{"id":40,"date":"2012-06-04T14:18:16","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T14:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad2627252624251213\/introduction-to-westconn\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T09:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T13:49:08","slug":"introduction-to-western","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/ugrad\/introduction-to-western\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Western Connecticut State University"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

WCSU\u2019s rural 364-acre Westside campus complements its 34-acre, 15-building Midtown campus in the heart of downtown Danbury.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mission<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

To achieve this, we:<\/p>\n

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

    Fulfilling the Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

    WCSU offers a variety of opportunities and support systems to ensure every student can succeed and thrive.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Organization<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Facilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Here at Western Connecticut State University the Facilities Division\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Our mission is simple: deliver a safe, sustainable, and functional campus environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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\/<\/a><\/p>\n

    FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT NOTICE \u00a0(FERPA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n

    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. \u00a0Parents retain FERPA rights to access their child\u2019s education records maintained by a secondary school until the student turns 18. \u00a0These parental rights remain in effect for the purpose of accessing secondary school records even if the student is concurrently enrolled in college. \u00a0For 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:<\/p>\n

      \n
    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.<\/strong>
      \nStudents 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.<\/li>\n
    2. The right to request amendment of the student\u2019s education record that the student believes is inaccurate.\u00a0<\/strong>
      \nStudents 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\u2019s 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.<\/li>\n
    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.<\/strong>
      \nCSCU institutions shall obtain the prior consent of the student before disclosing PII contained in the student\u2019s 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\u00a0      Disclosure of Student Information Without Prior Consent<\/a>\u00a0below.<\/li>\n
    4. The right to refuse to permit the College or University to release Directory Information (opt out)<\/strong>\u00a0about 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.<\/li>\n
    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. \u00a0<\/strong>The USDE has a website with informational videos and a complaint form with instructions at\u00a0https:\/\/studentprivacy.ed.gov\/file-a-complaint<\/a>. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:\n

      U.S. Department of Education
      \nStudent Privacy Policy Office
      \n400 Maryland Avenue, SW
      \nWashington, DC 20202-8520<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      <\/a>Disclosure of Student Information Without Prior Consent<\/strong><\/p>\n

      FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students\u2019 education records, without consent of the student if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in \u00a7 99.31 of the FERPA regulations.<\/strong>\u00a0Except 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.<\/p>\n

      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:<\/p>\n