Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum at Kingsborough

 

Since its inception in 2000, the KCC WRAC Program has played an important role in fostering a culture of writing at Kingsborough. During this time, over 200 instructors have become certified to teach writing intensive course sections. Currently, over 130 Writing Intensive sections are offered to students each semester, enabling students to meet this important requirement to graduate by taking a WI class in a discipline of their choice. 

Our program is somewhat different from programs at other CUNY campuses. For one, we emphasize reading as well as writing across the curriculum, given our belief that the two are fundamentally connected (hence the name WRAC). Second, we don’t designate all sections of certain courses as writing intensive; instead, we certify faculty as competent to teach writing intensive sections and let them decide, in consultation with their Chairs, which of their courses to offer on a writing intensive basis. 

Faculty at Kingsborough may become certified in one of three ways (described below). After receiving certification, faculty earn a letter of appreciation from the Provost for their Tenure and Promotion file and credit for a contribution to the college. After becoming WRAC-certified, faculty can teach any writing intensive sections/courses (capped at 25 students) in consultation with their department. 

Certification Options: 

Option A. Seminar Certification: Faculty participate in a virtual seminar conducted on Brightspace over the course of the fall semester. There are two required synchronous meetings, held over Zoom, but the majority of the work is asynchronous, involving reading, reflection on their course and interacting with colleagues. Faculty going through the certification process submit a WRAC portfolio draft by late January, and arrange with their Department Chair to pilot a WI class during the spring semester. (Full-time faculty receive three credits of reassigned time for piloting their WI course; part-time faculty receive the equivalent, or 75 hours of NTA.) Faculty submit a final course portfolio after piloting their WI course.   

Option B. Self-Guided Asynchronous Certification: Participants who are not familiar with WRAC principles and have not applied WRAC principles to their courses can complete the Self-Guided Asynchronous Certification process as an alternative to the seminar. This option is fully asynchronous and independent. Participants will complete all the online seminar readings and assemble a certification course portfolio according to WRAC requirements. For option B, faculty must submit portfolios no later than January 20 to teach a WI course in the spring and no later than June  to teach a WI course in the fall. Faculty do not receive reassigned time, and do not have to pilot the course.  

Option C. Informed Self Certification: Participants who are familiar with WRAC principles and have already applied WRAC principles to their courses can complete the Informed Self Certification by assembling a certification course portfolio according to WRAC requirements. For option C, we ask that you submit portfolios no later than Jan 20 if you plan to teach a WI course in spring and no later than June 1 if you plan to teach a WI course in the fall. Faculty do not receive reassigned time, and do not have to pilot the course. 

For more information about the WRAC program, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the current coordinators: 

Michelle Gabay, Interim Seminar Coordinator, esther.gabay@kbcc.cuny.edu 

Alyse Johnson, Program Administration Coordinator, alyse.johnson@kbcc.cuny.edu 

Rachel Ihara, Assessment Coordinator, rachel.ihara@kbcc.cuny.edu 

(Note that Cheryl Hogue Smith will return from fellowship leave in fall 2027)