Program: The Writing Across the Curriculum Program at CT State
Institution: Connecticut State Community College
Administrative Team:
- WAC Program Chair, Rachel Jasiczek
- Interim Director for the Office of Teaching and Learning, Forrest Helvie
Year Stated: 2021 at CT State Norwalk campus and expanded to the entire CT State system (all twelve campuses) in 2023
Program Website: Unfortunately, as a newly merged college system, the WAC Program does not yet have a website.
As a community college, CT State’s main mission is to provide a quality education for the diverse and historically underserved student populations through high-quality and innovative instructional methods and pedagogy. The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Program at CT State is underpinned by a set of imperative goals, each designed to enhance the professional learning of faculty and staff and, as a result, the educational experiences of students. The WAC Program promotes thinking through writing, recognizing it as an essential skill transcending disciplinary boundaries. It also supports educators in employing equitable grading practices in writing-enriched courses.
A key component of the WAC Program is the WAC Certification Course; the certification course introduces faculty and staff to WAC theory and practice and results in participants designing a WAC Certified Course. A prominent theme promoted throughout the course is how to reduce educational equity gaps through writing assignment design and assessment and metacognitive learning. Additionally, participants learn how to establish more inclusive classrooms through writing activities.
The WAC Program at CT State continues to expand and will soon support the needs of educators at the two-year college by offering a Reading Across the Curriculum Certification course starting in AY 24–25.