What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog – December 2024: Year-In-Review
Establishing the “Central Valley Way”
— a glimpse at the past 12 months
BY TOM URIBES
Communications/Media Coordinator — Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
• January to June 2024 (Mid-Year Review)
• Summer to December 2024
This December issue of our CVHEC e-newsletter marks our 45th edition since we began publishing in 2020 and it provides our annual opportunity to reflect on the consortium’s year as we wish our readers peace and happiness for the holidays.
This year-in-review blog presents our 2024 as presented in newsletter stories and social media posts now in its 45th edition. In our summer edition, we featured headlines from the first six months of the year and this issue we complete the year from summer to this month, capturing such great CVHEC strides as:
- our Math Task Force holding three in-person convenings to address Assembly Bill 1705 compliance but more importantly bringing together community college math educators to meet face-to-face and brainstorm ways to better serve their students;
- our Master’s Upskilling Program that provides more high school teachers qualified to teach dual enrollment courses on their respective campuses expanding full force throughout our 10-county Central Valley region;
- the Math Bridge project in partnership with College Bridge off and running providing an innovative approach to re-engage students who didn’t initially plan to take additional math classes during their final years in high school but are now earning valuable college credits while also learning course material at a reasonable pace.
And our CVHEC team has been participating in state and national conferences to present these remarkable advances driven by the spirit of our founders led by my former boss at Fresno State, President-emeritus John D. Welty in 2000 that this year have resulted in our new rallycry, “the Central Valley Way.”
It is the spirit of higher education professionals in our region working together for a common good: student success. As you will see in this look back at 2024, we are wielding the greatest power we have here in our region: the power of collaboration.
The CVHEC blog features perspectives about the higher education community and issues. Submissions are welcome for consideration by contacting Tom Uribes at cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu.
JANUARY 2024 (No. 36)
– Published Jan. 18
‘Central Valley Way To AB1705 Success’ — Regional math experts unite to address
AB 1705 challenge for student success at CVHEC Math Task Force convening Jan. 26
The year kicked off with continuation from the fall of an historic undertaking – bringing together Central Valley math education experts to plan math pathways for student success in the statewide effort to meet Assembly Bill 1705 requirements by July 1. Community colleges have been tasked with ensuring they comply with recent state legislation — AB705 (2017) and AB1705 (2022 — designed to strengthen support for student success and increase degree completion regarding math and English course requirements.
Convening in Fresno Jan. 26, over 60 math community college math educators, administrators and institutional researchers brainstormed in a daylong session, “Central Valley Way To AB1705 Success,” presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force and facilitated by the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin). The session was the climax of three previous sessions held in the fall — two virtual calls and one in-person convening — to start the local process that focused on five strands of implementation: Validating Prerequisites; Designing Precalculus for 2025; Math Support Outside and Inside the Classroom; Building an AB 1705 Campus Team; and Guided Self-Placement.
Emerging as strand leads were five Math Task Force members Jeremy Brandl, Fresno City College math professor; Nathan Cahoon and Shelley Getty, both Taft College math professors; Marie Bruley, Merced College dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); and Jay Thomas, West Hills College Lemoore math professor. This convening also set the stage for a follow up in-person meeting also held in the spring (see April) and a fall session set for Oct. 25. [See story]
College Futures Foundation renews CVHEC funding: higher ed strategies
Elaine Cash (second from left), is CVHEC’s grants and program coordinator who works closely with Executive Director Benjamín Durán (at left) and Ángel Ramírez, Finance and Operations Director (right) to ensure consortium funding.
In its 22-year quest to improve the postsecondary success of students in its region, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium once again gained College Futures Foundation refunding with a $1.5 million grant to continue championing dual enrollment, math pathways, Open Education Resources/Zero Textbook Costs measures and transfer student support as well as strengthening data access for improved strategy planning.
Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director announced the new three-year grant (Jan. 2024 – Dec. 2026) from its primary funder in mid-January saying it will allow the consortium — made up of 28 institutions of higher education throughout the Central Valley’s nine-county region that represents one-third of the state of California — “to implement equity-driven strategies that decrease disparities in student persistence and higher education attainment and provide students a timely pathway to completion. We appreciate the College Futures Foundation’s continued support for CVHEC activities that are designed to impact student success most efficiently at our member institution.” [See story]
Math Bridge Program eyes productive 2024 with student recruitment campaign
The College Bridge team at the Math Bridge kick off last year: Owynn Lancaster, Dr. Nicole Korgie, Dr. Lynn Cevallos.
The Central Valley Math Bridge Project kicked off its new year in high gear as the program prepares for launch in academic year 2024-25 at participating high schools in the nine-county region in partnership with six community college members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium.
Presented by College Bridge and CVHEC, the program announced in January that 14 valley high schools signed on as the first cohort in the fall 2024 followed by student recruitment campaigns in the spring at the high school campuses, reported Owynn Lancaster, vice president for Academic Strategy at College Bridge.
“The recruitment campaigns will allow each school to hone in which students they want to support and ‘build the bridge’ with their respective college partners to help students succeed in math,” explained Dr. Nicole Korgie, vice president of Operations at College Bridge and an expert in college counseling and admissions.
Set for the campaign (listed by their community college partner) were: DELTA: Stagg, Weber Academy; MERCED: Golden Valley, Livingston, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Mariposa; REEDLEY: Dinuba, Orosi, Sanger, Sanger West; TAFT: Taft; WEST HILLS COALINGA: Tranquility; and WEST HILLS LEMOORE: Riverdale). [See STORY]
New CVHEC board member: Filger named president of Bakersfield College
Jerry Filger took the presidential reins at Bakersfield College March 11 and he also became a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors which is made up of the heads of consortium member-colleges. Filger was appointed BC’s eleventh president by the Kern Community College District Dec. 26 after serving as the vice president for instruction at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas the previous four years. [See STORY]
College Bridge funded $2.1 million to expand Math Bridge with Transfer Project
College Bridge Founder/President Lynn Cevallos listens as Owynn Lancaster, CB vice president, discusses the Math Bridge Program with community college partners during a kick off held in May.
The College Bridge Program, a partner of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, received a $2,196,928 federal grant for expansion of its College Transition Bridge (CT Bridge) project that, among other features, will advance collaboration with CVHEC’s Central Valley Transfer Project and its college course-planning software, Program Pathway Mapper. The grant is described as “100 percent Valley-focused.” [STORY]
FEBRUARY 2024 (No. 37)
– Published Feb. 23
‘Something extraordinary is happening in math in California’s Central Valley’
Latest Math Task Force AB1705 session leads to calls for more data, high school input, re-convene April 19
Amidst uncertainty regarding Assembly Bill 1705, valley community college math educators and officials forged ahead at “The Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success” Convening Jan. 26 in Fresno with a determined and unified mindset to develop implementation plans that will serve the best interests of their students including a follow-up session set for April.
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force discussion centered around five strands of curriculum planning for implementation before a July 1 deadline with two aspects emerging at the lively day-long work session: the increased participation of institutional researchers for pertinent data-collecting and a call for a “principal’s task force” to bring upper secondary education voices to the table. Presented by CVHEC, the convening — the latest in a series of deliberations since the fall semester — was attended by 82 representatives from the consortium’s 19-member community colleges, one high school principal and campus research professionals.
Co-facilitated with CVHEC by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, the January session reviewed five strands of curriculum planning: Validating Prerequisites; Designing Precalculus for 2025; Math Support Outside and Inside the Classroom; Building an AB 1705 Campus Team; and Guided Self-Placement. The community college math experts agreed to reconvene April 19 for follow-up reports. [STORY]
Kern Master’s Upskill Program reaches another milestone
Second English cohort graduates – recruitment underway for a fall math cohort
The Kern Master’s Upskill Program for high school teachers seeking a master’s degree in English or Math that qualifies them to teach dual enrollment courses at their respective campuses reached its second milestone in February when 11 participants completed post-baccalaureate requirements in English through National University.
The program also announced recruitment for a third math cohort of 21 students to begin this fall and set for completion in spring 2026 though Fresno Pacific University with informational meetings held in March and April.
The February graduation followed the first cohort of 11 English students who graduated in September 2023 for the innovative state-funded Central Valley Higher Education Consortium initiative that helps reduce the cost of tuition for high school teachers to pursue a master’s degree, a state requirement to teach community college dual enrollment courses in concert with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), which serves as the administrative agent for the Kern K-16 Collaborative, partners in the CVHEC initiative.
Degrees for both English cohorts were conferred at the National University Commencement May 18 in San Diego. [STORY]
Fresno State, a founding CVHEC member, joined CVHEC’s historic Central Valley Transfer Project in January with (from left): Dr. Kent Willis, vice president of Fresno State Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval; Dr. Benjamin Duran, CVHEC executive director; Tom Burke, CVHEC regional coordinator; and Dr. Sergio La Porta, associate dean of the Fresno State College of Arts and Humanities.
Central Valley Transfer Project: valley’s four-year colleges collaborating
Fresno State joins in ‘centerpiece for students to enter and transfer from 11 CVHEC community colleges to four-year universities’
The Central Valley Transfer Project (CVTP) is now partnered with the region’s three California State University campuses after Fresno State signed on in January joining Bakersfield and Stanislaus in the historic Central Valley Higher Education Consortium initiative designed to open new doors for students’ successful transfer from community college.
Along with founding partner University of California, Merced, this means the valley’s four public institutions of higher education are working in unison with eight community colleges currently through CVHEC’s project using the groundbreaking Program Pathways Mapper software. The project has also gained the full support of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office as announced by system Chancellor Sonya Christian at the CVHEC summit last October.
The goal of the Transfer Project is to increase the number of students from California’s Central Valley region who successfully transfer from community colleges to California State University (CSU) campuses and the University of California (UC) system, said Stan Carrizosa, CVHEC regional coordinator and consortium lead for the project.
“The project aims to improve access, equity and completion rates for students in the Central Valley by streamlining the transfer process and providing resources and support services,” Carrizosa said.
The community colleges already in the CVTP, with several more expected to sign on this year, are: Bakersfield College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College, Merced College, Porterville College, Reedley College, West Hills College-Coalinga and West Hills College-Lemoore. The Transfer Project is also expanding participation in the north end of the Central Valley with Modesto Junior College, Columbia College and San Joaquin Delta College scheduled to begin onboard this spring for a total of 11 community college partners Carrizosa reported. [STORY]
CVHEC Board of Directors chair to retire
CVHEC Executive Director Benjamín Durán, president-emeritus of Merced College, with California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian and West Hills Community College District Chancellor Kristin Clark (also CVHEC Board of Directors chair) at the Higher Education Summit in October, 2023. Chancellor Clark retires Aug. 8.
WHCCD Chancellor Kristin Clark: a champion for higher education for all
The West Hills Community College District (WHCCD), announced Jan. 25 the retirement of Chancellor Dr. Kristin Clark effective July 2024.
For the past two years, Chancellor Clark has also served as chair of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, which is made up of the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 institutions of higher education in the region’s nine-county area. She also served on the board during her term as president of West Hills College Lemoore prior to the WHCCD chancellorship.
Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, said in a statement released upon the announcement, “Chancellor Clark has been a champion for higher education for all and certainly for the initiatives and projects CVHEC has undertaken. She is recognized throughout the state as the leader of one of the most innovative and student-centered multi-college districts in rural California. The West Hills Community College District and the communities it serves have been fortunate to receive her professional and personal leadership.”
A farewell reception was held July 26 at Lemoore College to honor her (see Chancellor Clark retirement celebration photo gallery). [STORY]
Math Task Force Convening Jan. 26 in the news
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Executive Director Benjamín Durán and Orosi High School Principal Marlene Celaya discussed the Jan. 26 “Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success” Convening on the KSEE24 Central Valley Today live on Jan. 23 with host Emily Erwin.
Dr. Duran presented the CVHEC Math Task Force work of the previous few months leading up to the Jan. 26 convening in Fresno of math professionals collaborating on implementation of AB1705 by a July 1 deadline. Principal Celaya, a former Dinuba High School math teacher, articulated the perspective of the secondary segment of education and the impact on high school students. [STORY]
Ángel Ramírez (right) represented CVHEC in the Central Valley Community Foundation delegation of area leaders attending the Achieving the Dream Conference in Orlando Feb. 19-22 (from left): Carlos Castillo; Phong Yang; Estefania Avalos Chavez; Vianey Barraza Chavez; Ángel. Not in picture: SCCCD Chancellor Carole Goldsmith.
CVHEC participates in national DREAM Conference
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium participated in the 20th anniversary convening of DREAM, which brings together thousands of practitioners from hundreds of colleges to exchange evidence-based approaches to accelerating student success in a manner that champions equity and drives economic vibrancy.
Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC finance and operations director, represented the consortium in the Central Valley Community Foundation delegation of area leaders attending the Achieving the Dream conference in Orlando Feb. 19-22 (from left): Carlos Castillo, Fresno Unified School District; Phong Yang, Fresno State; Estefania Avalos Chavez, Higher Educational For All; Vianey Barraza Chavez, Education and Leadership Foundation. Not in picture: SCCCD Chancellor Carole Goldsmith CVCF member who also led a delegation from the district. [STORY]
MARCH 2024 (No. 38)
– Published March 15
Unprecedented educational leadership changes in Kern County
In less than 300 days, the Kern County education scene experienced the proverbial changing-of -the-guard at its five largest educational institutions from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools to the presidency of California State University, Bakersfield wrote CVHEC regional coordinator Tom Burke in the consortium’s March newsletter blog, “What the CV-HEC is Happening?”
“The winds of change have swept over Kern County’s education leadership scene in the past year providing a unique opportunity to review and count our blessings while we look ahead to exciting growth for our region’s academic scene,” said Burke from his unique position as Kern Community College District chancellor-emeritus (2017 until his retirement in 2021).
In fact, Burke got back into that mix himself when one of the biggest 2023 changes occurred with the move by KCCD Chancellor Sonya Christensen to the chancellorship of the California Community Colleges statewide system a few years after vacating the Bakersfield College presidency resulting in simultaneous searches. Burke returned to serve as interim KCCD chancellor during the searches that
led to the selection of Dr. Steven Bloomberg as chancellor and Jerry Filger as president with both starting in February. (Dr. Steven Watkin had served as interim BC president during that search).
Previously at California State University, Bakersfield, Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. began serving as interim president Dec. 31, 2023 when Dr. Lynnette Zelezny retired.
The three incoming CEOs now serve on the CVHEC Board of Directors that is made up of the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 institutions of higher education in the Central Valley’s nine-county region. Burke’s blog in the February issue presents a summary of the new leadership in Kern County, with a link to their bios, and a brief highlight of the outgoing leaders who all made significant contributions toward advancing education in Kern County. [STORY]
CVHEC joins dual enrollment partners in statewide digital campaign
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium participated in the Digital Dual Enrollment Week social media campaign conducted statewide Feb 26-March 1 by the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships (CADEP). The weeklong campaign followed the 2nd Annual California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference held Feb. 20-23 in Long Beach presented by CADEP, Career Ladders Project and The Education Trust–West with fiscal agent the Foundation for Los Angeles Community Colleges. The California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships is an affiliated chapter of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), is a unified coalition committed to the advancement of equity, student success and quality in dual enrollment programs in California … [STORY]
Math Task Force continues AB 1705 work with April 19 convening, secondary ed voices
Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC Math Task Force coordinator, deliberates with Tammi Perez-Rice of the Dana Center. They co-facilitate the AB1705 convenings.
Discussions to improve calculus pathways for STEM students amidst a pending deadline this summer continued April 19 with the third “Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success” Convening in Fresno that included more secondary education voices coming to the table for a review of guidance issued by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office in February as well as updates on AB1705 implementation progress in the region.
As in two previous in-person convenings in Fresno last fall and in January presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force with the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), the event re-convened community college math educators, administrators and institutional researchers working towards compliance with the final stage of AB1705: validation of equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs.
John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force, said a good portion of the April 19 meeting was devoted to the data collection underway by CVHEC community college research professionals related to student success in math, part of the valleywide Data Collection Project under development by the consortium. Spevak, who co-facilitated the April event with Dana Center colleague Dr. Tammi Perez-Rice, also said the convening included representatives of K-12 school districts joining several high school principals who have already worked with CVHEC through the Central Valley Math Bridge Program.
“It’s important to bring into the conversation high school leaders and our colleagues who care as much about the future math success of students as community college math educators do,” said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director. [STORY]
CCC board picks up Central Valley representation
Two Central Valley community college representatives were appointed to the California Community College Board of Governors: Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, a Kern Community College District trustee from the southern San Joaquin Valley; and Cirian Villavicencio, a professor at San Joaquin Delta College in the North Valley. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the appointments Feb. 28 for the board, the highest governing body in California’s community college system that advocates for nearly 2 million students at 116 colleges across the state. They will be working with systemwide Chancellor Sonya Christian, who served on the CVHEC board when she was a Central Valley higher education leader, to provide guidance and strategic direction to districts and community colleges in California by implementing the Governor’s Roadmap to Success for California Community Colleges.
Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, said, “We are especially pleased that these two new BOG members — coming from the north and south regions of our valley — provide the governing board with true representation from throughout our nine-county region.” [STORY]
Congratulations Priscila – CVHEC search underway
The continued growth of CVHEC was highlighted with the announcement of the pending departure of parttime administrative coordinator Priscila Villanueva and expansion of the position to fulltime including a search for her replacement. A key star of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium team since 2018, Villanueva will focus on her fulltime position as community associate for Equitable Bank Standards, Beneficial State Foundation, supporting community engagement for the Equitable Bank Standards initiative.
Her CVHEC position was filled in June by Priscilla Arrellano.
Villanueva has been instrumental in CVHEC’s mission with a focus on increasing educational equity in the Central San Joaquin Valley, said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director. Ángel Ramírez, director of operations and finance and Priscila’s immediate supervisor, credited her with playing a major role in the consortium’s increased growth the past eight years. [STORY]
APRIL 2024 (No. 39)
– Published April 17
California Community Colleges: ‘the main engine of social mobility’
For National Community College Month, the 19 members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors who serve as the chief executive officers of their respective campuses/districts that serve 212,755 community college students in CVHEC’s nine-county region from Stockton to Kern, were acknowledged (IPEDS 2021-22). CVHEC also recognized Dr. Sonya Christian, former consortium board member — when she was Bakersfield College president and Kern Community College District chancellor — who is now serving as chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the largest system of higher education in the country with 2.1 million students in 114 communities and online. Additionally, the many administrators, faculty and staff serving under these leaders at CVHEC’s 15-member community college campuses and four CC districts were thanked in a social media salute for contributing to scores of student success stories. [STORY]
‘Continuing the CVHEC Way to AB 1705 Success’
Math Task Force resumes AB1705 curriculum planning April 19 with
a look at chancellor options, adding high school principals voices to the convo
Many of the best math minds in the Central Valley resumed their Assembly Bill 1705 compliance deliberations April 19 for the third Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Math Task Force convening, “Continuing the CVHEC Way to AB 1705 Success held in Fresno.
The agenda called for a look at recent guidance from the California Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) and introduction of a new Principal’s Strand to the ongoing discussions as they work towards compliance with the final stage of AB1705 by July 1: validation of equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs.
More than 80 community college math educators, administrators and institutional researchers re-convened for the day long CVHEC event co-facilitated by the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), following up two virtual sessions in the fall and two in-person meetings. Joining this third in-person event on the topic were four principals and five other K-12 representatives for input regarding what impact AB1705 will have at the high school level and how to work together to align math efforts.
“Once again, this is an agenda which is engaging and interactive and enables the best math minds in the Central Valley to determine the best path forward to math success for Central Valley students in light of AB 1705 and in light of the recent memo from the Chancellor’s Office,” said John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force who is also a vice president-emeritus of Merced College.
A fall meeting is set for Oct. 25 in Fresno that will focus on three strands:
- Developing a single-course Prerequisite to Calculus, led by Professor Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College
- Developing a Calculus 1 Course with a Corequisite, let by Professor Shelly Getty of Taft College
- Verifying the new Prerequisite course, let by Professor Nathan Cahoon of Taft College
Another group of professors is working on ways to deal with the challenges presented in the Chancellor’s Office guidelines to implementing AB 1705, Spevak said. [STORY]
Math Bridge campaign identifies nearly 1,000 students for college-level math courses
Bill Vasey (third from left) of the California Academic Partnership Program observed the Math Bridge student recruitment presentation at Orosi High Jan. 31 by Dr. Nicole Korgie and OHS Principal Marlene Celaya with CVHEC communications coordinator Tom Uribes (at left).
In an April issue update, Dr. Nicole Korgie, vice president of Operations for College Bridge,
reported the Central Valley Math Bridge project with the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium is “off and running” with 13 committed high school partners completing the student recruitment campaign that identified nearly 1,000 students ready to take on college math including nearly half of those indicating their interest to participate.
She noted that these students who were identified as great prospects to participate in Math Bridge have solid academic GPA’s — between 2.3 – 3.4 — but have struggled in high school math.
“The impact Math Bridge is having on education in the region is seen in one general characteristic of these students: they were likely NOT to have taken an advanced math course, or even math at all, in their senior year,” Dr. Korgie wrote. “Now, as more high school students graduate with solid/advanced math skills though Math Bridge, more students will find success in college and career, filling vital local workforce needs.”
She provided this update of participating high schools stretching across the Valley’s nine-county region from Taft to Stockton who are partnering with six community college members of CVHEC to offer the math dual enrollment courses at their respective campuses beginning next fall (student breakdown in parenthesis (listed by the college):
DELTA COLLEGE: Stagg High School, Weber Academy; MERCED COLLEGE: Atwater High, Buhach Colony High School, Golden Valley High School, Livingston High School, Mariposa High School; REEDLEY COLLEGE: Dinuba High School, Orosi High School, Sanger High School, Sanger West High School; TAFT COLLEGE: Taft High School; WEST HILLS COLLEGE LEMOORE: Riverdale High School. [STORY]
Central Valley college president appointments: Britt Rios-Ellis at Stanislaus State and Dr. Rafe E. Trickey at Taft College
The winds of change continued for the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Trustees as two new members joined its ranks with the naming of Britt Rios-Ellis to serve as president of California State University, Stanislaus effective July 1 and Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr. as the next superintendent/president of Taft College effective June 3. [STORY]
(Social media – April)
Merced College renames Business Resource Center in honor of Dr. Benjamín Durán
Screenshot
Congratulations to Dr. Benjamin Duran, Merced College president-emeritus and current CVHEC executive director, and wife, Dr. RoseMary Parga Durán (former Merced City School District superintendent) who were honored April 25 at the Merced College Foundation’s 10th annual State of the College Address and Luncheon before the unveiling of the newly renamed Dr. Benjamín T. Durán Business Resource Center.
In recognition of their respective careers serving students in the Merced area, the Duráns were presented the 2024 President’s Medallion by MC President Chris Vitelli during the annual luncheon. Immediately following, President Vitelli and Board of Trustee President L. Carmen Ramirez led the unveiling of the newly renamed center in honor of the Le Grand native who served as the college’s chief executive for nearly 14 years before retiring in 2012.
The son of migrant farmworkers in Le Grand, Dr. Durán built a distinguished life and career devoted to education and after his retirement, he became CVHEC’s executive director in 2016. Dr. Parga Duran’s distinguished 35-year career with the Merced City School District was highlighted with her appointment in 2008 as the district’s first female superintendent until her retirement in 2019.
Several members of the CVHEC Board of Directors, made up of chancellors, presidents and directors of 28 institutions of higher education in the nine-county region, attended the event along with members of the CVHEC team.
See original CVHEC story.
Media Coverage:
Merced SunStar – https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/article288012865.html
KVPR – Merced FOCUS — https://www.kvpr.org/2024-04-25/merced-college-honors-valley-education-leaders-ben-and-rosemary-parga-duran-at-state-of-the-college-event
MAY 2024 (No. 40 — Special Medical Education Issue)
– Published May 5
Medical degrees in the Central Valley
A special edition look at CVHEC members committed to training healthcare professionals for our community
As another spring semester culminated, CVHEC’s 28 colleges and districts across the Central Valley celebrated the always joyous commencement season with abundant media coverage of the various graduations including the Fresno State Chicano/Latino Commencement that went viral on nationwide social media.
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium took the end of the semester to present our first medical education special issue of the e-Newsletter that focused on the universities and medical schools in our membership delivering medical education and training leading to medical doctor degrees that will counter the shortage of healthcare professionals in our Central Valley region.
Three main stories featured California Health Sciences University (CHSU), the University of San Francisco School of Medicine, Fresno Campus, (UCSF Fresno) and the University of California, Merced.
And, for National Mental Health Awareness Month, we presented a community perspective in this medical education movement with our monthly “What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog” by Juan Garcia, PhD, executive director of Integral Community Solutions Institute (known as Community Counseling Services). Dr. Garcia articulates this non-profit organization’s work addressing mental healthcare in underrepresented communities in partnership with CVHEC members UCSF Fresno and Fresno State through the Bienestar Wellness Early Intervention Program. [STORY]
JUNE 2024
(social media posts only)
National Higher Education Day June 5
In observance of #HigherEducationDay2024 today … a salute to the leaders of 28 Central Valley institutions of higher ed in our nine-county region from San Joaquin to Kern who make up the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors: speaking in a single voice on higher education policy issues that affect our region. Collectively these educational executives – chancellors, presidents, campus directors — collaborate to increase Central Valley’s certificate and degree attainment rates while serving as a regional convener on post-secondary equitable work. A special shout out to board members in transition: Dr. Robert Pimentel, Fresno City College president named as the new chancellor of West Hills Community College District succeeding retiring Chancellor Kristin Clark effective Aug. 1; Porterville College President Claudia Lourido-Habib on her new assignment as president of Ventura Community College. Appointed Porterville interim president was Dr. Primavera Monarrez effective this month.
West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) Chancellor-select Pimentel
Congratulations to Dr. Robert Pimentel who was named the new chancellor of the West Hills Community College District(WHCCD) today. Currently the president of Fresno City College and a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, Chancellor-select Pimentel will officially begin his new position Aug. 1 succeeding Dr. Kristin Clark upon her retirement at the end of July (when she will also relinquish her role as current CVHEC board chair): https://westhillscollege.com/…/2024-new-chancellor.php
Calif. Community Colleges AB705/1705/STEM Systems Webinar
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium encourages our #MathTaskForce members and College Bridge #MathBridge partners to tune in to this California Community Colleges AB705/1705/STEM Systems Webinar June 5 (9-10am).
Meet our new admin specialist Priscilla Arellano
Priscilla brings six years of admin experience in the medical field to the CVHEC mission, reporting to Angel Ramirez Special thanks to outgoing AS Priscila Villanueva for her crucial role in CVHEC’s growth the past few years!
CVHEC Board Executive Committee meets
A hybrid session at Fresno State to plan the upcoming fall board meeting when six new #CentralValley college CEOs will be welcomed and seated.
For the planning meeting, Executive Director Benjamin Duran, Presidents #SaúlJiménezSandoval (host) & #AndréStephens Fresno Pacific University were joined virtually by fellow EC members Chanc. Kristin Clark, West Hills Community College District (and outgoing CVHEC board chair); Chancellor #JuanSánchezMuñoz, UC Merced; Pres. Chris Vitelli, Merced College; & Interim Pres. Primavera Monarrez, Porterville College.
SUMMER EDITION 2024 (No. 41)
– Published Aug. 1
Mid- Year Review 2024 (January to June)
The Summer Edition 2024 of the CVHEC e-newsletter takes a look back at some of the newsletter stories and social media published in the first half of 2024.
CVHEC Board transitions
Our 2024 mid-year summer issue, which replaces the June, July and August issues, reflected transition in the CEO ranks of valley colleges that are members of the consortium. The CEOs of CVHEC member institutions of higher education serve on the consortium board of directors (see CVHEC Board News).
“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog – Summer Edition
Why some colleges are worth it: higher ed is still a good investment … and attainable (By Dr. John Spevak)
In the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog for our summer 2024 special edition, Dr. John Spevak presents an observation about the value of a higher education. Dr. Spevak, who is a vice president-emeritus of Merced College and currently a regional coordinator for CVHEC, coordinates the English and Math Task Forces for the consortium — all champions for student support through such measures as dual enrollment. Through the consortium task forces, the former English teacher and college administrator continues to work closely with educators in the field for the educational advancement of students. (See Summer 2024 blog).
CVHEC introduces new admin specialist Priscilla Arrellano
Joining the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium core team is Priscilla Victoria Arellano, who was named the consortium’s fulltime administrative specialist effective June 10. She will oversee and provide high-level support in all consortium administrative needs, budgeting and special events/meetings, said Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC finance and operations manager, as well as provide support to Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director. (See: Priscilla Arrellano).
SEPTEMBER 2024 (No. 42)
– Published Sept. 12
Math Bridge and Master’s Upskilling heading north via WE Will! K-16 funding
Two $400,000 state grants in partnership with the WE Will! K-16 Collaborative will expand Central Valley Higher Education Consortium initiatives into the North Valley: the Master’s Upskilling Project and the Central Valley Math Bridge program. Funding for both consortium projects, which involve improving access to dual enrollment college courses for high school students, is from a $18 million grant the WE Will! Collaborative received from the Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Programs last fall as part of the statewide drive to strengthen the K-16 education-to-career pipeline. (See North Valley Master’s Upskilling Project).
Math Task Force: AB 1705 focuses on three strands for Oct. 25 — ‘Central Valley Way’ gains national attention
As a July 1, 2025 deadline approaches regarding implementation of Assembly Bill 1705, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force prepares for its next convening of valley math minds Oct. 25 amidst several new developments. The group has now met five times since October 2022 – three in person and two virtually – as Central Valley community colleges prepare to meet the requirements of AB 1705 related to equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs. The free convening Oct. 25 is again co-facilitated by Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force, and Tammi Perez-Rice of the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), at the Clovis Community College Herndon campus.
Previously, at the April 19 gathering attended by about 70 that Spevak described as “filled with energy, synergy and productivity,” math professors and deans shared ideas about how best to meet AB 1705 requirements. That conversation will continue on Oct. 25 with the focus narrowed to three strands and discussion of a new direction provided recently by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. (See: “The Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success – Part 3”).
Kern Master’s Upskill Program nears half-way mark
The Kern Master’s Upskill Program continues to forge ahead as four cohorts of high school teachers are halfway to its goal of 100 new master’s degrees which qualifies the teachers for instruction of dual enrollment courses at Kern County high schools. (See: Kern Master’s Upskill Program update).
North Valley Master’s Upskilling Program: recruitment of North Valley high school math teachers begins
Applications are now available for 24 North Valley high school math and English teachers to enroll in the WE Will! K-16 Collaborative Master’s Upskilling Program sponsored by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium and offered by National University and Fresno Pacific University. The MA Upskilling Program qualifies them to teach dual enrollment courses. The cohorts will begin in spring 2025. Registration for online information sessions is now available. Background: WE Will! Grant story. (See: NVMUP recruitment begins).
PPIC Pathways Report: Central Valley struggles to produce college grads; key CVHEC programs turning that around
A sweeping new report, “Pathways to College Completion in the San Joaquin Valley,” released in August by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found a multitude of factors contributing to lower college attainment rate in the region, compared to the rest of the state, including a lack of preparation in high school, low university application rates (especially to the UC system), financial constraints, campus proximity, and a perception of less access. (See: PPIC Pathways Report).
PPIC Pathways Report Panel features CVHEC, UC Merced, FUSD
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) presented a panel last month to discuss its new report “Pathways to College Completion in the San Joaquin Valley” released Aug. 13 that featured a discussion with valley higher education leaders addressing how institutions, educators and policymakers can expand support for college-going pathways. Moderated by Olga Rodriguez, PPIC senior fellow and director of its Higher Education Center, the Aug. 20 panel included Dr. Benjamín Durán, executive director, of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium; Dr. Orquidea Largo, associate vice chancellor and chief outreach officer at UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnership; and Tressa Overstreet, Fresno Unified School District’s executive director of college and career readiness. (See: PPIC Pathways Panel).
Consortium unveils new look
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium is rolling out a new look that includes new logos presented in this issue and a revamped website later this winter. The 28-member strong consortium covers 10 counties in the Central Valley and the new primary logo — keeping to tradition while simultaneously modernizing — depicts our region in the center of the state through a rounded square shape to help with placement in a variety of compositions. The stylization of the “CV” and its notable visual distinction in the logo-mark represents the agricultural roots of the Central Valley and its importance as the region that CVHEC serves. As the primary logo, this mark will be the most commonly used for CVHEC branded touch-points. Two alternate logos will also be used from time-to-time with internal, local, state and national partners. (See new CVHEC look).
“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog – September 2024
‘Our goals are to succeed, to learn and understand and to rise up and make life better’ – (By Kevin A. Nelson, Professor of English – Merced College Los Baños Campus)
An alumnus of California State University, Long Beach and Cal Poly Humboldt, Prof. Nelson has been teaching at Merced College since 2013. Here he offers some insights about his experience at the Los Baños Campus with words that capture the essence of college life across the nation with the fall semester underway. (See September blog).
OCTOBER 2024 (No. 43)
– Published Oct. 4
AB1705 update: Math Task Force Convening draws state higher ed officials
Oct. 25: “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond”
With our Oct. 25 math gathering, “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond,” in Clovis a few weeks away, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium presents our agenda for the day that includes a few new developments for the dedicated and persevering math educators of our Math Task Force who have been engaged in hearty discussions regarding implementation of AB 1705 the past year-plus for the benefit of our region’s students. (See Math Task Force AB1705 Convening).
North Valley Masters Upskilling Program begins recruiting — info sessions set
WE Will! funding helps North Valley high school teachers offset tuition for Masters Upskilling Program
Recruitment is now underway for a cohort of North Valley high school teachers interested in earning a master’s degree that will qualify them to teach college dual enrollment. The North Valley Master’s Upskilling Program is presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) thanks to a $400,000 grant by the WE Will! K-16 Workforce and Education Collaborative. In partnership with two CVHEC-members — Fresno Pacific University and National University along with CVHEC member community colleges and their service-area high schools — the program recruits and helps fund tuition for existing high school math and English teachers to earn a master’s so they can teach dual enrollment courses in those subjects on their high school campuses. Interested high school teachers are encouraged to schedule an information session using the FPU and National websites above. (See: North Valley Master’s Upskilling Program teacher recruiting continues).
UC Merced and LACCD Forge New Transfer Pathway to Boost Student Access, Success
The Merced Promise Pathway Program will extend access for transfer students from the Los Angeles Community College District to the University of California, Merced. With an initial goal of attracting 100 qualified LACCD transfer students to UC Merced by the end of 2025, this partnership establishes a clear pathway for LACCD students to prepare for admission and an opportunity to engage with UC Merced students and faculty through activities such as cross-enrollment classes and summer research projects. (See: The Merced Promise Pathway Program).
A college degree in high school? More Valley students getting the jump on college
A news report by EdSource reporter Rachel Livinal reveals an increase in K-12 students in the San Joaquin Valley either taking college courses or earning an associate of arts degree. The number of students who obtained an associates degree while 19-years-old or under skyrocketed from 2018 to 2020, she wrote, with the largest increases occurring in Tulare and Fresno Counties. (See: College in High School).
CVHEC on the road: consortium reps set to represent at state and national conferences
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium representatives will participate in upcoming conferences: the California Economic Summit Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento; the Strategic Transfer Summit Nov. 8 at UC Merced; the Complete College America National Conference Nov. 18-20 in Indianapolis; and the Community Colleges League of California Nov. 22 in Sacramento.
“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog – October 2024
Dual enrollment: overcoming higher ed obstacles — ‘a force for opening college opportunities to more of our students’ (By Marni Cahoon, M.S., Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics – Taft College, West Kern Community College District)
This issue, the CVHEC blog presents a look at one member’s approach to dual enrollment at Taft College. Marni Cahoon, M.S., adjunct instructor of mathematics for the West Kern Community College District, recounts the road the Taft College faculty traveled to establish a program that helps its students face challenges on their academic journey with a renewed sense of hope and accomplishment. An alumna of University of Alaska, Southeast, Brigham Young University and the University of West Florida, Prof. Cahoon has been teaching at Taft since 2022. (See October blog).
NOVEMBER 2024 (No. 44)
– Published Nov. 15
UC Merced project to improve college readiness data completes first phase
‘Despite significant growth in dual enrollment participation rates in the Central Valley, disparities persist in the region’
A University of California, Merced research team has completed the first phase of a two-year project to create a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of college readiness among high-school students in the San Joaquin Valley, particularly those from underrepresented and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. The UC Merced Advancing Educational Opportunity in the Central Valley Project, announced earlier this year and led by Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, principal investigator, focuses on surveying and analyzing college-readiness data, policies and infrastructure to determine how certain academic pathways and access disparities impact student populations — including Latinx, Black, Native American and English learners — and their preparedness for higher education. (See: the UC Merced Advancing Educational Opportunity in the Central Valley Project . Also: companion blog “Equitable College Pathways” by Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Munoz).
Kern Master’s Upskill Program launches new English cohort
Successful dual enrollment teacher program awarded funding for 15 more high school teachers
The success of the Kern Master’s Upskill Program has resulted in the creation of an additional English cohort of 15 slots that will begin in March 2025 – meaning more Kern high school teachers can obtain funding to earn a master’s degrees qualifying them to instruct dual enrollment courses at Kern County high schools as well as to become adjunct community college instructors. (See: Kern Master’s Upskill Program cohort added).
Central Valley’s math professionals go above and beyond as Math Task Force AB1705 collaborations continue
A “unique collaboration” was the vibe for more than 60 community college math educators and other education officials who met last month at the third meeting of the “Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success and Beyond” convening where they shared ideas and perspectives addressing implementation of Assembly Bill 1705 curriculum. Presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force with the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), the Oct. 25 convening held at the Clovis Community College-Herndon Center continued two years of discussion as Central Valley community colleges and their counterparts statewide prepare to meet the requirements of the state law related to equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs. Plans are already underway for the next math gathering in spring 2025 with a tentative March 28 date, said Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force and co-facilitator with Dr. Tammi Perez-Rice, Dana Center course program specialist. (See: Coverage of “Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success and Beyond” convening).
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium delegations are making the rounds this fall at several state and national conferences including the recent Strategic Transfer Summit presented by the California Community Colleges Nov. 8 at UC Merced. CVHEC’s Transfer Project team presented an update on its progress in partnering with the consortium’s 15 community college members using the Program Pathway Mapper software for a smoother transfer process for students. Leading the CVHEC delegation at the UC Merced event was Executive Director Benjamín Durán and Transfer Lead Stan Carrizosa along with James Zimmerman vice chancellor of UC Merced and Jennifer Johnson California Community Colleges Foundation.
Other CVHEC team destinations include the Complete College America in Indianapolis Nov. 18-20; the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta Nov. 14-17 through the Dana Center with CVHEC Math Task Force members Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College; and the Community Colleges League of California Nov. 22 in Sacramento. CVHEC also attended the California Economic Summit held Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento. (See: CVHEC on the road-Strategic Transfer Summit).
‘New program designed to aid North Valley high school teachers’ – CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program
Recruitment is now underway to help selected North Valley high school English and math teachers earn a master’s degree and qualify to teach college dual-enrollment courses. The North Valley Master’s Upskilling Program is presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) thanks to a $400,000 grant by the WE Will! K-16 Workforce and Education Collaborative. (See Escalon Times story).
Report: How dual enrollment in California compares with other states – [EdSource]
A national report finds that dual enrollment can be a powerful strategy for addressing equity gaps in college enrollment and completion rates, but that the students who most need dual enrollment — Black, Latino and low-income students — still struggle to access it. The problem of limited access to dual enrollment is true in California, as well as the rest of the nation, according to a report released Nov. 12 by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University. (See: Dual enrollment report by Community College Research Center at Teachers College – Columbia University).
“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog – November 2024
Equitable college pathways – Leveraging dual enrollment and advanced placement access and participation to bridge gaps for Central Valley’s underserved students (by Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Munoz, UC Merced).
Our CV-HEC blog this issue by Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz of the Language, Learning, and Teaching Lab at UC Merced provides an inside glimpse at the first phase of a two-year research initiative she is leading, the “Advancing Educational Opportunity in the Central Valley Project.” Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and launched in February, the project focuses on surveying and analyzing college-readiness data, policies and infrastructure to determine how certain academic pathways and access disparities impact student populations — including Latinx, Black, Native American and English learners — and their preparedness for higher education. Along with co-principal investigator Dr. Orquidea Largo, Dr. Aguirre-Muñoz’ team of researchers is taking a deeper more nuanced look at the performance of Central Valley students in courses designed to prepare them for entrance into the college or university of their choice. (See the November blog and related article).
DECEMBER 2024 (No. 45)
– Published Dec. 18
“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog – November 2024
Year-In-Review 2024 — (By Tom Uribes, Central Valley Higher Education Consortium).
Our final blog of the year takes a look back at some of the newsletter stories and social media posts published in 2024.
Congratulations to Dr. Lena H. Tran, a San Jose City College vice president, on her 
