Spring – a renewal of our resiliency and celebrations

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of CVHEC,

There is plenty to celebrate this Spring. As the celebration is underway, Central Valley’s resiliency during this pandemic is on full display. We are delighted to highlight some of those efforts in this month’s issue of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium’s newsletter.

Please join us in congratulating two CVHEC board members who have been selected to serve their districts as chancellor. Dr. Kristin Clark has been selected as the third West Hills Community College District Chancellor and Dr. Sonya Christian was selected as Kern Community College District Chancellor. Congratulations!

University officials and family party-planners alike have been busy preparing for Spring commencements. Although the pandemic is impacting traditional commencement celebrations, our region is bustling to honor student success. With fewer restrictions than last year, creativity abounds as campuses are finding new ways to commemorate student success. We are highlighting the variations and look forward to a joyous commencement season. Congratulations graduates and everyone who helped them get to that next step in their lives.

Finally, in this issue, we look at how our member campuses have stepped up to support vaccine distribution to help our economy come back, and eventually, assist in face-to-face learning on campuses. Our Central Valley campuses are serving as strong partners.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Innovative Central Valley academic leaders help overcome a year of pandemic

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of CVHEC,

We are delighted to invite you to this issue of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)  e-newsletter.

As we hopefully begin to emerge from the year-long pandemic and welcome the spring flowers to the valley, we share some of CVHEC’s highlights since our last issue including a glimpse at how our academic leaders and community collaborate to lead our students forward.

First, we want to re-welcome our newest member, the University of the Pacific (UOP) located in Stockton. We are happy to invite our north valley colleagues back into the Consortium after some time away.  Founded in 1851 in Santa Clara, UOP is our most senior institution and has been serving the northern valley since 1923 when the campus was moved to Stockton.

Another of our independent members, Brandman University is also featured in this issue.  We take pleasure in sharing with you a heartwarming story of the university assisting students impacted by the pandemic.  The innovative use of CVHEC Mini-Grant funds by Brandman leadership to bring some relief to students suffering financially during the COVID19 shutdown is highlighted.  We think you will agree that these sorts of uplifting stories are what we need in times like these.

You will also read about the work that Central Valley colleges are doing around the equity, race and social justice agendas our institutions are pursuing. In particular, we extend our gratitude to the professionals who make up our CVHEC Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce announced in this issue. The expertise, talent and experience these dedicated scholars from our member institutions contribute to this valley-wide undertaking is a tribute in itself to our higher education community here in Central California.

Again, thank you for joining us in enjoying this issue.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Heartening optimism for a rewarding 2021

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of CVHEC,

Welcome to the first issue of the CVHEC E-Newsletter of the new year. We are enthusiastically optimistic for 2021 and all it promises to bring after experiencing one of the most challenging and troubled years in our nation’s history.

We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable holiday break and were able to stay safe and healthy as you spent time with your families.   It is heartening that optimism also lies ahead on the pandemic front with the new national strategy for vaccines and other measures to overcome COVID-19.

In this issue we update you on the continuing work of our member colleges and universities.  We are excited to share with you the work we are doing with the Fresno K-16 Collaborative to increase the number of high school teachers holding MA degrees in English and mathematics to enhance the region’s ability to deliver dual enrollment courses on their local campuses to give students a jumpstart on their college careers.

You will also learn about the ongoing virtual professional learning opportunities for faculty and staff in our nine-county region. Our Charles A. Dana Center FOCI workshops have been a great success, filling to capacity. Thank you to all who have registered and are taking advantage of these opportunities to improve student-centered outcomes.

Finally, please be sure you see the uplifting account of Miguel Contreras, a courageous student from the College of the Sequoias, a CVHEC member institution, who was featured in a national photojournalism publication of the Lumina Foundation included.  He did a wonderful job of representing the Central Valley to the rest of the country and the ongoing challenges our students navigate.

Thank you all for your continued support of students like Miguel who make up our regional higher education institutions and for the professionals at those campuses and all they do to lift the social and economic well-being of the Great Central Valley.

Let’s make 2021 a banner year!!

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Weathering the storm … a time for inspiration

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

Seasons Greetings to all!

The holiday season always brings not only the sense of joy and warmth of family, great friends and colleagues, but serves to bestow wonder to what lies ahead in the new year.

But this year feels “different.”

Yes, many of us can still aspire to that same holiday cheerfulness, but clearly the year 2020 has wrought a new world that, while we feel somewhat subdued, reinforces gratitude for what we have accomplished and fortifies a renewed commitment and motivation to face any challenge.

As we collectively look back on the last nine-months, CVHEC takes pride in that we all stepped up in a meaningful way and are meeting these challenges together.

That collective pride was aptly displayed at our board meeting this week when we personally bid farewell to one of our ardent leaders, Dr. Joseph I. Castro, as he departs his position as Fresno State president to become chancellor of the California State University system in January. It was befitting of the season to hear so many heartfelt expressions of appreciation for Joe’s contributions as a CVHEC board member and of support for his new quest — enough to light up any holiday celebration! We look forward to continuing to rely on Joe in his new post as we move through this time of transition.

So many we serve in our region have faced extraordinarily trying times this year and for them, life may never be the same. We know higher education is evolving to better meet our student’s needs and new paths for higher education delivery are continuously being forged. Although this is an ongoing challenge, we will be adamant in doing our part.

As we look ahead, we have our sights set on many endeavors, most notably our upcoming CVHEC Virtual Summit Series which is a spin on our annual live Higher Education Legislative Policy Summit (usually held in October). In the Spring, we will take on some of those challenges presented to us this year: Broadband in the Central Valley – focusing in on Education, Ag and Telemedicine needs; calling for action through the CVHEC Equity and Racial and Social Justice Ad Hoc Committee; and yes, exploring the future of Higher Education in the Central Valley.

This season of giving also provides cause for pause to acknowledge our many partners, funders, and friends. Thank you for continuing to support the work CVHEC is doing for our students in the valley, thank you for the flexibility and creativity that this year has made us all tap into, and thank you for being ready to take on 2021 with us. You make the work we do at CVHEC possible.

I’ll leave you this issue with the final words that Chancellor-select Castro expressed to the board this month as he departed our Zoom session: “The best is yet to come, both here at Fresno State and across the Central Valley. Keep being bold!”

May you and your family find continued happiness during this “different” holiday season.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Wrapping up a historic and challenging 2020

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

As our Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) member institutions approach the end of a historic and challenging 2020, we are delighted to report that faculty, staff, administrators and leaders have pulled together to continue to deliver a high-quality higher education experience to our Central Valley students.

In the midst of this historic pandemic, we can confidently say that there were, and are, heroes on our campuses who stepped up to serve our students.

First, speaking of heroes and in observance of Veteran’s Day, we extend a very special thank you to the many men and women who served and are currently serving in our United States Armed Forces, especially any veterans on our board, faculty, staff and students at our member institutions.

As we come to the end of the fall semester, the CVHEC Board of Directors join together in wishing our own Dr. Joseph Castro, president of Fresno State and the new Chancellor-select of the California State University System, the very best as he prepares to assume his new role Jan. 4 as leader of the largest four-year public university system in the United States. We in the Central Valley have much to be proud of as we see one of our own rise to this prestigious and important post.

Dr. Castro, your friends and colleagues in the CVHEC wish you success and good luck as you assume your new role. Know that we will always see you as an esteemed Central Valley colleague whose support and contributions to higher education in our region are immeasurable. We are forever grateful!

And as we say goodbye to our longtime partner, we welcome two new colleagues and friends to the CVHEC Board of Directors: Dr. Sean C. Hancock and Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval.

Dr. Hancock was appointed president of Cerro Coso College by Kern Community College District Chancellor Thomas Burke this summer, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Dr. Jill Board.  Dr. Hancock most recently served as vice chancellor for Student and Institutional Success at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District in El Cajon and brings more than 20 years of experience in community college administration to his new role.  President Hancock, welcome to the Central Valley.

Dr Jiménez-Sandoval, Fresno State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, was appointed by California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White in October as interim president to guide the University when current Fresno State president Dr. Joseph I. Castro begins his new role as chancellor of the CSU Jan. 4, 2021. We look forward to these two talented leaders joining our CVHEC board at our next quarterly meeting, Dec. 7.

In this issue, we highlight some of the activities and strategies we are planning for the rest of the fall semester and the 2021 spring semester.  CVHEC, with the Charles A. Dana Center of the University of Texas at Austin and other partners, will continue to bring professional development opportunities to Central Valley faculty and staff to better serve students in our region.

Also, to further opportunities that serve students, we are pleased to again offer our CVHEC mini-grants to partner institutions. The mini-grants, up to $7,500 each, provide opportunities for faculty and administrators to engage in innovative approaches that lead to student success in a virtual environment given rise by the pandemic.

Finally, since the Consortium was unable to hold its annual Legislative and Policy Summit, the board of directors will offer a series of mini-summits that will address salient topics currently being discussed such as, “The Impact of the Pandemic on Our Students” and “Addressing Equity and Racial and Social Justice in Central Valley Colleges and Universities.”

And, in observance of Veteran’s Day Nov. 11, we extend a very special thank you to the many men and women who served us in our United States Armed Forces, especially any veterans on our board, on faculty and staff working at our member institutions and our student veterans.

Please enjoy the latest issue of our newsletter and thank you for being a supporter of higher education in the great Central Valley.

 

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Congratulations CSU Chancellor-select Castro!

Congratulations CSU Chancellor-select Castro!

September 24, 2020

 

On behalf of the CVHEC Board of Directors, I extend a hearty congratulations to one of our board members, Dr. Joseph I. Castro, president of Fresno State, on his appointment yesterday as chancellor-select of the California State University 23-campus system.

A native Californian born and raised in Hanford here in the Central Valley, Dr. Castro exemplifies the very success story that we at CVHEC strive to realize by increasing the degree attainment rate in our nine-county region. Upon graduation from Hanford High School in 1984, Joe earned degrees at UC Berkeley and Stanford before serving 23 years in the University of California (UC) system.

Then in 2013, this grandson of Mexican immigrants raised in a single-parent home made history when he was named the eighth president of Fresno State becoming the first Latino and valley native to hold that position in its 100-plus year history. Now, he once again makes history as the first California native and first Mexican-American to be appointed CSU chancellor, effective January 4, 2021.

We at CVHEC have come to count on President Castro for his bold leadership and unwavering encouragement of our shared goals and the strong show of support he often extended to his college leader colleagues on the board. During the last six months, as he and other Central Valley higher education have struggled with the challenges of continuing to serve students during this historic pandemic, Dr. Castro provided a strong calming voice. His down-to-earth style that listens to all voices has served him well in the valley and will serve him well as he leads the California State University system and continues the progress of the seven chancellors preceding him.

We especially salute his immediate predecessor, outgoing Chancellor Timothy P. White, also a product of the Central Valley and member institution Fresno State for a job well-done during his eight-year tenure that ends in December with retirement.

We will miss Joe on our board, but we are heartened that a great ally will be just a little further south in Long Beach as we continue to work together to serve our students with the three CSU campuses in the Central Valley: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus.

Felicidades Chancellor-select Castro …. we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the CSU.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D
Executive Director
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

Welcome Madera Community College!

The state’s 116th community college
celebrates accreditation, CCC  approval

Madera Community College made its official debut July 21 with a ribbon-cutting celebration after the California Community Colleges Board of Governors voted unan­imously the day before to recognize MCC as the 116th campus of the state’s community college system.

In June, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges granted accreditation to what until then was known as the Madera and Oakhurst Community College Centers affiliated with Reedley College of the State Center Community College District.

With the new designation, the  Madera Community College (4,780 enrollment) is no longer a satellite campus and will now receive funding for additional programs and staffing.  Over 80 percent of Madera Community’s students are from historically underrepresented populations and the school has been recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”President Ángel Reyna” link=”” color=”#33ACFF” class=”” size=”18″]“As a new college we want to be an institution that is student- and community-centered, and provides equitable outcomes for each of our students.”[/perfectpullquote]

President Ángel Reyna takes a place on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board of directors, joining 27 other Central Valley presidents and chancellors.

“This accomplishment is something that our community has been waiting for a long time and much needed,” Reyna said in a CCC Board of Governors article.

“It has been a collective and collaborative effort, and we look forward to the continued work to better serve our students as a college,” he said. “As a new college we want to be an institution that is student- and community-centered, and provides equitable outcomes for each of our students. To that end, we commit towards transforming ourselves into an anti-racist institution while producing the future workforce our community needs.”
 
See the July 21 ribbon-cutting video.
 
News coverage of Madera Community College:

Board of Governors Recognizes Madera Community College as the 116th Community College in California — California Community Colleges (07/20/20)
Madera Center becomes California’s newest community college — Fresno Bee (07/21/20)
The Central Valley’s Madera Community College becomes California’s newest community college — Ed Source (07/20/20)

Governor Newsom Announces Appointments

Governor Newsom Announces Appointments 5.18.20

Published: 

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

Jennifer Norris, 51, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary for biodiversity and habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency. Norris has served as fish and wildlife administrator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service since 2013, where she was deputy field supervisor from 2011 to 2013, assistant field supervisor from 2010 to 2011, critical habitat coordinator from 2009 to 2010, Rio Grande ESA coordinator from 2006 to 2009 and fish and wildlife biologist from 2004 to 2006. She was a biologist at the New Mexico State Land Office from 2001 to 2004. Norris earned a Doctor of Biological Sciences degree in ecology from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Science degree in conservation biology from the University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $167,004. Norris is a Democrat.

Ted Craddock, 53, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed deputy director of the State Water Project at the California Department of Water Resources, where he has served as the acting deputy director since 2019. Craddock has served in multiple other positions at the California Department of Water Resources since 1994, including assistant deputy director of the State Water Project, project manager of Oroville Spillways Emergency Recovery, chief of utility operations for the Hydropower License Office, program manager of the East Branch Extension, advisor to the State Water Project deputy director, and civil engineer. Craddock is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the United States Society on Dams. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $196,932. Craddock is registered without party preference.

Ellen Junn, 62, of Turlock, has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Junn has been president of California State University, Stanislaus since 2016. She was provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills from 2014 to 2016. Junn was provost and vice president for academic affairs at San Jose State University from 2012 to 2013. She was associate provost at Fresno State University from 2008 to 2011. Junn is an executive steering member of the Millennium Leadership Initiative — part of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), a member of the board of directors of California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, an executive committee member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, and a member of ITHAKA Higher Ed Insights, American Psychological Association, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. She earned Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in cognitive and developmental psychology from Princeton University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Junn is a Democrat.

Robert Shireman, 58, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Shireman has been senior fellow and director of higher education excellence at the Century Foundation since 2015. He was executive director at California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy from 2010 to 2015. Shireman was deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education from 2009 to 2010. He was president of the Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) from 2004 to 2009.  Shireman was senior fellow at the Program on Education and Society, Aspen Institute from 2003 to 2004. He was program director for higher education at the James Irvine Foundation from 1998 to 2002 and was senior policy advisor at the National Economic Council from 1996 to 1998. He was education advisor and legislative director for United States Senator Paul Simon from 1989 to 1996. Shireman was a policy analyst at the West Coast Regional Office for the Consumers Union of the United States, Inc. from 1986 to 1988. He earned a Master of Education degree from Harvard University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of San Francisco. Shireman is a member of the boards of the Opportunity Institute and uAspire. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Shireman is a Democrat.

Sara Barth, 51, of Pleasanton, has been appointed to the State Park and Recreation Commission. Barth has been executive director of the Sempervirens Fund since 2016. She held multiple positions at the Wilderness Society from 2003 to 2016, including, senior regional director for the Pacific and Southwest Regions, vice president for regional conservation, and California/Nevada Director. She was a legislative assistant to United States Senator Barbara Boxer from 2000 to 2003, legislative representative for the Endangered Habitats Team at the National Wildlife Federation from 1996 to 2000 and conservation fellow at the World Wildlife Fund from 1994 to 1996. She is a member of Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders and the California League of Conservation Voters. Barth earned a Master of Science degree in conservation biology and natural resource policy from the University of Michigan. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Barth is a Democrat.

Asma Mahdi, 37, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the State Park and Recreation Commission. Mahdi has been policy director at the Better World Group since 2019. She was communications manager at the UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research / Sustainable LA Grand Challenge from 2016 to 2019, executive director and communications director at Green Muslims from 2014 to 2018, outreach and communications specialist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program from 2012 to 2016 and coastal cleanup day coordinator at Heal the Bay in 2011. She earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mahdi is registered without party preference.

Katherine Toy, 51, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Park and Recreation Commission. Toy has been executive vice president of partnerships and programs at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy since 2017. She was associate director for alumni volunteer engagement at Stanford Alumni Association/Stanford University from 2007 to 2017, program director at San Francisco School Volunteers from 2005 to 2007 and executive director at the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation from 2000 to 2004.  She was assistant director of the Stanford Alumni Association from 1998 to 2000, teacher and director of student activities for the Las Lomitas School District from 1995 to 1997, intern teacher at Carlmont High School/Sequoia Union High School District from 1994 to 1995 and teacher at the Bryn Mawr School from 1991 to 1994. Toy earned a Master of Arts degree in education from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Toy is a Democrat.

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Original post can be found at:https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/05/18/governor-newsom-announces-appointments-5-18-20/

CVHEC Zoom Conference: Delivering Online/Remote Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Media Advisory

March 27, 2020 —

WHAT: CVHEC Zoom Conference:

Delivering Online/Remote Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

As Central Valley colleges undertake the monumental effort to convert all class sessions to online platforms — in some instances, doing in 10 days what would normally take months — the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) will host a special Zoom webinar featuring course program specialists from The Charles A. Dana Center at University of Texas at Austin facilitating a Virtual Teaching Transition conversation and Q&A.

Central Valley faculty who have taken on a leadership role on their campuses will also share their online expertise with college faculty and administrators representing CVHEC member institutions.

Media representatives are invited to log on and monitor the conference call either for story coverage and/or to get an inside look at one way the Central Valley region (San Joaquin County to Kern County) is  addressing the monumental transition from face-to-face instruction to virtual instruction brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

 
WHEN: Monday, March 30, 2020 (7:30 – 9:00 a.m.)
WHERE: Zoom online — Media interested in observing the videoconference, please reply to tom@uribes.com for the URL access.
WHO: Audience: Approximately 50 higher ed institution educators representing Central Valley universities, private and public colleges and community college districts.

Presenters: Central Valley Higher Education Consortium featuring Joan Zoeller and Paula Talley, from The Charles A. Dana Center of the University of Texas at Austin.
HOW: Zoom Open Forum by invitation to 27 CVHEC-member Institutions
WHY: The Central Valley presidents and chancellors, who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors, have mobilized CHVEC to host a Zoom informational session for their respective institution’s representatives assisting faculty in developing and delivering online education. This session demonstrates one of many activities underway to transform higher education from face-to-face learning to remote learning and ensuring their faculty are best prepared for the transition. Some institutions, like Fresno Pacific and Porterville Community College, were on Spring Break during the Governor’s call to shelter in place so students came back from break to find their classes converted. Remote learning will continue through summer and fall.

In response to COVID-19 safety concerns, Central California higher education leaders are connecting virtually via CVHEC to help stabilize their students’ higher education pursuits asthey face unprecedented challenges in light of the health pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Original press release:  www.cvhec.org/covid19-032520
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CVHEC/      Twitter:   @CVHEC_
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Uribes • (559) 348.3278 •  tom@uribes.com
Contact Us

  • centralvalleyhec@gmail.com

  • 559.292.0576

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