The Campus Council on Community and Diversity invites all members of the campus and greater Davis community to nominate books related to the topic of Native American/American Indian Culture for the 2011-2012 annual Campus Community Book Project (CCBP). With one of the few full-fledged Native American studies departments in the nation and to honor the American Indians who once lived on the land where UC Davis sits, the Council felt it is fitting to choose the topic as the CCBP observes its tenth anniversary. Recent discussions on the value and relevance of ethnic studies programs contribute to potential of this topic for engaging the University and greater community. As an educational institution, we endeavor to explore these dynamics and engage thoughtfully about an issue that impacts our lives, directly and indirectly, with the goal of building a community that promotes diversity.

The Campus Community Book Project aims to foster dialogue among students, faculty, staff, and residents of the surrounding areas about important social issues. It also promotes learning about varied perspectives and ideas concerning the chosen topic.

We welcome nominations of books that meet the criteria of being:

* compelling and thought provoking to stimulate dialogue about contemporary questions that have many possible answers;
* well-written and accessible to a general audience;
* short enough to be read within the time frame usually allotted for coursework;
* provocative and intriguing to as many members of the community as possible, to invite diverse participation and integration into discussion groups and courses across the sciences,
social sciences, and humanities.

Any published work that is still in print in paperback including non-fiction work, plays, novels, collections of short stories or essays is eligible. An additional consideration for recommended title is the possibility that the book's author will be available to speak as part of the Mondavi Center's Distinguished Lecture Series for the 2011-2012 season.

To make a nomination, contact Mikael Villalobos, Administrator of Diversity Education and Chair of the Campus Community Book Project at mbvillalobos@ucdavis.edu. Please include the book title and author, plus a short description and explanation of why this book represents a worthy selection. The CCBP Selection Committee will begin reviewing nominations in the middle of July, so book recommendations are requested by July 9, 2010.

If you are interested in serving on the CCBP Selection Committee, which will review the nominations, please contact Mikael Villalobos. The committee meets through the summer and more frequently in the fall as it proceeds to final selection.

The Campus Community Book Project is sponsored by the Office of Campus Community Relations, the Campus Council on Community and Diversity, and the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost.