College of DuPage Writing Program wins national award

College of DuPage's Professional Writing Certificate program recently received the Diana Hacker Outstanding Programs in English Award from the National Two-Year College English Association of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Sponsored by TYCA and textbook publisher Bedford/St. Martin's, the annual award honors two-year college teachers and their colleges for exemplary programs that enhance students' learning, helping them to achieve their educational, career and personal goals.

The award recognizes programs that reflect sensitivity to the needs of diverse students, possess innovative strategies for improving student learning and demonstrate evidence of positive student outcomes.

"We're thrilled to be recognized by this distinction," said Associate English Professor Steven Accardi. "It demonstrates that the college's Writing Studies program both represents the current trends in rhetoric and writing but also leads the nation in how we connect that academic knowledge with students and the community."

Offered through the college's Writing Studies program, the 18-credit Professional Writing Certificate program teaches students to communicate effectively to a variety of professional audiences, including business, government, health care, industry, nonprofit and technology.

Formed in 1911, the NCTE is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts from kindergarten through college through the Ph.D. level.

A group within the NCTE, TYCA brings together teachers committed to the teaching and study of English in two-year college and advancing the profession, as well as providing a national voice for two-year colleges.

Accardi said that what sets COD's program apart from other colleges is the integration of the curriculum with the Writing Professionally lecture series and the program's advisory board.

"Students see their coursework and interests reflected in the lecture series," he said. "The panelists from the lecture series join our advisory board, which provides feedback to our students and our program. This innovative strategy of coordinating students, professors and professionals improves student learning, strengthens our program and benefits our community."

Learn more about the Professional Writing Certificate program at www.cod.edu/academics/programs/english/.