The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC, often referred to as "Four Cs" or "Cs") was a national professional association of college and university writing instructors in the United States. The CCCC formed in 1949 as a conference of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). CCCC was the largest organization dedicated to writing research, theory, and teaching worldwide. The association was an active organization within NCTE from its formation until 2026. The decision to de-charter CCCC, which resulted in swift and critical pushback from its members, was announced by NCTE on July 20, 2026.
Publications The CCCC currently publishes the following journals: College Composition and Communication, the Studies in Writing and Rhetoric Series, and FORUM: Issues About Part-Time and Contingent Faculty. Previously, the CCCC also published Bibliography of Composition and Rhetoric, from 1984 to 1999.
College Composition and Communication (CCC) is a quarterly journal that seeks to promote scholarship, research, and the teaching of writing at the collegiate level. Back issues can be accessed through the CCCC website. The CCCC also publishes the College Composition and Communication Online (CCC Online) journal, which focuses on Web-based text and digital research, and their website offers the CCC Online Archive, a tool that can be used to search the CCC.
The CCCC co-publishes the Studies in Writing and Rhetoric (SWR) book series with WAC Clearinghouse, which focuses on researching the history of teaching and studying writing and rhetoric, as well as highlighting the diversity of the members involved in these communities.
FORUM: Issues About Part-Time and Contingent Faculty is published twice a year and can be found in CCC and Teaching English in the Two-Year College (TETYC). Publishing about the realities and perspectives of professionals involved in the field of college composition is the journal's focus.
From 1984 to 1999, the CCCC published Bibliography of Composition and Rhetoric. An archive to its content is linked to by the CCCC website and hosted on ibiblio.
Conferences
Annual convention CCCC holds an annual convention, which usually has over 3000 members in attendance.Chen, Chen. Enacting a Networked Disciplinarity of Rhetoric and Composition Across Disciplinary Social Spaces. 2018. North Carolina State University, PhD Dissertation. https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.20/35240/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y The location of the convention and convention chair changes from year to year. The convention is primarily made up of scholarly panels, featured speakers, committee meetings, special interest group meetings, and workshops. An additional part of the convention is the Research Network Forum (RNF) -- a round-table venue where novice and experienced researchers gather to present works-in-progress, discuss methodologies, and share possible future projects—which has been called the "unofficial mentoring arm of CCCC."Gorelick, Risa. (2017). “The Missing Piece: Where is the Labor-Related Research at the Research Network Forum?” In Randall McClure, Dayna V. Goldstein and Michael A. Pemberton (eds.) The State(ment) and Future of Work in Composition. Parlor Press. pp. 115-125. While Research Network Forum invites all researchers in Composition/Rhetoric/Writing Studies to submit a proposal, the Qualitative Research Network (QRN) focuses only qualitative research. In addition, the opening meeting of the convention usually features the CCCC Chair's Address, during which the convention chair addresses the entire assembly of participants, often articulating a vision of the field of rhetoric and composition.Duane Roen's collection Views From the Center: The CCCC Chair's Addresses 1977-2005, Bedford-St. Martin's 2006
Awards The convention is also the time when CCCC presents several yearly awards, including the Exemplar Award (which recognizes an individual who has served as an exemplar for the organization), Outstanding Book Award, Outstanding Teaching Award, Richard Braddock Award (for the most outstanding article in CCC), the Stonewall Service Award (which recognizes those who have consistently worked to improve the experiences of sexual and gender minorities within the organization and the profession), the James Berlin Memorial Outstanding Dissertation Award, Chair's Memorial Scholarship (for graduate students presenting at the convention), Writing Program Certificate of Excellence, in addition to several others, including a variety of awards supporting travel to the conference.
Prior conventions DateLocationThemeProgram ChairMarch 4-7, 2026Cleveland, OH"Conference and Our Conversations"Melissa IanettaApril 8-12, 2027Baltimore, MD "‘Computer Love’: Extended Play, B-sides, Remix, Collaboration, and Creativity” Kofi J. AdisaApril 3-6, 2024Spokane, WA "Writing Abundance: Celebrating 75 Years of Conversations about Rhetoric, Composition, Technical Communication, and Literacy"Jennifer Sano-FranchiniFebruary 15–18, 2023Chicago, IL”Doing Hope in Desperate Times”Frankie CondonMarch 9–12, 2022Scheduled for Chicago, IL but moved online due to Coronavirus"The Promises and Perils of Higher Education: Our Discipline’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Linguistic Justice"Staci M. Perryman-Clark April 7–10, 2021 Scheduled for Spokane, WA but moved online due to Coronavirus"We Are All Writing Teachers*: Returning to a Common Place"Holly HasselMarch 25–28, 2020 (Cancelled due to Coronavirus)Milwaukee, WI"Considering Our Commonplaces"Julie LindquistMarch 13–16, 2019Pittsburgh, PA"Performance-Rhetoric, Performance-Composition"Vershawn Ashanti YoungMarch 14–17, 2018Kansas City, MO"Languaging, Laboring, and Transforming" Asao B. InoueMarch 15–18, 2017 Portland, OR"Cultivating Capacity, Creating Change" Carolyn Calhoon-DillahuntApril 6–9, 2016Houston, TX"Writing Strategies for Action" Linda Adler-KassnerMarch 18–21, 2015Tampa, FL"Risk and Reward" Joyce Locke CarterMarch 19–22, 2014Indianapolis, IN"Open | Source(s), Access, Futures”Adam BanksMarch 13–16, 2013Las Vegas, NV"The Public Work of Composition"Howard TinbergMarch 21–24, 2012St. Louis, MO"Writing Gateways"Chris AnsonApril 6–9, 2011Atlanta, GA"All Our Relations: Contested Spaces, Contested Knowledge"Malea PowellMarch 17–20, 2010 Louisville, KY"The Remix: Revisit, Rethink, Revise, Renew"Gwendolyn D. PoughMarch 11–14, 2009 San Francisco, CA"Making Waves"Marilyn ValentinoApril 2–5, 2008New Orleans, LA"Writing Realities, Changing Realities"Charles BazermanMarch 21–24, 2007New York, NY"Representing Identities"Cheryl GlennMarch 22–25, 2006Chicago, IL"Composition in the Center Spaces: Building Community, Culture, Coalitions"Akua Duku AnokyeMarch 16–19, 2005San Francisco, CA“Opening the Golden Gates: Access, Affirmative Action, and Student Success”Judith WoottenMarch 24–27, 2004San Antonio, TX“Making Composition Matter: Students, Citizens, Institutions, Advocacy”Douglas D. HesseMarch 19–22, 2003New York, NY"Rewriting 'Theme for English B': Transforming Possibilities"Kathleen Blake YanceyMarch 20–23, 2002Chicago, IL“Connecting the Text and the Street”Shirley Wilson LoganMarch 14–17, 2001Denver, CO“Composing Community”John LovasApril 12–15, 2000Minneapolis, MN“Educating the Imagination: Reimagining Education”Wendy BishopMarch 24–27, 1999Atlanta, GA“Visible Students, Visible Teachers”Keith GilyardApril 1–4, 1998Chicago, IL“Ideas, Historias y Cuentos: Breaking with Precedent”Victor VillanuevaMarch 12–15, 1997Phoenix, AZ“Just Teaching, Just Writing: Reflection and Responsibility”Cynthia SelfeMarch 27–30, 1996Milwaukee, WI“Transcending Boundaries”Nell Ann PickettMarch 22–25, 1995Washington, D.C.“Literacies, Technologies, Responsibilities”Lester FaigleyMarch 16–19, 1994Nashville, TN“Common Concerns, Uncommon realities: Teaching, Research, and Scholarship in a Complex World”Jacqueline Jones RoysterApril 1–3, 1993San Diego, CA“Twentieth Century Problems, Twenty-First Century Solutions: Issues, Answers, Actions”Lillian Bridwell-BowlesMarch 19–21, 1992Cincinnati, OH“Contexts, Communities, and Constraints: Sites of Composing and Communicating”Anne Ruggles GereMarch 21–23, 1991Boston, MA“Times of Trial, Reorientation, Reconstruction: A Fin de Siecle Review/Prophecy”William W. CookMarch 22–24, 1990Chicago, IL“Strengthening Community Through Diversity”Donald McQuadeMarch 16–18, 1989Seattle, WA“Empowering Students and Ourselves in an Interdependent World”Jane E. PetersonMarch 17–19, 1988St. Louis, MO“Language, Self, and Society”Andrea A. LunsfordMarch 19–21, 1987Atlanta, GA"The Uses of Literacy: A Writer’s Work In and Out of the Academy”David BartholomaeMarch 13–15, 1986New Orleans, LA“Using the Power of Language to Make the Impossible Possible”Miriam T. ChaplinMarch 21–23, 1985Minneapolis, MN“Making Connections”Lee OdellMarch 29–31, 1984New York, NY“Making Writing the Cornerstone of an Education for Freedom”Maxine HairstonMarch 17–19, 1983Detroit, MI“The Writer’s World(s): Achieving Insight and Impact”Rosentene B. PurnellMarch 18–20, 1982San Francisco, CA“Serving Our Students, Our Public, and Our Profession”Donald C. StewartMarch 26–28, 1981Dallas, TX“Our Profession: Achieving Perspectives for the 1980s”James Lee HillMarch 13–15, 1980Washington, D.C.“Writing: The Person and the Process”Lynn Quitman TroykaApril 5–7, 1979Minneapolis, MN“Writing: A Cross-Disciplinary Enterprise”Frank D’AngeloMarch 30 – April 1, 1978Denver, CO“Excellence in What We Do: Our Attitude Toward Teaching Composition”William F. IrmscherMarch 31 – April 2, 1977Kansas City, KS“Two Hundred Plus One: Communicating in the Third American Century”Vivian I. DavisMarch 25–27, 1976Philadelphia, PA“What’s Really Basic? A Bicentennial Review of the Basic Issues of English”Richard Lloyd-JonesMarch 13–15, 1975St. Louis, MO“Untapped Resources”Marianna W. DavisApril 4–6, 1974Anaheim, CA“Hidden Agendas: What Are We Doing When We Do What We Do?”Lionel R. SharpApril 5–7, 1973New Orleans, LA“Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities”Richard L. LarsonMarch 23–25, 1972Boston, MA“Reconsidering Roles: What Are We About?”James D. BarryMarch 25–27, 1971Cincinnati, OH“Coming Together—SOS from the Darkling Plain”March 19–21, 1970Seattle, WAApril 17–19, 1969Miami, FLApril 4–6, 1968Minneapolis, MNApril 6–8, 1967Louisville, KYMarch 24–26, 1966Denver, COApril 8–10, 1965St. Louis, MOMarch 25–28, 1964New York, NY“Freshman English: Return to Composition”March 21–24, 1963Los Angeles, CA“The Content of the English Course”April 5–7, 1962Chicago, IL"What Is English?"April 6–8, 1961Washington, D.C.March 31 – April 2, 1960Cincinnati, OHApril 2–4, 1959San Francisco, CA"Tenth Annual Meeting"March 27–29, 1958Philadelphia, PAMarch 21–23, 1957Chicago, ILMarch 22–24, 1956New York, NYMarch 24–26, 1955Chicago, ILMarch 4–6, 1954St. Louis, MOMarch 13–14, 1953Chicago, ILMarch 28–29, 1952Cleveland, OHMarch 30–31, 1951Chicago, ILMarch 24–25, 1950Chicago, IL1949
Future conventions
2027 conference To be held April 14–17, 2027 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mission
The organization has the four following aims:
sponsoring meetings and publishing scholarly materials for the exchange of knowledge about composition, composition pedagogy, and rhetoric supporting a wide range of research on composition, communication, and rhetoric by individuals of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds working to enhance the conditions for learning and teaching college composition and to promote professional development acting as an advocate for the advancement of a holistic understanding of language and literacy education
Position statements