Student Resources
- Student Advisement
- Recommended Sequence of Study
- Guidelines for Student Developed Studies
- Guidelines on Academic Integrity
- Student Organizations
- Beyond the Margins: An Online Art and Literature Magazine
- English Department Awards and Recent Recipients
Student Advisement
Once you declare English as your major, you will be assigned an academic advisor. While your advisor should make himself/herself available during office hours and other arranged times and provide accurate and up-to-date information, it is primarily your responsibility to initiate and maintain contact with your advisor to discuss course selections, academic progress, and other relevant topics. The purpose of this process is to ensure your success in the program.
The following tips will help make your meeting with your academic advisor most efficient, particularly if the meeting is for course selection purpose:
- Review your progress in your degree program by checking your transcripts (via the Internet) and your program sheet
- Go through the course offerings listed in the directory for the upcoming semester
- Pre-select the courses needed for your degree program
- Set up an appointment with your academic advisor (via email or telephone)
- Keep your appointment by showing up at the scheduled time
Recommended Sequence of Study (click to see the recommended sequence)
Guidelines for Student Developed Studies (click to see the guidelines)
Guidelines on Academic Integrity (per university catalogue)
A student has an obligation to demonstrate honesty in carrying out his/her academic assignments. You may be found guilty of violating this obligation if you plagiarize or cheat.
Definitions
1. Plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the work of others as your own. The “work of others” includes any work bought or borrowed from another student as well as work copied from a book, magazine, newspaper or other medium. Participation in another’s act of plagiarism is itself an act of plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, follow this advice from a research paper guide: “You should cite the source of every idea you have learned or formulated from your reading, whether you express the idea in your own words or quote the author directly. The use of two or more consecutive words from a source, when those words express the essence of a writer’s idea or involve distinctive phrasing, is considered a direct quotation and requires the use of quotation marks.” Any material used from another source, whether quoted or paraphrased, must be footnoted.1
2. Cheating. If you use material other than those approved by the instructor when taking a test, or if you give or receive information during an examination, you are guilty of cheating.
Student Organizations
The English Society
The purpose of the English Society is to encourage within the student body of WCSU an active interest in the arts, with an emphasis upon literature. The English Society officers and faculty advisors intend to promote scholarship, career advancement and cultural enrichment. Membership is open to all WCSU students. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the faculty advisor Dr. Donald P. Gagnon (203-837-9062/gagnond@wcsu.edu)
English Honor Society (Alpha Lambda Epsilon-ALE)
The department sponsors a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. Sigma Tau Delta's central purpose is to confer distinction upon students of the English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed at least three semesters of college work and a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. They must also have a minimum of 3.0 grade point average in English and rank at least in the highest 35 percent of their class in general scholarship. Students may contact the faculty advisor Dr. Donald P. Gagnon (203-837-9062/gagnond@wcsu.edu) for more information.
Beyond the Margins: An Online Literature & Art Magazine
A student run online art and literature magazine sponsored by the English Department and affiliated with the WestConn's English Society, Beyond the Margins" intends to explore new possibilities and add its voice to the always evolving, impalpable definitions of art and literature. Beyond the Margins provides a forum for the best writing being produced in the Connecticut State University System. Utilizing the latest technologies of our times, we intend to be cutting-edge, thought-provoking, superior to other web-zines, and above all, modest." The publication's recent editors are among the best and brightest of WestConn students. Valuable experience gained from working on the magazine has led to exciting career and educational opportunities, e.g., internship at W.W. Norton and admission to prestigious publishing graduate program at New York University and Pace University.
For more information, especially to get involved or to contribute/submit, please contact the magazine's editorial board directly (WCSUBeyondtheMargins@gmail.com) or its co-faculty advisor Dr. Shouhua Qi (qis@wcsu.edu).
English Department Awards
The English Department offers a number of awards for outstanding student achievements, as listed below:
Bigelow Paine Cushman Award:
Recognizes the most outstanding American Studies student in the current academic year.
Award: Certificate
Criteria: Academic achievement.
Steven Neuwirth American Studies Award.
Established to honor the memory of the late Dr. Stephen Neuwirth, co-founder of Western Connecticut State University’s American Studies Program, this annual award goes to the most outstanding essay written by an American Studies or American Studies/Elementary Education major in any class, regardless of length or discipline. Award: A certificate given at the annual awards convocation and a cash stipend of $100.
Submit entries or nominations to Dr. Margaret Murray, coordinator of American Studies.
John Tufts Prize:
Prize is given for the best piece of writing submitted to the English Department during the academic year.
Award: Certificate
Criteria: Academic achievement
John Eichrodt Prize:
Award is given for the best critical paper submitted by an undergraduate student during the school year.
Award: Certificate
Criteria: Academic achievement
Elizabeth Tulloch James Scholarship:
Scholarship is awarded each year to a Danbury area student who is currently a WCSU English Major and a junior in good standing. Recipient will have demonstrated outstanding performance in English courses in addition to potential for contributing to the field.
Award: Scholarship
Criteria: Academic achievement
Union Savings Bank Thomas Nolan Award:
The award may be granted to a full-time junior or senior in Education--PW program. Recipients should intend to initially pursue a career in teaching upon graduation and should have demonstrated a proficiency in writing.
Recent Recipients
2009-2010
Elizabeth Tulloch James Scholarship: Daniel Mortensen & Skylar Hamel
2008-2009
Elizabeth Tulloch James Scholarship: Stephanie Bisson & Sarah Murphy
John Tufts Prize: Anthony Sorge
John Eichrodt Prize: Jason Burger
Steven Neuwirth American Studies Award: Nathaniel Cullerton
Bigelow Paine Cushman Award: Schuyler Merritt
2007-2008
John Tufts Prize: Dusty Zima
John Eichrodt Prize: Lisa Cantoni
Steven Neuwirth American Studies Award: Joanna Vill
Bigelow Paine Cushman Award: Michelle Miska
[1] English majors document all sources in accordance with MLA style manual.
