past conferences

The first conference/organizational meeting was held on October 22, 1986, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. There were 11 presenters and 35 registrants. The conference fee was $30, but that included $15 for membership. By 1987, there were 56 charter members of the Midwest College Learning Center Association.

The 1987 conference was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The keynote speakers were Albert Canfield ("Students, Education, Achievement, and Reality) and Arthur Whimbey ("Teaching Analytical Reasoning").  There were 20 additional presenters.

In 1988, the Chicago based conference attracted 128 total registrants from 13 states.  The keynote speakers were Joseph Murphy ("Caste and Class in American Education") and Vincent Tinto ("Educational Principles of Effective Retention".)

In 1989, the conference was held in Evanston, Illinois. K. Patricia Cross ("Closing the Teaching/Learning Gap") and Wilbert McKeachie ("Essential Components of Effective Instruction") were the keynote speakers.

During these early years, the 1986 conference/organizational meeting was not included in the numbering of the conferences. Thus the 1989 conference was called the Third Annual Conference. However, the conference held the next year, in 1990, was labeled the Fifth Annual Conference. From that point on, the 1986 conference/organizational meeting was considered the first annual conference.

The 1990 Conference was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The keynote speakers were Sheila Tobias ("Math Anxiety; An Update) and Marino Alvarex ("Breaking Barriers to Learning").

In 1991, the Sixth Annual Conference was held in Madison, Wisconsin. The conference keynote speakers were Beverly Guy-Sheftall and Tony Grasha.

Bettendorf, Iowa, was the location of 1992's Seventh Annual Conference. Claire Weinstein ("Enhancing Self-Regulated Learning: The Merging of Cognitive Psychology and Developmental Education") and Ernest Pascarella ("The Impact of College on Students: What Do We Know and What Don't We Know") were the keynote speakers.

In 1993, the conference was held in Chicago, Illinois. The theme was "Motivating and Enhancing College Learning."

The keynote speaker of the 1994 conference was Blythe Clinchy ("College Students' Ways of Knowing: Problems and Possibilities.") There were also two invited speakers (Susan Vogel and Joyce Weinsheimer) at this Minneapolis location.

In 1995, Mike Rose was the featured speaker. He facilitated six small group interactive sessions at the Tenth Annual Conference held in Evanston, Illinois.

In 1996, Martha Casazza and Sharon Silverman were the keynote speakers. They spoke on "Connecting and Collaborating" in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 1997, Eleanor Johnston spoke on "Unlocking Our Brain Potential" at the Twelfth Annual Conference held in Chicago, Illinois.

Marcia Baxter Magolda's 1998 Keynote Address was entitled, "Linking Students' Intellectual Development, Learning and Teaching." Her address was delivered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

The 1999 conference was held in Evanston, Illinois. Stephen Brookfield's provided the keynote address, "Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher."

The 2000 conference was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Martha Casazza and Sharon Silverman were the key note speakers. The keynote address was entitled "Making Connections to Enhance Learning."

The 2001 conference returned to Evanston, Illinois. The keynote speaker was Milton (Bunk) Spann giving a speech on the "Core Values of Learning Centers." Frank Christ also spoke at this conference on "Challenging Ourselves to Achieve Accountability, Leadership, and Recognition."

In 2002, the conference was held in St Louis, Missouri with David Caverly speaking on the future of learning assistance and Brad Hughes discussing "Thinking Outside the Box About Learning Centers."

The 2003 conference was held in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The theme was "Creating Building Blocks for Student Success." The keynote speakers were Cathy Middlecamp whose presentation was entitled, "Helping Students Learn Science: A Holistic View" and Carol Carter, whose address was "Keys to Effective Learning: Coaching Techniques for Teaching Multiple Intelligences."

The 2004 conference was held in Baltimore, MD. "Sailing to Student Success" was the theme. The keynote speakers were Mr. Wilbert Bryant, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Postsecondary Education and Dr. Michael Siegel from the Policy Center on the First Year of College.

The 2005 conference was held in Milwaukee, WI and marked NCLCA's 20th Annual Conference.  "Honoring Our Past, Guiding Our Future" helped to establish a theme of reflection and planning.  NCLCA honored Carol Cashen, the first president, as the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.  New features introduced to the conference were the Plenary Session with Dr. Sharon-Fries Britts as keynote, and the Interest Group Luncheon.

The 2006 conference was held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with "Learning Centers: The Keystone of Higher Education" as the theme.  Dr. Laura Perna and Dr. Carmy Carranza were the keynote speakers.  NCLCA continued with the new features of the Plenary Session, and the Interest Group Luncheon was changed to "Continuing the Conversation Groups" Luncheon. 

Conference Themes

2006   Learning Centers: The Keystone of Higher Education

2005   Honoring Our Past, Guiding Our Future (20th Anniversary)
2004   Sailing to Student Success
2003   Creating Building Blocks for Student Success
2002   Learning Center: Gateways to the Future
2001   Get to the Core of Learning Center Strategies
2000   Guiding Success: Learning Center Strategies for a New Age
1999   Learning Centers: Creating Opportunities For Success
1998   Foundations of Learning
1997   Centering on Success
1996   Circles of Learning
1995   Joining the Conversation: Sharing Perspectives Across Learning Communities
1994   Ways of Knowing: Making Connections Between Teaching and Learning
1993   Motivating and Enhancing College Learning
1992   Discovering New Directions: Connecting Theory and Practice
1991   Embracing Diversity
1990   Breaking the Barriers to Learning
1989   Pathways to Excellence in Teaching and Learning
1988   Issues in Facilitating Learning: New Directions for Changing Times
1987   Learning Center Professionals: Challenging Students to Achieve