WSU Invites Nominations for Common Reading Book Selection for 2025–26 Academic Year
The Washington State University Common Reading Program has opened nominations through April 22 for the 2025–26 book to be used by first-year and other students in classes and programming.
“Any and every book that is interesting and would be of academic relevance to our undergraduates could be a nomination possibility,” said Karen Weathermon, director of the First-Year Experience, of which the Common Reading Program is a part. “We receive outstanding nominations from faculty, staff, and the WSU community every year and look forward to a similar strong pool for the selection committee to consider this year.”
Common reading books have impacted thousands of students since the program began in 2007. Selected books have covered a myriad of subjects, such as the 1918 flu pandemic, science knowledge for public leaders, refugee policies, trash and waste matters, and issues surrounding use of the HeLa immortal cell line.
The current common reading, Braiding Sweetgrass, is the first book used for two successive years and will close its covers in May. For the 2024–25 academic year, How the Other Half Eats, a book nominated in 2023, will be in use throughout the WSU system. The nominations being requested this spring will be considered for the 2025–26 academic year. A new earlier nomination schedule implemented last year allows for earlier selection and planning for the new book.
Nominations must provide a moderate amount of information, such as how the book applies to a broad range of disciplines and connects readers to existing university research, civic engagement ideas, and global initiatives. And, how many pages does it have, whether it’s available in paperback, and whether it’s a realistic read for first-year students.
All nominations will be evaluated by members of an interdisciplinary, cross-campus selection committee. A short list of top candidates is forwarded to the university provost and executive vice president to make the final selection. The chosen book is often used at more than one campus.
The 2025–26 book will be the 18th in the program. Topics from each book are used in classes to stimulate academic discussions and add critical thinking and new ideas to the student-learning environment. Beyond classrooms, programming around each book allows for guest expert and faculty lectures, films, and a wide variety of special events to further the learning experience.