Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), is founded on a 105 year old tradition as “A People’s University” that “changes lives by serving the people of the region, young and old, who otherwise would not have been able to benefit from a college education, and by serving as an integral part of the culture and intellectual life of the Danbury community” (Janik, 2002). WCSU is a comprehensive, regional, urban, public university located in Danbury, the seventh largest urban community in Connecticut. It is 60 miles north of New York City and 50 miles west of Hartford, with  an ethnically, linguistically (over 50 languages spoken), and socio-economically diverse population of 80,893 (2010 Census) and is one of fifteen districts designated as a high priority PK-12 urban school district.

WCSU has a long and distinguished history of preparing teachers to serve in Connecticut’s public schools, dating back to the University’s founding in 1903 as a two year normal school of 37 students. The normal school became Danbury State Teacher’s College in 1937 and offered Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education. In 1959 the institution became Danbury State College and granted the first Master of Science degrees in Elementary Education. In 1983 it was named Western Connecticut State University, a comprehensive four-year public university and joined its sister institutions in the state system (i.e., Eastern, Southern, Central).

The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 (via Public Act 11-48 as amended by Public Act 11-61), providing governance for the Connecticut State Universities, Connecticut Community Colleges, and Charter Oak State College (CT Regents bylaws). As seen in the WCSU Organizational Chart, WCSU’s President directly reports to the President of the Board of Regents.

In 2010 the WCSU Professional Education Unit responded to state directives by completing an extensive and progressive redesign of an elementary education program. This effort involved the Unit’s public school partners in the design of six embedded clinical experiences. Unfortunately, state budget problems brought this initiative to a halt. Legislation was passed in the Fall of 2012 that required a continuum of four clinical experiences in teacher preparation programs, with draft standards released and approved in Spring 2013.

Concurrent with Connecticut’s budgetary shortfall and curtailed state university funding, a leadership void occurred, with the provost and all but one of the academic deans departing. These positions have since been filled or, in the case of the graduate dean position, eliminated. The new dean for the School of Professional Studies, who is also Unit Head, was hired in AY 2012-2013.Budgetary constraints continue to be felt across the unit.

More than 110 years after its founding, WCSU’s mission, principles, and values remain essentially the same, serving as a living document for the university community. Embedded in WCSU’s mission are the central tenets of academic excellence, highly qualified faculty who are teacher-scholars, a diversified student body, a student-centered learning environment, and the liberal arts and professional preparation of graduates as committed, productive citizens and leaders in a global society who possess strong communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and informational literacy and technology skills for life-long learning.

Mission Statement

Western Connecticut State University serves as an accessible, responsive, and creative intellectual resource for the people and institutions of Connecticut. WCSU strives to meet the educational needs of a diversified student body through instruction, scholarship, and public service. The university aspires to be a public university of choice. The principles and values of the University Mission guide these endeavors.