History 

The Connecticut Writing Project was started in 1982 in the English Department at the University of Connecticut by Professors Bill Rosen, Bill Sheidley, and Bill Curtin. Its goal was, and still is, to improve the writing instruction of teachers at all levels of education and from all disciplines. Over 450 teachers have received Aetna Fellowships to attend CWP Summer Institutes, and thousands more have benefited from its professional development services in schools and its writing programs for students.

Check out this interview on Education Matters where our director, Jason Courtmanche, talks about the Connecticut Writing Project-Storrs and the work we do here.

Donations Needed

In order to ensure the continuing success of the Connecticut Writing Project, the UCONN College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the UCONN Alumni Association and the UCONN Foundation celebrated the 30th anniversary with a fundraising effort to benefit the CWP and its teachers. The goal is to establish a $25,000 endowment that will allow the Connecticut Writing Project to maintain and expand the programs at the core of its mission to help teachers be better teachers of writing. Dr. Carol Virostek, Connecticut's Teacher of the Year in 1989, shared a little about her experience and why she chose to donate:

"The Summer Institute in 1993 and my Aetna Fellowship made a profound impact on my life, both personally and professionally, for which I will always be grateful. I just wanted you to know that my recent donation to the CWP is a small way of expressing my appreciation to all of you. The CWP literally changed my life. Keep up the great work."