Reading Together
Project Description

Reading Together was born through the vision of Jane King, a member of the Eugene community, who has been a long time supporter of interdisciplinary studies at Lane. Her gift was made to Lane's Learning Communities Program, with the instruction that it be used for an inclusive, culturally enriching, community building project, which would give community college students experiences and opportunities not usually afforded to students who attend commuter-based, community colleges. The Learning Communities Leadership Team solicited suggestions from the college community, and after a thorough selection process, Reading Together was inaugurated.

Curricular Infusion

Faculty can choose to integrate the books to whatever degree and in whatever ways they choose. Since the chosen books are always interdisciplinary in nature, students encounter the books in courses which range across the sciences and humanities, including Performing and Visual Arts, Social Science, English, Health, and Science. Developmental writing, Adult Basic Education, and ESL faculty find that the books have been valuable in helping their highly transitional students develop a sense of themselves as members of a college community.

Courses which have infused one or both of the Reading Together books include Literature, Writing, Speech, Journalism, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Women’s Studies, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Science, Energy Management, Human Services, Health and PE, Global Health, Science, Workforce, Academic Learning Services, GED, ESL, First Year Experience, and Women in Transition.

Events and Offerings

• Extended college /local community visits by Reading Together authors
• Performing Arts productions in theatre and dance, based on or inspired by the RT books
• Visual Arts Shows of Reading Together inspired work
• A diverse range of Guest Speakers from our regional community
• Educational Forums attended by members of the entire campus community: students, classified employees, faculty, and managers
• Departmental activities, including discussion groups
• Video Series: Multi-Cultural Center, Women’s Center
• Lectures, facilitated discussions, and workshops presented by students, faculty and staff

Although Reading Together develops and sponsors new events, one of our central goals is to bring many of our existing programs and resources to the center of campus awareness. Through this project, we have become more aware of each other and the rich resources of our campus community.

A huge benefit of this project has been the collaboration that the very nature of the project creates with the larger area community. These connections form as a result of inviting guest speakers from the area to campus, collaborating on invited authors, and working on projects of mutual interest.