TYCA Northeast 61st Annual Conference
Meeting the Moment: Connecting the Past, Present, and Future in English Studies

Proposal Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026

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Conference Theme: Meeting the Moment: Connecting the Past, Present, and Future in English Studies

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Contemporary literacy learners--across positions of age, gender, race, class, and language--find themselves having to piece together reading and writing experiences from more and more spheres, creating new and hybrid forms of literacy where once there might have been fewer and more circumscribed forms. (Deborah Brandt, “Accumulating Literacy,” 651)

 

In the above quote, Deborah Brandt captures our current moment in English studies as we grapple with seismic changes in technologies. Writing this essay in 1995, Brandt was addressing a surplus of literacy practices afforded by technological advancements in personal computing as well as multilingual literacy practices. She encourages readers to acknowledge the complexities of evolving literacies and to embrace these opportunities, a perspective with strong implications for creative new approaches to learning and teaching.

 

Thirty years later, we find ourselves facing the same dilemma—magnified and multiplied. Language users are now offered an abundance of literacy opportunities via smart phones, tablets, and computers, in addition to more traditional modes of oral communication and pen and paper. As English studies teachers, many of us feel apprehensive as we integrate digital communication into our classrooms while trying to maintain our commitment to teaching critical literacies. Our current moment presents numerous challenges as well as opportunities for reading, writing, and critical thinking instruction. 

 

For the 2026 TYCA Northeast Conference, we invite proposals that explore emerging literacies in community college classrooms right now. We encourage presenters to share their approaches to teaching and learning with new technologies while considering the foundational goals of teaching English composition, language, and literature. Proposals may provide the perspectives of English instructors as well as the perspectives of students, tutors, and administrators. 

 

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

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1. How can we draw upon past technological shifts in literacy practices to understand our current moment? What are the benefits of maintaining or returning to practices of written literacies (such as handwriting and in-class assignments) and oral literacies (such as presentations and in-class discussion)? 

2. As students’ digital literacy needs evolve, what do we see as fundamental to academic literacy instruction, teacher and student experience, and our shared classroom experiences? What are the opportunities for using new technologies to foster critical thinking and civic engagement? 

3. Under what circumstances do we need to explain and defend the work of English studies in the rush to adopt new technologies and modes of instructional delivery for educational purposes? What are the shifting roles of teachers and tutors with the advent of AI-supported instruction? 

4. What are the ethical implications and considerations for adopting new technologies campus-wide and in individual classrooms? How can we maintain our commitment to open admissions and access in community college as we adopt and integrate emerging technologies?

5. How can emerging technologies support language learners and multilingual students?

6. How can we use technologies to support students with learning differences and/or incorporate universal design principles into our curricula?

7. How can we foster joy, creativity, and imaginative play as we engage with emerging platforms and technological applications?  

 

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: 

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• First-year & Intermediate Composition

• Developmental education

• College reading

• Teaching English to speakers of other languages

• 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 & 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.

 

Guidelines for Proposals:

 

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.

 

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. 

 

Flash Presentations

An interactive format allowing presenters to share a five-minute overview of a practice, idea, or research and then entertain questions in a social event open to all attendees. Click here for more details. 

Please provide:

• Names and contact information for all presenters

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

• A 250-word proposal