About the Program
UHCL’s Common Reader Program is an extension of the First-Year Seminar Program. The program, which began in fall 2014, aims to foster critical thinking and discussion around important social concepts such as race, gender, class, and citizenship. A committee of students, staff, and faculty from all four colleges select the text that is studied throughout the academic year and plan events inspired by it.
As citizens of the Clear Lake area, we believe UHCL's educational reach goes beyond entrances of the campus proper. We hope community members will gain a true feeling of being a part of a vibrant intellectual conversation with their UHCL community members.
UHCL Common Reader Program Learning Objectives:
- To strengthen the academic community and creating opportunities for intellectual engagement and critical thinking;
- To encourage depth in learning through carefully selected common readings that pose multiple or differing perspectives and questions;
- To establish a stimulating environment that is both informal and structured, setting a tone for engagement among our faculty, staff, students, and community.
The Big Reveal of the AY 2020-21 Reader Selection:
Academic Year 2019-20 Reader Selection
"Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream" by Joshua Davis
This year’s reader charts the lives of four undocumented teens competing in a national underwater robotics competition. It intersects themes of immigration, education, technology, and citizenship. "Spare Parts" was a finalist for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and New York Times bestseller.
If you have any questions, please contact the planning committee chair, Dr. Anne Gessler, at Gessler@uhcl.edu.
- Spring 2020 Schedule of Events
-
Friday, February 7
Spare Parts: Diversity, Inclusion
and Ethical TechnologyB1215, 9-10:30am
In collaboration with Continuing
Education and Dr. Nicholas Kelling -
Saturday, February 8
Underwater Dreams Film Screening and Robotics Demo
Garden Room | 7-10pm -
Tuesday, March 3A Conversation with Spare
Parts’s Lisa Spence and Special
Guests: Women in STEMForest Room | 12-1:30pm
In collaboration with Women’s and
Gender Studies, WSSA, and SDEI -
Tues., March 17 Online via Zoom
Demita Frazier, JD
INTRODUCTION TO
Radical Black Feminist History -
Wed., March 18 Online via Zoom
Demita Frazier, JD
Radical COALITION BUILDING THROUGH
Collective Organizing -
RESCHEDULED FOR FALL 2020
Deliberative Dialogue: DACA
In collaboration with Dr. Se Hyoung Yi and Conference for Research and Creative Arts
-
Thursday, April 28 1-2 p.m. Online Via Zoom
Common Reader’s Big Reveal
In collaboration with The Office of the President, Office of the Dean of Students, and the Conference for Research and Creative Arts
Special Accommodations
Any person needing an accommodation for a disability in order to participate should contact Dr. Anne Gessler at 281-283-3471 or Gessler@uhcl.edu at least one week prior to the event to arrange for the accommodation.