Edith Baker
Bradley University, Illinois
I have no regrets about any of the six years from 1997-2003 when I served as the four-year university representative to the TYCA-Midwest affiliate of NCTE. I met delightful people and attempted to share some of the concerns about teaching composition with all faculty, whether at two-year or four-year institutions. When the Dean of Liberal Arts asked me why I was spending so much time with people from two-year institutions, I pointed out to her that we transferred many students from those same institutions to Bradley University; if we could articulate our concerns with two-year colleges, we would be more aware of what abilities transfer students brought to the four-year university. I served two, three-year terms as the first four-year representative to the TYCA-MW Executive Board, and together we forged important connections with our mutual concerns.
Discussion about dual credit was one big area which we debated regularly. Having taught at a two-year institution in Arizona, I had many reservations about the dual credit for students, and Midwest-TYCA tried to look objectively at the plethora of problems that accompany granting dual credit to students. Not the least of which, in Illinois, is the fact that the University of Illinois does not recognize English 101 taken anywhere other than on their campus (at least not early in 2000).
Along with airing our mutual concerns, the people of Midwest TYCA are very friendly, and strong bonds are forged. From the first meeting in 1997 in St. Paul when my husband and I met Sheldon Wrice, while we were all standing outside of the meeting room before my initial introduction, we have maintained a strong friendship. I am always pleased to see Larry M, Jay W., Marilyn V., Jane W., Paul R., Leslie R., Andrea L, Karen, Karla B, Andy A., Susan B., Kip S, Duane Roen, and Jeffrey Sommers at the TYCA breakfasts of CCCC. I am honored to know all the people in TYCA-MW. I have many warm memories of all the fall conferences and TYCA dinners, at TYCA and CCCC, from Detroit to St. Louis to Chicago to Cleveland. Marilyn Valentino and I even presented at CCCC one year. I last saw Sheldon in 2010 in Louisville at CCCC.
The leadership of TYCA-MW is strong in NCTE, and many people have taken on leadership positions in national organizations. In fact, other TYCA affiliates are impressed with how strong the MW affiliate is. When I attended a TYCA-West conference in 2009 in Arizona, I was surprised at the relative small nature of it. My thinking about TYCA Midwest over the years has only become more honored to have been associated with its national focus and professional concerns. I am proud to have been a part of TYCA-MW.