About the Conference

22nd Annual TASS Conference

March 20-23, 2011
Embassy Suites Hotel
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

2011 Conference Brochure will be posted soon.

Welcome to the 22nd annual Teaching Academic Survival Skills Conference, sponsored by Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and hosted by Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

On college campuses everywhere, there are students who are not well enough prepared academically to take full advantage of the available educational opportunities. How do we reach and help our largest educational minority--the marginally prepared college student?

Teaching Academic Survival Skills (TASS) conference participants explore various techniques and teaching philosophies used by educational specialists throughout the country.

The Teaching Academic Survival Skills (TASS) Conference was the brainchild of Professors James Harter and Terry Bullock at the University of Cincinnati. They felt there was a need for college educators working with at-risk students to have a forum for sharing their experiences, successes, and insights in working with these students. With help and encouragement from Dean David Hartleb and Professor Harry Prats we were able to secure funds to initiate the conference. David Hartleb, now President of Northern Essex Community College (NECC), has once again championed the cause of TASS. As a result of his contributions and those of Dean David Kelley, the TASS Conference has continued to grow and flourish.

Over the years, the TASS Conference has continued to grow and flourish. Generally, there are 40 to 60 sessions, where presenters using a workshop approach describe methods they have used to help students succeed in various academic areas such as reading, study skills, writing, math, technology, freshman orientation experiences, student support services, program administration, special needs (ESL, LD), as well preparing high school students for college. Evaluations from participants have indicated that the hands-on approach used by presenters gave them a wealth of ideas, strategies, and materials to take back to their respective institutions.

The 2011 TASS conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Embassy Suites Hotel conference center, which affords us the perfect environment for organized learning. Each suite offers comfortable accommodation in two fully equipped rooms with a kitchenette. Proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway and Fort Lauderdale's famous Water-taxi and Port Everglades, as well as beaches, restaurants, shopping, sporting and entertainment venues, will allow you and your family a variety of educational and recreational activities.