by Heidi Ramirez, President
Hartnell College

As I write this column for the ECCTYC Newsletter, Hartnell College is planning its first faculty in-service dedicated to the legacy of Cesar Chavez. The in-service will feature sessions on the issues and events surrounding the life of Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers, and their struggle for social justice. As Cesar Chavez watched momentum for the labor movement increase, he realized a purpose of enormous potential—the power of individual recognition to enact change and correct society’s inequities. I mention Cesar Chavez here to acknowledge the similar work that we do as educators in the field of English: we empower students by helping them find their voices and encourage the use of writing to promote positive change within their own communities.

ECCTYC’s mission is to represent “community college English departments and faculty by promoting excellence in teaching English and by articulating the concerns of...

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by Sterling Warner, First Vice-President
Evergreen Valley College

In addition to Regional Meetings, ECCTYC/TYCA Pacific Coast has held two full board meetings since last year’s CCCC Conference in New York. ECCTYC/TYCA Pacific Coast spent a good part of the Spring 2007 Board Meeting welcoming new Board members, discussing the future of inside english (our professional journal), planning for a preconference workshop featuring the California State University Early Assessment Program (EAP), and working on its Fall 2007 conference in general.

From October 10-13, 2008, ECCTYC/TYCA Pacific Coast celebrated its biyearly conference, “California Cultures: Changing Teaching, Teaching Change,” at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlingame, California. The spirit of the two-year college teacher/scholar pervaded ECCTYC 2007 thanks to conference chair and current ECCTYC Interim President Heidi Ramirez, Hartnell College.

A mere sampling of cutting edge sessions include “Re-Imagining the Writing Center: It’s Not Just a Place to...

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by Shant Shahoian
Glendale College

Want to start a riot in the faculty lounge? Tell the Academic Senate the English Department is toying with the idea of making Freshman English a four-unit course. Just whisper it, under your breath. After a long moan, you’ll hear, in the distance, the hooves of the four horsemen—any collection of administrators and faculty in other departments—and the shrill cry of the apocalypse, the end of days. You’ll run from the swinging pens, dripping with red ink, and the sharpened pencils hurled at your face.

Okay, maybe this is an exaggeration. But I’ve taught at five different colleges in Southern California, and this one topic has always struck a nerve with colleagues. Scantron forms in hand, they protest, “You only teach twenty-five students in each class!” Remembering the single research paper they assign every term, they argue, “We all have papers to grade.” Upset that they...

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by Ted Brett NorCal Adjunct Director
Gavilan College and Evergreen Valley College

This is the first column in the ECCTYC Newsletter specifically directed toward adjunct faculty in the California two-year colleges. As a recently appointed adjunct representative to the ECCTYC Board, I want to take this opportunity to acquaint adjunct faculty with ECCTYC, its purpose, its publications, its conferences, and most importantly, the opportunities it affords adjunct faculty in two-year colleges.

ECCTYC stands for English Council of California Two-Year Colleges. It is the only organization in the state specifically serving English faculty in the two-year college, but it has important connections to other organizations. We English and language teachers have a diverse group of organizations to serve us and our profession. The Modern Language Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, The California Association of Teachers of English, The Conference on College Composition and Communication and others...

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