based on richness of content and themes, accessibility of content, substantive quality, flexibility for inclusion in a variety of courses, readability, potential for co-curricular programming, and campus community context.

After review, the selection committee discusses all titles and recommends three choices to be considered for the next year’s book. These recommendations are shared back with the steering committee, and leadership of the three program sponsors (KU Libraries, Hall Center for the Humanities, Division of Academic Success) for final selection.

Selection Committee

A new selection committee is formed each year with wide and diverse representation including students, faculty, and staff. The 2022-23 selection committee was comprised of students, faculty, and staff, including representatives from Libraries, Haskell Indian Nations University, Department of English, Biodiversity Institute, DEIB, Department of Educational Psychology, University Academic Support Centers, Lied Center, and Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Questions about steering committee and selection committee membership can be directed to commonbook@ku.edu.