WebAssign
| Company type | Employee-owned benefit corporation (until 2016), then subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Educational technology |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Aaron Titus, Larry Martin |
| Headquarters | Raleigh , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | John Risley (former CEO) |
| Products | Online homework platform |
| Parent | Cengage Learning (since 2016) |
WebAssign is a U.S.-based educational firm that offers an internet-based homework platform designed for both educators and learners.
Online instruction
As one of the multiple providers of digital homework solutions, WebAssign was developed and is maintained at North Carolina State University. Its primary purpose is to organize end-of-chapter textbook problems into databases, enabling instructors to create customized assignments. Access is granted to students through paid subscriptions, with fees dependent on the textbook and duration of access, generally falling between $15 and $70 per academic term.
History
The inception of WebAssign dates back to 1997 when Ph.D. candidate Aaron Titus and Larry Martin, a professor at North Park University, developed it within the Physics Department at NCSU. Initial trials took place in large enrollment courses at NCSU.
Officially introduced as a hosted subscription service in January 1998 under the leadership of physics education expert John Risley, WebAssign quickly became one of the most rapidly expanding spin-off ventures from NCSU. Input from instructors and students across disciplines such as physics, mathematics, statistics, and chemistry contributed to ongoing enhancements.
In 1998, the company was incorporated as Advanced Instructional Systems with Risley appointed CEO. It formally separated from NCSU in 2003 and moved operations to the university’s Centennial Campus.
By 2012, WebAssign transitioned into an employee-owned benefit corporation, combining commercial goals with a commitment to social responsibility.
The organization earned recognition as a finalist in the "Software Company" category at the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) 21 Awards, highlighting its innovation and excellence.
In September 2016, ownership of WebAssign was transferred to Cengage Learning.