New Program Helps Honors Students Bond

While the summer may be quickly ending, it’s just the beginning for a unique summer reading program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

This year, the UNO Honors Program launched a new initative called “Common Reader” for the more than 100 incoming freshmen honors students.

Each student has been asked to read the book “The Boys in the Boat,” which details the Washington University rowing team’s challenges in moving toward the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, before New Student Convocation on Sunday, Aug. 23.

On the day of Convocation, which precedes the first day of classes, each of the Honors Program students will gather in small groups with select faculty discuss the book and pull lessons from the text.

“The goal is to start these students’ academic careers with a shared experience and shared dialogue in a way that the Honors Program can serve as a community and support system throughout their first year in college,” Honors Program Director Lucy Morrison said. “We chose this book because it is a true story of how young athletes, who were the same ages as our students, overcame adversity through personal struggles and teamwork.”

After discussing the book before Convocation, first-year students from the Honors Program will participate in monthly events alongside their peers. Events include attending a UNO women’s soccer game, participating in one of UNO’s Signature Service Days and a leadership workshop.

Additionally, a large number of faculty and administrators across the UNO campus have also read the book and will be able to provide insights and support for students outside of their interactions with the Honors Program.

Current Honors program students are also serving as student mentors for the incoming first-year students and are reading the book too.

“We understand that college can be a difficult transition for some, but we also understand that college is a commitment to grow personally and academically,” Morrison said. “Our faculty and staff are here to provide guidance and support to help our students achieve that goal.”

In future years, the goal is to expand the Common Reader program to other learning communities on the UNO campus.

Relevant Links
UNO Honors Program Website
Academic Learning Communities at UNO
Fall 2015 Durango Days Schedule

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Become a fan of UNO on Facebook: www.facebook.com/unomaha and follow UNO's Twitter updates at https://twitter.com/unomaha.