Supporting a New Home for the Writing Studies Community

Shawn Bowers

I echo the sentiments of many scholars and colleagues— it’s time to find or make a new home that is equipped to foster our growth.

Brian Cooe

To best support our student-writers and on behalf of the burgeoning, cutting-edge field, let us find our voice in the rhetorical exigence of this defining moment and embrace the change.

Supporter

Yes! Let's do it.

Laura Micciche

From this painful experience, I believe we can collectively build something better, an organization that respects and values our interests, voices, and diverse skill sets. It's scary but also very exciting!

Joseph Eng

I don't think I could ever have a career as a writing specialist and as a university-wide WPA without the the support of the CCCC. As a retiree now, I still remember all of presentation opportunities and of course the helpful sessions and workshops from which I benefited immensely.

Joan Mullin

I agree with others who point to the NCTE/CCCC history and see this as an opportunity. I am hopeful that those central to creating a new organization will not replicate what is out of date and unreflective of __writing studies__, disentangling our identity and name from the box in which NCTE had placed us for too many years.

Charissa C

I am optimistic for a CCCC that continues to strengthen the bonds between institutional types to ultimately serve who matters most: our students.

Jill Dahlman

For generations of composition scholars, it is not uncommon to see the field shoved to the recesses of dark places. Are we truly back there again? Apparently so. Composition studies is not the same as "College English." I would have thought that this would be obvious at this time. Apparently not. I support giving writing studies its own place in the sun with an organization that values writing and the scholarly work surrounding it.

Elise Dixon

The CCCC has served as a disciplinary home for myself and so many others. I look forward to seeing what we as a community are able to create together apart from NCTE.

Melissa Keith

The field of writing studies deserves an organizational home not dictated by others outside of our areas of expertise.

Tom Deans

Let's build it

Lynn Lewis

Listening to constituents is a key skill NCTE does not appear to believe in. Writing studies scholars, on the contrary, know listening (especially rhetorical listening) is essential.

Elena Kallestinova

I am hopeful that this change is for the better: CCCC is a strong organization and will become even stronger if it continues as an independent organization.

Michael MacDonald

Independence from NCTE is the only way forward

Barbara Gleason

We need a new writing studies organization, preferably a stand-alone organization outside NCTE or MLA.

Frankie Condon

Signing because the future of the largest international organization of composition, communication, and rhetoric teacher-scholars in the world, should be determined by its members, not by folks who are neither experts in our disciplines nor respectful of our members.

Julie Gamberg

The Conference on College Composition and Communication has been instrumental to the evolution of writing studies and to me personally in understanding and applying writing studies scholarship that has been life altering for so many students at the community college where I teach.

Witt Salley

I am signing because NCTE’s decision and its handling have undermined the trust responsible stewardship requires. As an adjunct writing professor and public librarian, I support a transparent, accountable, and independent professional home that values disciplinary expertise and makes meaningful room for all who teach, study, and support writing across institutions and communities.

Elizabeth Baddour

This unexpected but welcome divorce of two incompatible entities affords our field the opportunity to surge ahead apart from the encumbrance of a so called “partner” in NCTE who, bent on serving its own selfish interests, summarily cut us loose. Thanks! Let’s forge new ground in continuing to be a lodestar for future scholars who, like me, have long looked to the Cs for writing insights, paradigms, and research to enhance our own understanding of our complex and ever changing fascinating field.

Heather McGovern

The relationship between NCTE and CCC was often somewhat complicated--from both sides. NCTE's actions in July 2026 have irrevocably broken my trust in it. We need to create something new--and can do that, build a new primary home, AND maintain a relationship with NCTE and its members.