TYCA Northeast 60th
Annual Conference:
Celebrating 60 Years of TYCA NE

Conference Theme: Celebrating 60 Years of TYCA NE - Drawing from the Past to Design the Future of Two Year College English 

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Over the past six decades, community colleges have evolved amid shifting political, economic, and social forces while remaining a key access point to higher education. They have expanded opportunities, especially for marginalized students including low-income, first-generation, and students of color. However, funding disparities have strained resources, limiting growth and innovation. Despite these challenges, community colleges have adapted through online learning, targeted support, and industry partnerships, reinforcing their role in education and workforce development.

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English educators have been central to this evolution, advocating for student success and supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Teaching composition, literature, ESOL, and developmental writing, they have adapted to changing education models, from developmental courses to co-requisite programs that accelerate progress. Beyond literacy, they foster critical thinking, community engagement, and communication skills essential for academic and career success.

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The 60th Anniversary of TYCA NE takes us to New York City, a central location to the larger Northeast region, and a major contributor to the fight for equal access to education and linguistic justice in the classroom. We are excited to invite you to share your experiences over the years and to discuss how we can continue this fight moving forward.

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Topics for the conference may explore include (but are not limited to):

1. How can community colleges keep the door open to, and retain, students who want to succeed in college while they also juggle work, family, and community responsibilities? What innovations in wrap-around services and classroom practices support onboarding and retaining community college students? 

2. In light of the current political climate and threats to DEI initiatives, how can we continue to support students of color, first-generation students, and non-traditional students with the removal of programs and funding? 

3. What approaches exist for understanding the heterogeneity of multilingual students? What kinds of approaches and practical strategies support their academic literacy development? 

4. How is generative AI reshaping instruction, assessment, and student engagement in two-year college English courses? What new teaching strategies, tools, or approaches that enhance student engagement and success are being employed?

5. How can literature courses remain relevant, accessible, and engaging for students in an era of digital media and shifting curricular priorities? What are effective and fresh strategies for reaching the Gen Z population?

6. How do we honor tradition and recognize our roots? What time-tested methodologies are still used in the classroom and how can they continue to shape student learning today?

7. How can we help students become career-ready in our English courses? How do you harness writing, literature, and critical thinking activities to prepare students for professional and academic pathways? How can English courses align with career and technical education (CTE) pathways, emphasize workplace writing, digital literacy, and communication skills? 

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Presentations do not need to directly address this year’s theme, but they must connect to the broader ongoing themes of the Two-Year College English Association such as: 

• First-year writing

• Developmental education

• College reading

• Teaching English to speakers 

• of other languages

• Intermediate composition

• The role of contingent faculty

• Online teaching

• Literature & creative writing

• Writing centers and other learning assistance programs

• Program administration and innovation

• Community engagement

• Communications

• Linguistics

• Technical and/or business writing

• Professional development

• Teacher-scholar activism

• Teacher-training for a two-year college

 

TYCA NE prioritizes proposals which:

• Emphasize practical strategies and/or tools that can be immediately employed in the classroom.

• Are interactive and actively engage audience members, through the use of slide decks, apps, or other presentation methodologies. 

• Avoid reading from a manuscript such as an academic paper or a book.

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Guidelines for Proposals

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Proposals will be accepted through the online form provided. All proposals should:

• Summarize the content of the individual presentation or panel.

• Indicate relevance to the conference either through connection to the year’s theme or to the broader concerns of TYCA.

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We invite talks which adhere to the following formats:

 

20-Minute Individual Presentations 

A short presentation from one presenter. Individual presentations will be combined with one other presentation that focuses on similar topics and/or areas of English studies. 10 minutes will be reserved for questions and discussion with attendees for each individual session. 

 

40-Minute Panel Presentations

A full session on a focused topic organized entirely by the authors of the proposal. Panel discussions should have at least two speakers who collaborate to organize a cohesive session. Presenters may determine the format and delivery methods for the session based on the focus, purpose, and goals of the presentation but should leave time at the end of the session (20 minutes recommended) for questions or other interaction with the audience. 

 

Please provide:

• Names and contact information for all presenters

• A 50-word abstract which may be used in programming materials

• A 250-word proposal