On Monday, the Faculty Senate voted to approve adding a required Writing in the Discipline course to the general education curriculum, meaning all Central Connecticut State University students will need a second writing course to graduate. 

The plan requires all students to take an additional three credit writing course related to their field of study. Despite the Writing in the Discipline course being a general education requirement, it is expected to be achieved within a student’s field of study.

“It’s expected that this will be accomplished within the major and not require tons and tons of extra English 115 courses,” Ned Moore, chair of the Curriculum Committee, said.

For majors that already include a substantial amount of writing, the hope is to create a committee of people experienced in teaching writing to review courses related to the Writing in the Discipline requirement.

“We want to create a volunteer committee from people from across campus who have some experience teaching writing and some expertise there to review things the same way the EJI Committee reviews courses on equity, injustice and inclusion,” Moore said.

Departments will have a period of one year starting with the approval of the policy to create new courses or alter existing ones to meet the Writing in the Discipline requirement.

The Senate also approved the first significant changes to CCSU’s general education program since the 1990s, Faculty Senate President Fred Latour said.

Model 2, one of three possible changes, was approved by the Senate, becoming the new general education program. The model’s objective is to add three credits to free electives and combine curriculums such as math and science courses and skill areas two and three.

These changes won’t impact advising for the Fall 2024 semester, which begins in late March.

President Zulma R. Toro said she approved of the Model 2 choice and will now present the change to the Board of Regents.