CVHEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (January 2025)

2025: ‘higher education is at a crossroads’  

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues …

It is a delight to welcome you to 2025 on behalf of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium member colleges and universities as well as the CVHEC staff that has the privilege of working with our members on the impactful work they undertake in our Central Valley region – work that strives to improve the well-being of our students, their families and the communities we live in.

Before we proceed, let me join you all in wishing our colleagues and students from our sister colleges and universities in Southern California safety, security and well-being as they deal with the horrific and unimaginable fires raging.  It is heartening to see those higher education campuses in the region serving as sites joining in efforts to assist the victims.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

In our last edition, we shared with you the successes and highlights of the previous year.  In this, our first newsletter of the year, we are happy to share some of the events and initiatives planned in the coming months.

First, you will note that Dr. Sonya Christian, chancellor of the California Community Colleges and Central Valley native, will join us Feb. 3 as the keynote speaker for our convening “Dual Enrollment — the Central Valley Way.” At this event, with educators and policymakers in our 10-county region, we will showcase the successes achieved throughout the Central Valley in the delivery of dual enrollment courses to regional high schools by our community colleges and examine what is ahead so that we work in unison, as one voice, as much as possible.

Also in this edition, you will read about the first cohort of Math Bridge high school students that began in the fall with a prep course and will now be taking their first college course this spring through the innovative approach rolled out in 2023 by College Bridge in partnership with CVHEC, community college consortium members and Rand Corporation.

As the spring progresses, CVHEC will hold similar convenings around other student success initiatives that are being implemented as well as to begin discussing strategic planning for the consortium. Details will be forthcoming on those events and plans but chief among them is the annual CVHEC Summit scheduled for May 9.

The summit is where the heads of the valley’s higher education institutions – the CVHEC Board of Directors – come together for a full day of showcases and discussions regarding education issues pertinent to our region. We will be joined by our colleagues, partners and friends. We look forward to hearing from our annual panel of legislative leaders from the Valley and, just as important if not moreso, them hearing from us. Watch for more details in our February issue.

In this issue, we are pleased to announce that this year the CVHEC Board of Directors will be chaired by Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of UC, Merced.  Presently, two board meetings are in the works for this spring.

In closing, we also kick off 2025 with a special edition of our “What the CV-HEC Is happening” Blog: a reprint of the speech delivered by Dr. Jaime Merisotis, president of the Lumina Foundation, at the Complete College America Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana last November: “Progress in a time of disruption: the urgency of reimagining higher ed.”  

CVHEC sent a delegation to the three-day conference where we were fortunate to hear President Merisotis issue both an alarm and a call to positive action. He warned that higher education is at a crossroads due to changes ranging from COVID, climate change effects, worldwide unrest, political polarization here in the US and a declining confidence in higher education due to distorted information.

But he calls upon our higher education community nationwide to heed a unique “opportunity to use this moment of extreme stress to pursue genuine, urgently-needed systemic change.

“Bluntly stated, this means calling BS on the outrageous distortions about higher education while also pursuing urgently-needed changes,” Dr. Merisotis told us. “These things are both possible, and not in contradiction.”

I hope you enjoy the blog and that this national education leader’s words generate some dialogue between you and your colleagues. We encourage you to share those conversations, as we will, on our various CVHEC social media platforms.

Once again, welcome to the new year and we look forward to maintaining and strengthening ongoing relationships with you as the year unfolds.

CVHEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE: New CEO at Taft College

JANUARY 2025 UPDATE

Dr. Minor named Taft acting superintendent/president 

Dr. Leslie Minor has assumed the acting superintendent/president role at West Kern Community College District/Taft College effective Jan. 13.

“Dr. Minor has worked with our district for quite some time and is an active participant in many regional groups,” said Sarah Criss, executive assistant to the Taft superintendent/president, in an email to Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Executive Director  Dr. Benjamín Durán,

As chief executive officer of a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium member institution of higher education, President Minor now serves on the CVHEC Board of Directors.  [MORE]



Dr. Rios-Ellis on ACE Women’s Network presidents panel

Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, president of CVHEC member California State University, Stanislaus participated on the Presidential Panel at the American Council on Education Women’s Network Northern California Annual Conference at UC Berkeley on Nov. 1.  She joined five fellow presidents on the panel:  Dr. Lisa Cardoza, American River College; Dr. Cathy Sandeen, California State University, East Bay; Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, San José State University; and Dr. Rowena Tomaneng, Deputy Chancellor, California Community Colleges. [MORE]

FALL 2024 UPDATE

CVHEC welcomes CSU, Bakersfield President Harper

California State University, Bakersfield named Dr. Robert Harper (left) as president effective Sept. 25 after serving as interim president since December.

As president of a CVHEC member institution of higher education, President Harper takes over President-emeritus Lynnette Zelezny’s seat on the consortium board of directors although he has been serving since his interim appointment.  [MORE]

Welcome to Taft Acting Superintendent/President Hampton

Dr. Todd Hampton (right) was named interim superintendent/president of West Kern Community College District/Taft College in September 2024.  As CEO of a CVHEC member institution of higher education, Acting President Hampton serves on the consortium board of directors.   [MORE]

SUMMER 2024 UPDATE

Dr. Pimentel is first Latino selected as WHCCD chancellor

(AUG. 1, 2024) — Dr. Robert Pimentel begins his term as the new chancellor the West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) Aug. 1 becoming the first Latino to serve as chancellor in the district’s 90-year history.

He succeeds Dr. Kristin Clark whose retirement is effective Aug. 8. Dr. Clark served at West Hills as the Lemoore College president for five-and-a-half years with the past three as the district’s chancellor, guiding the district through significant growth and development.

A valley native, Chancellor-select Pimentel has dedicated his entire career to serving the Central Valley community including the past two years as the president of Fresno City College, the largest community college CVHEC’s nine-county region.

Before joining Fresno City College, where he also served as the vice president of Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness for four years prior to the presidency there, Dr. Pimentel spent nearly 18 years with the West Hills Community College District working in various capacities at its two campuses and the district office.

See story.

Primavera Monarrez: Porterville interim president 

(AUG. 1, 2024) — Primavera Monarrez is the new interim president of Porterville College, effective in June announced Kern Community College District Chancellor Steven Bloomberg on May 28.

She fills the position vacated by Dr Claudia Habib’s move to the presidency of Ventura College and will be welcomed to the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium  Board of Directors at its next quarterly meeting in September.

Before joining Porterville College in 2018, Ms. Monarrez served as dean of Student Success at Taft College and interim vice president of Student Services.

See Porterville College announcement.

Dr. Armstrong: Fresno City College interim president

(AUG. 1, 2024) — Dr. Kim E. Armstrong will serve as the acting president of Fresno City College filling the position vacated by the recent appointment of FCC President Robert Pimentel as chancellor of the West Hills Community College District.

Dr. Armstrong, currently serving as the president of Clovis Community College, will bring her wealth of experience and her extensive leadership qualities to continue the excellent work at Fresno City College.

See story.

Dr. Chahal named Clovis City College interim 

(AUG. 1, 2024) — Dr. Monica Chahal, vice president of Instruction at Clovis Community College, will step into role of interim college president with Dr. Kim E. Armstrong’s transition to Fresno City College.

Dr. Chahal’s dedication to educational excellence and student success makes her well-equipped for this interim leadership position.

See story.

Porterville: Dr. Lourido-Habib moves to Ventura top spot

(AUG. 1, 2024) — Following a nationwide search, the Ventura County Community College District approved the selection of Dr. Claudia Lourido-Habib to be Ventura College’s next president, chancellor Dr. Rick MacLennan recently announced.

Dr. Habib was Porterville College’s president since 2019 and a member of the the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium  Board of Directors.

An alumna of two CVHEC-members — Fresno State, where she earned her Doctorate in Education as well as a bachelor’s in Interior Design, and National University with a master’s in Instructional Technology – Dr. Habib also served as the vice president of Madera and Oakhurst Community College Centers in Madera.

Her CVHEC board seat is now filled by her PC interim successor, Primavera Monarrez.

See: • Porterville Recorder story    • Ventura College press release

APRIL 2024 UPDATE

Britt Rios-Ellis appointed Stanislaus State president

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Britt Rios-Ellis to serve as president of California State University, Stanislaus effective July 1.

Rios-Ellis currently serves as provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs at Oakland University (OU), a public research university in Rochester, Michigan. See story.

WKCCD selects Dr. Rafe E. Trickey to lead Taft College

The West Kern Community College District (WKCCD) Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Rafe Edward Trickey, Jr. as its next superintendent/president of Taft College effective June 3, 2024.

He will replace Superintendent/President Brock McMurray who is retiring after 23-plus years with the district. McMurray has served as superintendent/president since July 2022.

The Board approved an employment agreement April 10, 2024. See story.

FEBRUARY 2024 UPDATE

CSUB interim president Vernon Harper begins term  

(BAKERSFIELD – FEB. 23, 2024) — Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. began his term Dec. 31 as interim president of California State University, Bakersfield, where he was provost and vice president for academic affairs. The one-year appointment   follows the retirement of President-emeritus Lynnette Zelezny, who launched an era of unprecedented growth, excellence and resiliency at the university during her 5 1/2-year tenure.

Dr. Harper joined CSUB in 2016 as associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of academic programs and was named interim provost in 2019 before accepting the permanent role in 2020. Dr. Harper earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from West Chester University and his doctorate in human communication from Howard University. See CSUB press release.

Clovis Chamber of Commerce honors CHSU Pres. Dunn 

(CLOVIS – FEB. 23, 2024) — Florence T. Dunn, founding president of California Health Sciences University since 2012 and a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board member, was among several honorees of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce at its annual “Salute to Business” Awards Luncheon Jan. 25.

She was presented the Einar Cook Leadership Award by Jerry Cook (Cook Land Company). [See Clovis Roundup]

WHCCD Chancellor Clark: champion of higher ed for all

(COALINGA – FEB. 23, 2024) — The West Hills Community College District (WHCCD)  announced 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 Jan. 25, “Chancellor Clark has been a champion of 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 …”  [STATEMENT]

JANUARY 2024 UPDATE

Jerry Filger named president of Bakersfield College

(BAKERSFIELD – JAN. 17, 2024) — Jerry Filger will take the presidential reins at Bakersfield College March 11 when he will also become a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors as the head of a consortium member college.

Filger, who has spent the last four years as the vice president for instruction at the College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas, was appointed BC’s eleventh president by the Kern Community College District Dec. 26.  

DECEMBER 2023 UPDATE

Dr. Bloomberg is KCCD chancellor 

(BAKERSFIELD – DEC. 8. 2023) — The Kern Community College District (Kern CCD) Board of Trustees announces the selection of Dr. Steven Bloomberg to serve as Kern Community College Disrict’s next chancellor effective March 1 when he will also assume his seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors.

Chancellor-select Bloomberg, who has spent the last five years leading Southeast Arkansas College, becomes the seventh chancellor of the KCCD succeeding Dr. Sonya Christian who was appointed the state chancellor of the California Community College System in April 2023.

This selection brings Dr. Bloomberg back to the district where he started his decades-long career in higher education: in 1994, Dr. Bloomberg served as the Workforce Development director for Cerro Coso Community College.

See the KCCD press release and the Bakersfield Californian article.

YCCD: Brian Sanders named Modesto JC president

Brian Sanders, a longtime instructor and administrator at Modesto Junior College, has been chosen to be the campus’ next president by the Yosemite Community College District’s Board of Trustees.

President-select Sanders, who will begin his new duties Jan. 1 when he will also assume his seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, has been the interim vice president of Instruction at MJC since June 2022 and has served in other administrative roles at MJC and Columbia College since 2007.

See the YCCD press release and the Modesto Bee article.

APRIL 2022 UPDATE

Fresno Pacific Pres. Jones nears retirement 

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Jones, who will be retiring as president of Fresno Pacific University this  summer after nearly five years of faithful service.

FPU Board of Trustees Chair Joshua Wilson, J.D., announced the retirement last fall saying, “On behalf of the FPU Board of Trustees I want to thank Joe and Yvette for their faithful service to the university and to the communities the university serves. We wish them all the best in their future journey and pray for God’s blessing on them.”

A search for a new president is now underway. See the retirement announcement. See President Jones bio.

Clovis Community College President Bennett to retire

Congratulations to Dr. Lori Bennett, who informed the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors earlier this month that she will retire as president of Clovis Community College effective January 2023.

President Bennett was appointed to serve as the second president of Clovis Community College in July, 2016.

See GVWire story (April 27, 2022).

See President Bennett’s bio.

Dr. Marlon Hall: Fresno City College interim president

Congratulations to Dr. Marlon Hall on his appointment to serve as interim president of Fresno City College by State CenterCommunity College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith in January.

He replaces  Dr. Goldsmith who was appointed SCCCD chancellor in December. A search for the next FCC president is currently underway.

See Interim President Hall’s bio and the retirement full press release.

DECEMBER 2021 UPDATE

Dr. Carole Goldsmith appointed SCCCD chancellor

Dr. Carole Goldsmith, who was named the 11th chancellor of the State Center Community College District last month, was confirmed by the SCCCD Board of Trustees Dec. 14 and begins her new position on Jan. 1. She fills the position vacated when Dr. Paul Parnell retired on July 6.

Dr. Goldsmith was serving as the president of Fresno City College at the time of her appointment and in that capacity was a member of the CVHEC Board of Directors, which is made up of the presidents and chancellors of its 29-member institutions in the nine-county region from San Joaquin to Kern counties. She will remain on the board now as SCCCD chancellor. Dr. Goldsmith has also previously served as president of West Hills College Coalinga.

Dr. Goldsmith earned a bachelor of arts degree in history at Fresno State, a master of science in educational administration from National University (both CVHEC member institutions) and a doctorate in educational administration from the Joint Doctorate program offered by Fresno State and University of California, Davis.

In addition to Fresno City College , the district’s campuses are Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College, Madera Community College at Oakhurst and the Career & Technology Center.

SCCCD Board President Annalisa Perea said, “With more than 20 years of experience in a variety of educational leadership roles along with her knowledge of this district and the community, she is the right choice for this significant position.”

See the SCCCD press release.

WHCCD names Dr. Tweed Coalinga campus president

Dr. Carla Tweed, a Central Valley native, will lead her alma mater as the 6th president of West Hills College Coalinga effective January 14, 2022 when she also becomes a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board of directors.

See the WHCCD press release.

WHCCD selects James Preston to lead West Hills Lemoore 

Mr. James Preston, former vice president of Educational Services who was serving as interim president of West Hills College Lemoore, was selected earlier this month to serve as the college’s 4th president effective January 1, 2022.

See the WHCCD press release.

UMass Global: thank you Sonia for CVHEC Board service

Congratulations to Sonia Gutierrez-Mendoza, director of UMass Global’s Visalia Campus, (formerly Brandman) on her appointment as assistant vice chancellor for Admission Operations of the independent university. The appointment was effective Nov. 29 when Sonia moved to her new office in the Irvine central office. She participated in her final CVHEC Board meeting during the recent quarterly Zoom call Dec. 2.  Gutierrez-Mendoza joined UMass Global in 2009 and the CVHEC board in 2018.  She has led multiple university campuses in the Central Valley since 2012 and in 2018-2019 she spearheaded the initiative for a new campus location established in Visalia.

MATH BRIDGE UPDATE: providing tools for postsecondary journeys

Nathan Savig teaching  a Math Bridge prep course to students at Mariposa High School in the fall 2024 semester.  These students are part of the 332 program enrollees who will take their first Math Bridge college class this spring at their respective high schools.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Since the Central Valley Math Bridge program was funded in late 2022 in partnership with the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, the Rand Corporation and several community college members of the consortium with funding from the California K-16 Collaborative (Central – Fresno, Madera, Kings Counties; and We Will! – North Valley), its small but energetic College Bridge team has made headway into 18 high schools in the consortium’s 10-county region. The first Math Bridge cohort at 13 of those schools began in the fall with a prep course and now the 332 high school students enrolled in the program at those schools will be taking their first college course this spring (see list below). The other five schools will start in fall 2025. This update submitted by Audra Burwell, College Bridge communication coordinator, presents the program’s 2024 progress as it moves into 2025 with its first cohorts. 

‘… facilitating meaningful discussions about

how math applies to the real world …’

As we step into spring 2025, College Bridge is making significant strides in expanding its Math Bridge project to reach more high school students across the Central Valley.

This innovative initiative aims to ease the transition from high school to college-level mathematics by offering a rigorous college-level math curriculum alongside the support of high school and college instructors. This collaboration is laying the foundation for academic success and providing students with the tools they need to succeed in their postsecondary journeys.

Across classrooms, high school math instructors are teaming up with college faculty who bring their credentials and college-level expertise to the learning environment. Together, they combine their knowledge and experience, brainstorming examples, solving problems, and facilitating meaningful discussions about how math applies to the real world.

In many classrooms, high school instructors are also dual-certified, holding credentials that allow them to teach at the college level. This professional development is often made possible through the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium’s (CVHEC) Master’s Upskilling Program, which equips educators with the tools and expertise to teach college-level material to high school students.

In 2024, thanks to the dedication of educators, counselors, and administrators, Math Bridge expanded its reach to serve 13 high schools across the Central Valley (see list below). But College Bridge isn’t stopping there—2025 marks a year of even greater growth. Five new schools will join the Math Bridge initiative, helping to expand the program’s impact across the region. Le Grand High School, El Capitan High School, Merced High School, Dos Palos High School, and Gustine High School will be the newest members of the Math Bridge network. These new partners will help ensure that even more students have access to the support they need to succeed in math, breaking down barriers to higher education.

This expansion is made possible thanks to the WE Will! K-16 Educational Collaborative grant, which helps provide additional resources for high school students preparing to enter college. The partnership between K-12 and higher education institutions is creating a more seamless transition for students into postsecondary education, and the inclusion of these new schools is expected to further enhance the success of the program.

Beyond Math Bridge, College Bridge remains committed to supporting students’ overall educational pathways. One of the key components of this broader support is the  concurrently with the Math Bridge program.

CT Bridge is designed to provide students with the tools and information they need to succeed in  their transition to college such as filling out applications; making their fall college schedule; accessing their college portal; understanding FAFSA and financial aid options; gaining career advice; and how to access college support services—all in just 10 hours of course material per year. By offering students insights into both academic and career pathways, CT Bridge is helping them prepare for success not just in their math courses, but in their future college and career endeavors.

As College Bridge continues to evolve and expand, the organization remains focused on ensuring that students have access to the resources and guidance they need to thrive. In the coming months, College Bridge will be hosting several Student Info Sessions to encourage high school students to apply for the Math Bridge program for the 2025/2026 school year. These sessions will provide students with a chance to learn more about the opportunities offered by Math Bridge and CT Bridge, as well as how they can benefit from these programs.

Additionally, College Bridge will continue hosting Planning and Strategy Sessions for Central Valley educators and counselors

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to move forward with these vital initiatives!

Math Bridge Cohorts 2024-2025

(Breakdown of 332 students currently enrolled in the Central Valley Math Bridge Program at 13 high schools,
listed by community college partners that are CVHEC members):

DELTA COLLEGE
Stagg: 24
Weber: 26

MERCED COLLEGE
Buhach Colony: 18
Atwater: 26
Golden Valley: 36
Livingston: 33
Mariposa: 34

REEDLEY COLLEGE
Dinuba (2 sections): 34
Orosi: 23
Sanger: 30
Sanger West: 11

TAFT COLLEGE
Taft: 12
Riverdale: 25

(Five additional high schools will onboard in the fall semester: Le Grand, El Capitan, Merced, Dos Palos and Gustine).

CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (December 2024): Happy Holidays!

Best wishes for 2025 from the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium team: (FRONT) Dr. Liz Rozell,
Priscilla Arellano and Elaine Cash. (BACK) Tom Uribes, Tom Burke, Stan Carrizosa,
Dr. Benjamín Durán, Dr. John Spevak, Dr. Vikash Lakhani and Ángel Ramírez.

Revisiting an eventful year and strategies

for student success the Central Valley Way

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues …

Welcome to the end of the fall 2024 semester and the beginning of the well-deserved winter break!

I hope you enjoy the final edition of this year’s CVHEC e-newsletter.  You will have the opportunity to join us in revisiting the highlights of this eventful year and the strategies our colleges and universities have engaged to improve the pathways to retention and timely completion for our Central Valley students. On that note, a hearty congratulations to those who completed their academic journey this month.  And congrats as well to the faculty, staff and administrators who provided the academic guidance to support your success. All the best to you Class of Winter 2024 graduates!

Among the many successes of this past year is the historic mission to address implementation of Assembly Bill 1705 with our Math Task Force convening community college math education professionals from throughout our 10-county region to communicate and collaborate for strategies that benefit valley college students. We have also seen great advancement of our Transfer Project which completes its first year as a California Community Colleges Demonstration Project.

These CVHEC initiatives have established what we call “the Central Valley Way,” a movement that his gained recognition in higher education circles beyond our region.  We have had the opportunity to share this great work with audiences at the state and national levels at such convenings as the Complete College America Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana along with California convenings like the Community College League of California and the California Economic Summit.

It has been an honor and a delight to shine the light on the region and our member institutions and we especially commend our Math Task Force members and Transfer Project team for their diligence this past year.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our funding partners who make it possible for us to do our work.  Thanks to the College Futures Foundation, Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative, the Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative, the We Will! K-16 Educational Collaborative, College Bridge, and the CVHEC membership.  These colleagues have been instrumental in transforming the region socially, economically and educationally.

As you enjoy our final newsletter of the year, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a wonderful New Year!!

What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog – December 2024: Year-In-Review

Read more

CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (November 2024): The fall winds of change

The fall winds of change

 

Welcome to our post-election edition of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium e-newsletter.

Each presidential election brings new changes and initiatives nationally, and this one will be no exception.  In future editions of our newsletter, we will highlight and explore changes coming to higher education from our new administration and how those impact our Central Valley colleges, universities and students in the region and similar rural regions in California.

In this edition, please enjoy articles that feature some of the ongoing work that is taking place and the introduction of local research that gives a more intimate look at the performance of our students from underpromoted communities in the region.

Our Math Task Force has been working in a collaborative manner to address issues and concerns surrounding the implementation of AB 1705, its impact on our students, and how Central Valley math faculty have taken on the task of ensuring the legislation is implemented in an equitable and fair manner.  The findings and outcomes of these efforts were highlighted at the “CV Way to AB1705 Success and Beyond” convening held at the Clovis Community College Herndon Center Oct. 25, 2024. Many of these math faculty worked through the summer to prepare for the convening of colleagues from throughout the valley.

You will also be introduced to a research initiative at UC Merced funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and led by Principal Investigator Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz and Dr. Orquidea Largo: the UC Merced Advancing Educational Opportunity in the Central Valley Project.  This team of researchers is taking a deeper more nuanced look at the performance of Central Valley students and their performance in courses designed to prepare them for entrance into the college or university of their choice.

In addition to that article summarizing completion pf phase one of this project last month, you can read more about these efforts in Dr.  Aguirre-Muñoz’s “What in the CV-HEC is Happening” blog this month.  As the research team continues with the next phases of their work, we are hoping to see evidence that the work by CVHEC colleges and universities in recent years is reflected in the data that emerges.

We also invite you to enjoy news entries about some of our member institutions and other related news articles. With Veterans Day just behind us, we also pay tribute to the men and women of our nation’s military who have selflessly served to build a nation liberty and equality.

Now, as we approach the end of the fall semester and welcome the Thanksgiving holiday season, we wish you well!

CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (October 2024)

Fall momentum: creating rich learning

environments for successful collegiate experiences

 

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues …

We are delighted to share the October CVHEC e-newsletter with you and welcome you to enjoy the content we have prepared as this fall 2024 semester moves into high gear.

In this edition, we congratulate and welcome Dr. Vernon Harper as the newly installed president of California State University, Bakersfield.  Please join us in reaching out to him with well wishes.

We also congratulate and welcome Dr. Todd Hampton as the newly appointed interim superintendent/president of the West Kern Community College District/Taft College.  Both Dr. Harper and Dr. Hampton bring strong leadership to the students in Kern County and to our CVHEC Board of Directors.

You will also see the continuing efforts in the Central Valley by our member institutions to create a rich learning environment to make our students successful as they strive to complete their post-secondary education.  You will see references to two upcoming convenings that will highlight these efforts the “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond” later this month and the Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity (CVDEEP) Task Force Convening next month.

For the first convening Oct. 25, read about the CVHEC Math Task Force bringing together regional mathematics faculty to continue addressing challenges and barriers resulting from Assembly Bill 1705.  These math professionals have worked through the summer and into the fall semester to develop strategies for delivering math solutions for many students and sharing them with their colleagues in the region for compliance with the state legislation.

We are especially proud that two of these faculty members have been invited to represent the Central Valley by delivering a session at a national mathematics convention in Atlanta, Georgia this November.  It is so good to see our region receiving national attention for the good work of our faculty. Congratulations Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College.

For the CVDEEP Task Force convening Nov. 14, we will see college and university professionals highlighting their work around delivering college level courses to high school students from rural high schools using an online dual enrollment strategy as a vehicle to reach populations that do not typically have the opportunity to benefit from taking college level courses while still in high school.  This is a great way to infuse equity and inclusion into our partner institutions for those students who will benefit from getting a jump-start on gateway college courses that are essential for the successful completion of their degrees and certificates.

We will also be participating in some conferences of our own. CVHEC representatives will be at the California Economic Summit Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento and the Complete College America National Conference Nov. 18-20 in Indianapolis where we hope to re-connect with many of our partners across the state and nation and meet new ones.

This month’s “What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog” is by guest blogger Marni Cahoon, a Taft College math professor, reflecting on the successful dual enrollment venture our consortium member in the West Kern Community College District has implemented

Lastly, enjoy highlights of CVHEC member institutions and other topics we thought would be of interest.

CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (September 2024)

PPIC report/panel, CVHEC

board meeting kick off fall 2024

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues …

The CVHEC Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting Sept. 4 and heard a detailed report about the region’s equity and student success work from the previous spring semester, as well as the introduction of three new initiatives that are being launched valley wide.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the welcoming of nine presidents and chancellors who are new to their positions that automatically places them on the CVHEC board.  You will have an opportunity to meet them as you read through this edition.

This issue, we are also unveiling a new logo for the Consortium, the next step of a brand refresh which will be followed by an updated website this winter!

Though the summer break provided an opportunity for rest, reflection and rejuvenation for some, a pool of dedicated math professors of our CVHEC Math Task Force worked throughout the break on the implementation of AB 1705, a piece of legislation designed to redesign the way calculus and other college math courses are delivered to incoming college freshmen.  The work of this group will culminate in the Central Valley Math Convening of math professionals in the region on Oct. 25.  This convening is a testimony to the dedication of the math educators and other education professionals in our valley serving our students.

Finally, let me call your attention to a report delivered by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) that speaks to the college going rates in our region and some of the efforts that CVHEC and other partners throughout the valley are engaged in to address issues around enrollment, transfer and completion rates.  The PPIC hosted a statewide virtual panel to showcase the report and invited me to join my colleagues Dr. Orquidea Largo from UC Merced and Tressa Overstreet from the Fresno Unified School District to discuss the report from both the higher education and K-12 perspectives.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read about the terrific work that our Central Valley colleges and universities are doing to advance the economic and social wellbeing of this import part of California.

PHOTO GALLERY: CVHEC Board of Directors – Sept. 4, 2024 (Lemoore College)

Photos by Antonio Aguilar, West Hills Community College District photographer, and Tom Uribes, CVHEC. Special thanks to Amber Myrick, WHCCD director of Marketing, Communications and Public Information.

CVHEC’s Mid-Year Review 2024

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CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (Summer 2024): A break for reflection

Summer break provides pause for reflection

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues!

I welcome you to the mid-summer edition of our CVHEC newsletter. We hope you are having a restful and enjoyable summer and taking time to recharge and prepare for the upcoming fall semester.

This time of the year we try to step back, take a breath and highlight the great work that has been taking place on our member campuses by the dedicated faculty and staff.

As you visit the entries, you will get a sense of the efforts across the Central Valley in the last six months to improve access, retention and completion of students at our CVHEC member institutions in the region.

We also acknowledge ongoing transition in the region’s higher education scene with CEO changes at WHCCD, Porterville College, Fresno City College and Clovis Community College. One of those changes is the departure of Dr. Claudia Habib who left her Porterville presidency this month for the Ventura College presidency. We thank President Habib for her service to her students and to the CVHEC board.

All the best Claudia …as well as to Dr. Kristin Clark whose retirement as chancellor of WHCCD takes effect Aug. 8. We are especially appreciative of her service as the chair of the CVHEC board the past few years. We said our goodbyes to Kristin at our recent board executive committee meeting and also at a farewell reception for her July 26 at Lemoore College.

Speaking of the board, members should have received detailed info about our upcoming quarterly meeting in early September. If you have not received anything, please do contact Angel Ramirez at centralvalleyhec@gmail.com ASAP.

Finally, please allow me to close this summer message with a Happy Birthday greeting to … US!  It was on Aug. 5, 2002 that CVHEC became formally incorporated under the leadership of then Fresno State President John D. Welty. Watch for more about our history in the near future.

We hope you enjoy our newsletter and continue enjoying your summer.

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  • centralvalleyhec@gmail.com

  • 559.278.0576

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