This international honor was bestowed by the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, an organization that sets the standards for best practices in WAC and WID programs.
Media Contact: Robby Piazzaroli, rpiazzaroli@fairfield.edu, 203-254-4000 x2597
Fairfield University's commitment to Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and Writing in the Disciplines (WID) has been recognized once again with the prestigious Exemplary Established WAC Program Award. This international honor was bestowed by the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum, an organization that sets the standards for best practices in WAC and WID programs. Fairfield's undergraduate Core Writing Program, directed by Kimberly Gunter, PhD, has demonstrated exceptional dedication to empowering students and faculty through transformative writing experiences, earning them this year's recognition.
The Association for Writing Across the Curriculum commended Fairfield University's Core Writing Program for aligning seamlessly with the values of a Jesuit education. The Jesuit tradition places significant emphasis on preparing students to become lifelong learners, encouraging curiosity, and fostering critical thinking. The WAC program at Fairfield University aligns with these principles by teaching students that writing is not a one-size-fits-all process but rather an art that must be tailored to diverse audiences and situations. This approach allows students to develop their voices and articulate their thoughts in impactful ways, embodying the essence of Jesuit education.
One of the cornerstones of the WAC program at Fairfield is the incorporation of "Threshold Concepts of Writing Studies." These concepts challenge learners to view traditional writing notions through a new lens and provoke transformative shifts in their perception of writing processes and products. For instance, the concept that "All writing is genre writing" encourages students to recognize that every written text fall within a specific genre, enabling them to make deliberate decisions about how to adapt their writing style according to the situation.
Over the past several years, Fairfield has successfully transitioned from a traditional composition model based in literature to a culture of writing that spans across various disciplines and faculty interests. With over 179 WAC- and WID-designated courses offered since 2019, involving 32 departments and programs across four schools or colleges, Fairfield has significantly impacted its campus writing culture and successfully transformed into a vertical and writing across the curriculum model.
“Fairfield has brought the Core Writing Program into the heart of best practices and theoretical framing within the field of Writing Studies,” the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum stated in the award description. “They have succeeded in a very difficult transition from a model of composition based in literature into one that serves students across the curriculum and builds a culture of writing across diverse faculty interests and expertise.
Fairfield University's WAC/WID Signature Element continues to lead the way in promoting faculty development, offering a variety of WAC programming that supports instructors through single-day sessions, extensive workshops, and sustained engagement with WAC Faculty Fellows. Inviting renowned scholars in writing studies to facilitate faculty development sessions, including recent focuses on linguistic justice in writing pedagogy, further enhances the program's impact.
As an enduring writing program for undergraduates, Fairfield exemplifies the characteristics of Sustainable WAC programs. The incorporation of threshold concepts of writing studies into the curriculum has allowed for the development of a vertical writing program that serves students throughout their academic journey. With an institutional commitment to the value of teaching writing, Fairfield University demonstrates a dedication to fostering a thriving writing culture on its campus.
Posted On: September 19, 2023
Volume: 55 Number: 18
Fairfield University is the modern Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.