The Beginning:

The genesis of our organization was the first Connections Tutorial Conference which was held in 1983 at Lansing Community College, under the leadership of Jean Morciglio who was the tutorial coordinator at Lansing C.C. at the time. Three more conferences followed, and then, in 1986, the first active steps to create a tutorial association began. The Connections V Conference, at Delta College in 1987, was the site of a preliminary meeting to create a state tutorial association. That meeting produced objectives and initiatives to formally launch our Michigan Tutorial Association. The Constitution and By-Laws were approved at a planning committee on 23 August, 1988 ( and have since been revised in 1992 and again in 1997).

The initial slate of officers for the association was elected on 22 September 1988, and included Linda Gross from Michigan State University (President), Jan Heerspink from Calvin College (Vice President), Kathy Schrader from Muskegon Community College (Treasurer), and Deb Galvin from Michigan State University (Secretary).

This association was designed as the sole professional organization in Michigan serving the needs of those interested and actively involved in tutoring in post secondary education. MTA was dedicated to providing Michigan tutorial personnel a network for sharing, growth and learning opportunities. With this in mind, the main goal of MTA each year has been to organize and host an annual tutoring conference. Beginning in Spring, 1990, MTA also began publishing a newsletter, under Walter Foote at Grand Valley State University; and the newsletter became a regular, tri-annual mailing of MTA beginning in Spring, 1994. Another contribution which MTA made to tutoring personnel was to publish a directory of tutorial departments and contact people around the state; this was published in 1996. Finally, in-services for professionals have been scheduled on a bi-annual basis since 1996.

There are a few people who have been involved with MTA from the very beginning and continue to be active even today. Among these are Kathryn Schrader and John Miko.

Past Presidents:

• 2004-2006: Kathryn Schrader, Muskegon Community College
• 2003 - Charles Clarke (Oakland University)
• 2002 - Richard McMullen (Western Michigan University)
• 2001 - Wrenetta Green (Michigan State University)
• 2000 - Kathryn Schrader (Muskegon Community College)
• Sandra Merriweather (Wayne State University)
• Franci Moorman (Washtenaw Community College)
• Pegge Adams (Baker College, Flint)
• Stacia Scarborough (Michigan State University)
• Carol Silverman (Kirtland Community College)
• Helen Woodman (Oakland University)
• Lynn Hochenberger (Oakland University)
• Janice Heerspink (Calvin College)
• Linda Gross (Michigan State University)

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Connections Conferences:

• Conference XXV, our silver anniversary: Muskegon Community College, October 19, 2007
• Conference XXIV: Tutors: Making a Difference at Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills, October 20, 2006
• Conference XXIII: Making the Catch for Success at Ferris State University, October 21, 2005
• onference XXII: Reach for the Stars at Delta College Planetarium and Learning Center, October 23, 2004
• Conference XXI: Making Tutoring Available at Western Michigan University, October 24th, 2003
• Conference XX: Maxims To Move 'Em at Mid Michigan Community College, October 11th, 2002
• Conference XIX: Motivating, Training, Achievement at Oakland University, October 27th, 2001
• Conference XVIII: Tutoring 2000: New Starts, New Views at Michigan State University, October 6th, 2000
• Connections XVII: Tools for Tutors at Baker College, Flint, October 9th, 1999
• Connections XVI: Tutors' Responsibility at Muskegon Community College, October 23, 1998
• Connections XV: Roadways to Success at Grand Valley State University, October 12, 1997
• Connections XIV: Building a Learning Network at Wayne State University, November 1, 1996
• Connections XIII: Linking for Success at North Central Michigan College, October 6, 1995
• Connections XII: Uniting Traditions & Technology at Baker College, Flint, November 4, 1994
• Connections XI: Meeting the Challenge/ Causing the Change at Washtenaw Com College, November 12, 1993
• Connections X: Celebration of Tutoring In Michigan at Macomb Community College, October 23, 1992
• Connections IX: Motivated to Tutor/ Motivated to Learn at Kirtland Community College, October 11, 1991
• Connections VIII: The Active Learner at Oakland University, October 12, 1990
• Connections VII: New Directions for a New Decade at Michigan State University, October 20, 1989
• Connections VI: Learning to Tutor/ Tutoring to Learn at Grand Valley State University, October 14, 1988
• Connections V: Promoting Collaborative Learning at Delta College, October 16, 1987
• Connections IV: Partners Striving for Success at Michigan State University, October 24, 1986
• Connections III: Building Active Learning at Highland Park Community College, October 11, 1985
• Connections II: The Art of Tutoring at Schoolcraft College, November 2, 1984
• Connections I: Tutoring is Sharing Learning at Lansing Community College, October 7, 1983

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Pictures:

1991 Barbecue at Kirtland Community College

1995 Conference at Wayne State University

1995-1996 Board Members

1996 Conference at North Central Michigan College

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