Popular Searches

Introduction to Western Connecticut State University

History

Western Connecticut State University, founded in 1903, is located in Danbury, a city in Fairfield County in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, 65 miles north of Manhattan and 50 miles west of Hartford.

WCSU’s rural 364-acre Westside campus complements its 34-acre, 15-building Midtown campus in the heart of downtown Danbury.

The university continuously updates its academic offerings to ensure that students have access to courses that will not only provide a basis in the liberal arts but also employment opportunities after graduation.

Mission

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society.

To achieve this, we:

  1. Offer undergraduate and graduate programs that weave together liberal arts and professional education and instill a desire for life-long learning.
  2. Sustain a vibrant, inclusive campus that connects individuals through co-curricular programs, cultural events, and service to the community.
  3. Attract student-centered faculty who are passionate teachers and accomplished scholars.
  4. Establish partnerships that create opportunities for internships, research and experiential learning.

Fulfilling the Mission

WCSU offers a variety of opportunities and support systems to ensure every student can succeed and thrive.

The Kathwari Honors Program coordinates the highest level of challenging academic courses across all disciplines. Honors students also gain face-to-face access to noted figures in the arts, sciences, business and world affairs such as the 14th Dalai Lama, ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall and Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, who have all spoken on campus.

In numerous consecutive years, the Theatre Arts Department has won top national awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, including Outstanding Production of a Musical twice. The program has also earned multiple Broadway World awards.

WCSU is a place where you can reach any academic goal. For example, six students in recent years have been awarded prestigious Fulbright scholarships to conduct research or teach overseas. Nursing graduates pass the state licensing exam at an almost 100 percent rate nearly every year. WCSU students score among the highest pass rates for the CPA exam among Connecticut universities. The Career Success Center is prepared to work with you from your first year at WCSU to offer internships, resume writing advice and career guidance.

Organization

The WCSU Division of Academic Affairs comprises four academic units: the Ancell School of Business, the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Professional Studies and the School of Visual, Performing and Communication Arts. All undergraduate and graduate programs are offered through the four schools.

The Office of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs oversees a diverse range of programs and services to meet the needs and interests of all students. These include AccessAbility Services; athletics, campus ministry; community service; commuter student services; counseling, drug and alcohol abuse prevention; Greek life, Health Services, Housing and Residence Life; Judicial Affairs; pre-collegiate programs; recreation, intramurals and club sports; student life, university police; and Veterans Affairs. Through its various offices, the division helps students to become aware of their opportunities, optimize their performance, enrich their college experience and ensure protection of their rights and responsibilities.

Facilities

Here at Western Connecticut State University the Facilities Division’s mantra is to build an innovative customer-driven environment which focuses on student satisfaction, high levels of service and efficiencies, and timely responses for deliverables.

Our mission is simple: deliver a safe, sustainable, and functional campus environment.

The Facilities Division is made up of Facilities Operations, Facilities Planning & Engineering, and the WestConnect Card Office. Each of these diverse areas provide a high level of value to our students, Faculty/Staff, and the University’s visitors on a daily basis.

To learn more about Facilities initiatives and services, policies and procedures, university Standards, sustainability efforts, and innovative solutions to everyday questions please feel free to visit us at http://www.wcsu.edu/facilities/

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT NOTICE  (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their Education Records. Under FERPA, eligible students have the right to access their education records maintained by the postsecondary institution regardless of whether they are also enrolled in a secondary institution.  Parents retain FERPA rights to access their child’s education records maintained by a secondary school until the student turns 18.  These parental rights remain in effect for the purpose of accessing secondary school records even if the student is concurrently enrolled in college.  For the purpose of accessing postsecondary education records, FERPA rights transfer from the parents to the student once the student is enrolled and in attendance at the postsecondary institution. These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review student’s education records within 45 days after the day the College or University receives a request for access.
    Students should submit to the appropriate official as identified by the institution, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The college or university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the college or university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the Student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. The right to request amendment of the student’s education record that the student believes is inaccurate. 
    Students may ask an appropriate college or university official as identified by the institution, to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading or a violation of the student’s right to privacy. However, this right is not intended to provide a process to question substantive judgments that are correctly recorded. Consequently, amendment requests do not allow a student to contest a grade in a course because the student believes that a higher grade should have been assigned.To request amendment of an education record, the student should contact the official identified by the institution as responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record to be changed and specifying why it is inaccurate. The institution will notify the student of the decision. If the institution decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, a college or university official will advise the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to provide written consent before the College or University discloses Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
    CSCU institutions shall obtain the prior consent of the student before disclosing PII contained in the student’s education records, EXCEPT to the extent that this policy authorizes disclosure without consent.For additional details on FERPA exceptions to the requirement for consent, see Disclosure of Student Information Without Prior Consent below.
  4. The right to refuse to permit the College or University to release Directory Information (opt out) about the student, except to school officials with a legitimate educational interest and others as indicated in paragraph 3 above. To do so, a student exercising this right must notify the university’s or college’s registrar, in writing. Once filed, this notification becomes a permanent part of the student’s record until the student instructs the university or college, in writing, to remove it. Communication in writing includes university issued email and completion of digital forms provided by the institution for this purpose.A student may exercise their right to opt out of the release of directory information, prohibiting disclosure of the Student’s information without the Student’s consent as noted in section 3.
  5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) concerning alleged failures by colleges or universities to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The USDE has a website with informational videos and a complaint form with instructions at https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

    U.S. Department of Education
    Student Privacy Policy Office
    400 Maryland Avenue, SW
    Washington, DC 20202-8520

Disclosure of Student Information Without Prior Consent

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, regulations require the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures.

Except in the case of a lawful judicial order or subpoena, a postsecondary institution has sole discretion and may choose to disclose PII from education records without obtaining prior written consent of students for these authorized purposes:

  • School officials with Legitimate Educational Interests.
    To other School Officials, whom the college or university has determined to have Legitimate Educational Interests.
  • Transfer of enrollment
    To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
  • Audit or Evaluate Publicly Funded Education Programs. 
    To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a state postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State- supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf.
  • Financial Aid
    The college or university may disclose education records that are not classified as Federal Tax Information (FTI) in connection with financial aid for which the Student has applied or which the Student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
  • Limited Studies
    To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction.
  • Accrediting Organizations
    To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
  • Judicial orders and subpoenas
    To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
  • Emergencies
    To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36. (§ 99.31(a)(10))
  • Directory Information
    Directory information, as defined by this policy, is FERPA protected information that may be disclosed at the discretion of the college or university.
  • Victims of a crime
    To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding.
  • Disciplinary proceedings
    To the general public, the final results of a disciplinary proceeding, subject to the requirements of § 99.39, if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against him or her.
  • Violation of law
    To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of 21.

Approved by the Board of Regents March 19, 2026 (Policy Number 2.02)

Alumni Association

The Alumni Association of Western Connecticut State University, founded in 1919, promotes the general welfare of the university. The board of directors comprises 21 directors (includes five officers) and Life members who meet regularly to discuss and plan future activities of the association.

All graduates are members of the Alumni Association for life with borrowing privileges at both the Ruth A. Haas and Robert Young Libraries, use of computers in the Haas Library, and special discounts at local and nationwide businesses. All alumni receive The Cupola magazine, insurance and credit card discount offers, career services through the Career Success Center, alumni locator service, and invitations to special alumni receptions and events, including Homecoming.

Scholarships are awarded each year by the Alumni Association to students who meet academic requirements and show evidence of extracurricular involvement in the university and the community.

The Alumni Association keeps alumni connected to their alma mater. As a graduate of Danbury Normal School, Danbury State Teachers College, Danbury State College, Western Connecticut State College or Western Connecticut State University, alumni are part of campus history and the future of the university.