The (Inter)National WAC Network

The International Network of Writing-across-the Curriculum Programs (INWAC), established by Chris Thaiss as the "national" WAC Network, provided annual (and in many years, bi-annual) opportunities for members of the WAC community to meet, share ideas, and seek support at conferences, most notably special interest group meetings at the CCCC, NCTE, and IWAC conferences. On the Network web page on the WAC Clearinghouse, Thaiss described the Network as "an informal community of teachers, researchers, and institutions," all of whom were involved in some manner with WAC on a local, regional, national, or international basis (https://wac.colostate.edu/network/). With support from the Northern Virginia Writing Project as well as from members of the Network, an annual print directory was published from 1981 to 2005. In 2006, the Network entered into a partnership with the WAC Clearinghouse and the membership directory was distributed online. Eventually, the directory would grow to roughly 1,800 individuals. As part of the partnership, the Clearinghouse provided web space for information about the Network's Board of Consultants and partnered with it on publishing efforts.

When Thaiss stepped down as leader of the Network in 2015, Michelle Cox, Ann Ellen Geller, Jeff Galin, and Dan Melzer became its co-chairs. In addition to continuing the Network's activities, the group began a series of discussions with INWAC members and key stakeholders in the larger WAC community about forming a membership-based professional organization, laying the foundation for establishing the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum.

Video: Chris Thaiss discusses the origins of the National Network of Writing Across the Curriculum Programs (later the International Network). View the video at https://youtu.be/ETpCUgnoX8o.