Since 1939, the College English Association has been a vibrant, growing professional organization of teacher-scholars who regard the instruction of students, undergraduate and graduate, as the proper focus of the profession.

Our members represent a broad range of interests traditionally gathered under the umbrella of "English." These interests include among others literature, language, linguistics, American studies, popular culture, women's and minority studies, creative writing, journalism, technical communication, composition, speech, and ESL.

CEA's diverse membership connects the various segments of the profession: large and small institutions, state-supported and private schools, liberal arts colleges and technical institutions, community colleges and universities.

Regional Affiliations

CEA is not just a national organization; it is also a network of regional affiliates that reinforces local concerns and responds to regional issues. The 20 Regionals have one or more yearly meetings at which informative and stimulating discussion takes place. As energy supplies dwindle and travel costs skyrocket, these Regional conferences assume a large role in informing our scholarly and professional lives.

Annual National Conference

The CEA national meeting, co-hosted by a different Regional each year, offers a lively exchange on scholarly, professional, and pedagogical concerns. Recent national meetings have featured well-known scholars and writers and have addressed issues vital to the field of English studies.

CEA Journals

All members receive outstanding publications. The CEA Critic reflects the energy, variety and discovery of current research in English literature and language, particularly as it applies in the college and university classroom. The Critic aims to provide as complete a picture as possible of the wide range of scholarship now occurring in the discipline. The CEA Forum, a web-based journal, publishes informationsinions on the state of the profession, airs critical problems facing the discipline with possible solutions, and discusses innovations, changes and advancements in the teaching of English in college and university classrooms. Submission guidelines for both the Critic and the Forum are available here.