Dear Deans of Faculties and Heads of Schools,

We are pleased to announce that READ@PolyU, the campus-wide common reading programme for the University will be initiated in September this year.

• The Common Book
  Following campus-wide consultation, we are pleased to announce that The Kite Runner by Dr. Khaled Hosseini has been selected as the common book for 2011/12, to be read by all new students of full-time undergraduate studies starting in September 2011. A free copy of this book will be distributed to all freshmen in September 2011.
  
  
• Recruitment of Facilitators
  We are now starting the recruitment of facilitators for the programme, and would like to invite interested staff members and students to take up the role of facilitators who would run discussion sessions to help engage students in reading the common book.



Schedule for Discussion Sessions
Discussion sessions will run from 19 Sept – 11 Nov 2011. During this period, each staff facilitator will be asked to run four discussion sessions (1-hour each), for a group of around 10-15 students. These sessions would take place in the collaborative learning space in the revitalised Library, the Centre for Independent Language Learning (A305), or any other suitable venue. The exact format of the discussion sessions is for facilitators to determine in accordance with their individual preferred approach and style.

Training for Facilitators
There will be a reception for facilitators in the period 1-9 Sept 2011, during which an overview of the READ@PolyU together with a training package will be given to each facilitator. This will be followed by two optional one-hour training sessions.

Incentives
Staff facilitators will receive a letter of appreciation, while student facilitators (who will work in partnership with staff facilitators) will be issued Co-curricular Achievement Transcript (CAT). Facilitators will also receive book vouchers to the value of HK$500.

In this regard, could we ask for your help in the following:


• Participation
  Would you kindly disseminate the email message and encourage your colleagues to participate in this campus-wide initiative.
  
  Interested Faculty members, administrative staff members, as well as retired staff members are asked to complete the REPLY FORM and send it to Christina Chau, eLearning Librarian at lbcwchau@inet.polyu.edu.hk (Tel: x.6872)
  
  
• Faculty-based Activities Around the Reading
  We would also like to invite each Faculty/School to come up with ideas for faculty-based activities around the reading, which would provide a valuable opportunity for Faculty-student engagement.
  
  
• ACT Now
  We look forward to receiving feedbacks from you and your colleagues by 31 May 2011. Upon confirmation of the discussion sessions, we shall send to each facilitator a complimentary copy of The Kite Runner as well as a confirmation letter in June, with details on the reception and training sessions for reference.

Your support and participation in this pioneering campus-wide initiative are very much appreciated.

With best wishes,