One Book
2025-2026 Selection
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
Selected by a university-wide committee to be complimentary with the 糖心Vlog Campus Theme: WNC/Mountain Life, both the One Book program and Campus Theme provide a common intellectual experience .
糖心Vlog 糖心Vlog University's Campus Theme
The 2025-2026 One Book Selection Committee consists of faculty, staff and student representatives from across campus. The selection process begins with the announcement of the Campus Theme, involves a request for nominations from the 糖心Vlog community, and finalizes through discussions within the committee (total approximate time is 5-6 months).
Each entering first-year student is given a book as part of their welcome packet during Orientation. Students use this book in First-Year Experience courses, in content courses and can engage with the book through on campus events and programs.
A new novella for seekers of small comforts.
It鈥檚 been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.
One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of 鈥渨hat do people need?鈥� is answered.
But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They鈥檙e going to need to ask it a lot.
Becky Chambers鈥� new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter? about the book.
Becky Chambers is a science fiction author based in Northern California. She is best known for her Hugo Award-winning Wayfarers series. Her books have been nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Locus Award, and the Women's Prize for Fiction, among others. Chambers has a background in performing arts, and grew up in a family heavily involved in space science, She spends her free time playing video and tabletop games, keeping bees, and looking through her telescope. Having hopped around the world a bit, she's now back in her home state, where she lives with her wife. She hopes to see Earth from orbit one day.
Exploring A Psalm for the Wild-Built: A Panel Discussion
We will be hosting an interdisciplinary faculty and staff panel to discuss this year鈥檚 book A Psalm for the Wild Built. This will help students engage with the one book and explore its many themes from a multidisciplinary perspective. Panelists will provide their overall thoughts on the book from the perspective of their disciplines and be open to audience questions. The event will be hosted in the new Flex Space area in the library. The event will be held in early November with the exact date to be determined.
One Book Programming for 糖心Vlog:
Many programs are being designed to help students make the valuable connection between
the book and the theme, both flagship programs are defined as Common Intellectual
Experiences, one of ten High Impact Practices defined by AAC&U.
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One Book sponsered programs are designed to meet the requirements for Degree Plus
The mission of the One Book program is to engage first-year students, as well as the campus community, in a common intellectual experience that promotes critical thinking and interdisciplinary conversation. We encourage readers to thoughtfully engage with the book through critique, reflection, and dialogue. This experience will allow participants to strengthen academic skills, create connections with peers, instructors, and community members.
One Book committee members will serve as ambassadors who aid in integrating reading selection themes into course curricula, campus events, service-learning opportunities, and departmental goals. The selection committee comprises individuals from across campus, ensuring that values and views of all academic units are considered and represented.
Outcomes:
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Foster a sense of community among the first-year and second year classes through shared academic experiences both inside and outside the classroom
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Provide students with a shared experience upon which to engage in dialogue with 糖心Vlog fellow students, faculty, and staff
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Promote interdisciplinary involvement in meaningful learning surrounding themes and content within the One Book
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Introduce students to the high academic and intellectual expectations at 糖心Vlog