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Los
Angeles City College is in its 6th year of the LACC Book Program,
wherein faculty, students, Staff and administrators read a book or books
during each academic year. Instructors have the option of incorporating
the text into their courses. The Book Program encourages creativity,
conversation, community, and interdisciplinary planning.
The program has
addressed the needs of faculty, support staff and management for
cultural and intellectual enrichment and for interaction with colleagues
across campus. It has provided a clear and obvious benefit to students
who are active participants in this interdisciplinary exchange. The
Book Program has also addressed the college’s commitment to diversity as
it explores different cultures and issues through reading and
discussion. Since it is a sub-committee of the college’s Staff and
Organizational Development Committee, there are some staff development
benefits to campus employees.
In the last 5 years, we
have developed a series of activities structured to kickoff the program,
introducing it to the campus followed by:
•Kick-off
•Roundtable discussions of the book: over a two day period
with time-specific sessions led by one or more discussion leaders.
•A Forum:
featuring a panel and an opportunity followed by a question and answer
session. Panelists have included authors, scholars, and members of the
Faculty and Staff from the College.
•Film
Screenings
•Author/Presentation: whenever feasible, LACC invites the author to the
campus with a reception and/or book signing following the presentation.
•Guest
Speakers: scholars are invited to speak from outside of the campus to
bring an additional perspective and/or voice to the year’s programming.
•English
Department Annual Writing Contest: a category of the contest requires a
critical essay on the work of focus for the year.
The LACC
Book Program has been received very positively by the campus. We have
had participation and support of the College Presidents and
Vice-Presidents, the Faculty, the Staff and the students. One of the
wonderful outcomes has been support, financially, from the LACC
Foundation. Through the outreach of one of the Deans of Academic
Affairs, the Book Program received a grant of $5000, supplemented by an
additional $1000 from the Board President. As a result of a
presentation made to the Foundation Board, a member became involved and
spearheaded a small fundraiser which grossed over $4600 in one evening.
He continues his interest and we will develop a plan to do some long
range fundraising. Finally with each year, interest seems to build all
over the campus in anticipation of the next selection.
All LACC
Book Program activities are video taped.
Back to LACC Book
Program Homepage |
