Board retreat produces 4 advisory boards for goal development

Facilitated by Nitya Wakhlu and Greg Netzer of Drawbridge Innovations, the CVHEC Board of Directors Retreat in August resulted in four advisory boards for key areas of focus in the next few years with Central Valley higher ed CEOs sitting on the boards.

CVHEC’s “secret sauce” — PRIDE

Board champions identified to ensure follow-through and accountability

Following up its recent one-day Strategic Planning Retreat, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Board of Directors announced the development of four key areas of focus for the next three to five years and the formation of advisory boards to champion progress in each area.

The four advisory boards are: Data Sharing and Regional Dashboards; Workforce Aligned Program Development; Artificial Intelligence (AI); and Enrollment, Reconnect. 

The advisory boards were created during the CVHEC Board retreat Aug. 20 when the leaders from colleges and universities across California’s Central Valley gathered at the University of California, Merced to chart a bold course for the next three to five years.

The boards consist of chancellors, presidents and campus directors of the Central Valley’s 28 institutions of higher education who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors.

In welcome remarks to the leaders at the retreat, CVHEC board chair Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of University of California Merced, said, “We need to work together to support our students. We’re here to create a vision for how we celebrate.”

Facilitated by Nitya Wakhlu and Greg Netzer of Drawbridge Innovations, the retreat emphasized interaction and problem-solving. Prior to the retreat, board members participated in a survey identifying regional challenges most pressing to their institutions.

During the session, participants divided into small groups to tackle those challenges. Using structured templates, they explored questions such as:

  • What is the core challenge we need to solve?
  • Who is impacted, and what are we hearing from stakeholders?
  • What role should CVHEC play, and how can institutions collaborate?
  • What barriers exist, and what resources are needed?

Each group developed a “challenge charter” and presented their ideas to the full board. 

Using a dot-voting process, members prioritized three to five strategic initiatives for CVHEC to pursue over the next three to five years. Champions were identified for each initiative to ensure follow-through and accountability.

The group arrived at CVHEC’s “secret sauce” — PRIDE:

PARTNERSHIPS – unique CVHEC structure and membership collaboration 

RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP – we make decisions, having the CEO’s in the room with equal voice working on challenges that matter 

IDENTITY – THE CVHEC  WAY – doing things with a unique approach, being a national role model 

DEMOGRAPHICS AND RESEARCH  – serving the most underserved communities of our region 

EXTERNAL INVESTMENT – our unique structure, focus, and work make us attractive for external investment

“This was the consortium at its best,” said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director. “We saw CEOs from across the Valley not only identify shared challenges but also commit to being part of the solution. That’s the spirit of CVHEC.”

The advisory boards and their current members (membership in progress):

WORKSTREAM 1: Data Sharing and Regional Dashboards

Dr. Lena Tran, chancellor – YCCD (sp)
Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis, president – Stanislaus State
Dr. Carole Goldsmith, chancellor – SCCCD (sp)
Dr. Sean Hancock, president – COS

WORKSTREAM 2: Workforce Aligned Program Development

Dr. Jerry Buckley, president – Reedley College
Eddie Cunha, campus director – National University
Dr. Chad Redwing, president – Columbia College
Dr. Carla Tweed, president – Coalinga College
Primavera Monarrez, interim president – Porterville College
Dr. Vernon Harper, president – CSUB

WORKSTREAM 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

James Preston, president – Lemoore College
Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, president – Fresno State
Dr. Angel Reyna, president – Madera College
Dr. Jose M. Barral Sanchez, dean – UCSF-Fresno Center
Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson, president – College

WORKSTREAM 4: Enrollment, Reconnect

Dr. Kim Armstrong, president – Clovis Community College
Dr. Stacy Pfluger, president – Bakersfield College
Dr. Leslie Minor, president – Taft College
Dr. Eddie Cunha, campus director – National University

Insights

After the retreat, board members shared the following reflections:

“Thank you Ben, Angel, and the CVHEC team for bringing us all onto the same page, and reminding us of what CVHEC can do,” said Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, UC Merced .  

“It’s always powerful when you see CEO’s ‘finding common vision and strength’,” said Kristin Clark, CVHEC (West Hills Community College District chancellor-emeritus and former CVHEC board chair).  

“CVHEC is an opportunity to come together, share and be restored in community,” Merced College President Chris Vitelli said. 

“I am excited about the AI conference and the applications it can have in the classroom,” said President Angel Reyna of Madera Community College. 

The Central Valley is definitely “valley strong,” but we also are “valley kind … people are generous and free to give,” said Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis. 

“There’s nothing as dope as this work here,” said Fresno City College President Denise Whisenhunt.  

“Excited to keep this work going,” said Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval.

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CVHEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (October 2025)

National Higher Education Month

CVHEC … a regional collaboration dedicated to
student access, retention and completion for students  

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues … 

We welcome you to our October newsletter and especially to National Higher Education Month!  

It is fitting that this month we observe the value of higher education by presenting the direction the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium will undertake in the next three years or so following a strategic planning retreat by our board of directors in late August.

Composed of the CEOs of our 28-member institutions of higher education, the board was hosted by CVHEC Board Chair and UC Merced Chancellor Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz for the retreat where 23 of our 28 board members attended and participated in the day-long facilitated session held Aug. 20 at the beautiful UC Merced campus.

After revisiting the origins of CVHEC for the benefit of new leaders in the valley and discussing the vision and mission of the consortium, the group held an earnest and collaborative discussion about its future direction.  The focus was on the next three years of CVHEC as we continue to foster and maintain a regional collaboration dedicated to student access, retention and completion for our students.  

With this in mind, the Central Valley leaders of academia identified these four areas to pursue diligently, going forward:

  • Data Sharing and Regional Dashboards
  • Workforce Aligned Program Development
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Enrollment & Reconnecting/Re-engaging students (who left prematurely)

As the board and CVHEC staff prepare to pursue the new work ahead, we are not abandoning the areas we have been focusing on in the last few years.  We will continue to support initiatives such as the Central Valley Transfer Project and the efforts around implementing dual enrollment throughout the valley such as the Master’s Upskilling Program and its mentor component (both featured in our September e-newsletter).  

Additionally, the English Task Force and the Math Task Force will continue their remarkable groundbreaking work. We have found that when faculty come together and collaborate across campus boundaries, they create solutions that no single institution could achieve alone.  That’s what makes these task forces so powerful for our region and, most importantly, for our students throughout the Central Valley. 

For students, the results of this task force work may mean not only passing a math or English class but truly unlocking the path to transfer, degree attainment and career success.

And in furtherance of National Higher Education Month, we hope you will enjoy this month’s “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog by Ekaterina Struett, CEO of  College Advising Corps, a national nonprofit that has helped low-income, first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds navigate their path to higher education and career success, “Be the guide every graduate deserves.”  I believe you will agree that it is a very relevant thought-piece, which Ms. Struett first wrote for EdSource and modified slightly for our audience, that is well worth reading as we all endeavor to strengthen support systems for student success in higher ed.  

Please enjoy this month’s edition as much as I have.

CVHEC TASK FORCE UPDATE: renewed focus on math and English success

CVHEC’s Math and English Task Forces will resume meeting this fall in virtual sessions.

Central Valley colleges gear up for fall  

CVHEC Task Forces continue collaborative work to support equitable student outcomes

 

BY DR. JOHN SPEVAK
CVHEC Project Lead – Merced College Vice President-emeritus

 

As the fall 2025 semester unfolds, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is once again turning its attention to two of the most persistent hurdles in student success: mathematics and English through two task forces established in the past seven years.

Beginning later this month, CVHEC’s Math Task Force and English Task Force — both consisting of at least one English and one math professor from each of the 15 CVHEC member community colleges in the 28-member consortium — will re-convene educators from across the Central Valley’s 10-county region in a new round of virtual meetings this fall, bringing renewed energy to collaborative solutions that help students succeed in gateway courses.

The Math Task Force, which started as 15 members and has expanded to more than 75 participants, will meet in a series of three Zoom convenings related to implementation of AB 1705 and the 15-member English Task Force is planning one meeting devoted to artificial intelligence.

The task forces, by sharing concerns and best practices, have helped Central Valley community colleges make a significant transition in pedagogy, shifting from a focus on student weaknesses to one on student strengths. The upcoming gatherings will continue a tradition of faculty-led innovation that has become a hallmark of the consortium’s work in recent years.

For the English Task Force, one Zoom meeting, “The Challenges and Opportunities of AI for English Professors in the Central Valley,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

At the three Math Task Force sessions, Central Valley math professors will share their progress following two-plus years of discussing implementation of the state law in hybrid convenings that were entitled “The Central Valley Way for AB 1705” which included college research and data experts, deans and academic leaders from higher ed as well as from K-16 school districts with support from the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The 2025-26 academic year is the first year AB 1705 must be implemented.

Each MTF virtual session is from 10 a.m. to noon:

  • Friday, Oct. 24 – “Calculus with a Corequisite” led by Professor Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College
  • Friday, Nov. 7 – “Innovative One-Course Prerequisite” led by Professor Shelley Getty of Taft College;
  • Friday, Nov. 21 – “Data Collection and Analysis” led by Professor Nathan Cahoon of Taft College.

Professor Cahoon broke his group’s focus down further noting that a central tenet of AB 1705 and 705 has been to expand student choice.

“As we enter the validation phase for the one- and two-semester calculus precursors, it is essential to review the standards established by the Chancellor’s office,” Prof. Cahoon said.

He explains that the pass rate for students in the precursor classes and in the lowest tier must meet or exceed 50 percent, whereas the pass rate for direct placement, lowest-tier calculus students is 15 percent.

“The goal of this group is to ensure that the data collected and analyzed by the state is accurate,” he said. “There is still concern over previous research conducted by the RP group, and we look to validate the data they collected. A central tenet of AB 1705 and 705 has been to expand student choice. We hope to maintain student choice by preserving the option to take precursors to calculus as they choose.”

CVHEC formed the two groups soon after the passage of California Assembly Bill 705 in 2017 which mandated the elimination of remedial English courses and allowed students to go directly into transferable English courses.

That legislation also increased the options of transferable math courses students could take; mandated the elimination of remedial math courses for entrance into statistics and similar courses; and allowed students to go directly into transferable statistics and similar courses.

And it encouraged increased support for students, including corequisite courses.

The more recent passage of AB 1705, an amplification of AB 705, affected math more than English by expanding AB 705 to include STEM math courses. The Math Task Force continues to work, through sharing and collaboration, toward finding ways to allow the largest numbers of students to go into transferable calculus courses and, when necessary, pre-calculus courses.

AB 1705 went into effect this fall 2025 semester and gives community colleges two years to implement new math courses, including Calculus I with a corequisite and, for each college, one innovative pre-calculus course. At the end of those two years, the California Community College Chancellor’s office will determine if each college has submitted sufficient data to verify the effectiveness of the new courses.

Meanwhile, the English Task Force continues to work, also through sharing and collaboration, toward continuous improvement in teaching and learning in English courses. In ETF meetings during the last two years, much time was spent talking about artificial intelligence.

Discussions like this about AI have been happening across all disciplines, but they are especially important for English professors, since they work at having students not only read and think critically on their own but also write in their own personal voice.

The CVHEC Math and English Task Forces represent one of the consortium’s most impactful strategies: creating faculty-led communities of practice that span institutions and sectors; serving as a collaborative space for faculty to discuss curriculum alignment, address equity gaps and share best practices.

For CVHEC Executive Director Dr. Benjamín Durán, the task forces underscore the consortium’s methodology of collective problem-solving across the Valley – a region-wide commitment to what the consortium calls “The Central Valley Way” towards achieving its mission of enhancing a college-going culture in the region.

“When faculty come together across campuses, they create solutions that no single institution could achieve alone,” Dr. Durán said. “That’s what makes these task forces so powerful for our region and, most importantly, for our students across the Central Valley. For them, the results of this work may mean not only passing a math or English class but truly unlocking the path to transfer, degree attainment and career success.”

Dr. Durán adds that CVHEC has been pleased to convene the task forces and to help facilitate meetings “because the consortium believes in the talent of Central Valley Math and English Task Force professors and their ability to respond to challenges and opportunities effectively as they create a positive ‘Central Valley Way to Student Success’ for their math and English students.”

 

Also see:

English Task Force

Math Task Force

Wrap up: CVHEC Math Task Force Convening Mar. 28

 

“What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog (Oct. 2025): Ekaterina Struett – College Advising Corps

October is National Higher Education Month and for this month’s rendition of our “What the CVHEC is Happening Blog, we turn to the College Advising Corps, a national nonprofit that has helped over 1 million students from low-income, first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds navigate their path to higher education and career success and an op-ed penned by its CEO Ekaterina Struett   advancing the observation that “if we want young people to thrive after high school, we need to offer more than a diploma. We need to offer real guidance, grounded in partnership and trust.”

(We welcome feedback as well as ideas for future blog topics: Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu).

‘Be the guide every graduate deserves’

BY EKATERINA STRUETT
CEO – College Advising Corps

Fall marks the return of high school seniors for their final year — a season filled with both excitement and anxiety. In less than a year, they’ll don caps and gowns, walk across the stage, and celebrate a milestone that signals profound change. Families and communities will cheer, seeing in them pride, hope, and possibility.

Yet for too many students, especially those in under-resourced schools, uncertainty about the future lingers even on graduation day. Many leave high school without a clear plan, step into programs misaligned with their goals — or worse, into ones that exploit their aspirations without delivering real opportunity. At the heart of this uncertainty is a critical gap: a gap in support, guidance, and reliable information, precisely when students need it most to navigate their post-graduation paths.

Only 47% of Gen Z say they had enough information to make decisions about life after high school, according to research from Jobs for the Future. That means more than half of today’s graduates are stepping into adulthood without a clear understanding of their options. This isn’t just a failure of information — it’s a failure of connection and support.

And it’s not because young people lack talent or ambition. Too often, we as adults — educators, parents, counselors, mentors and community members — fail to slow down and listen. We’re quick to ask, “What’s next?” but not “What do you want for your future?” or “What support do you need to get there?”

If we want young people to thrive after high school, we need to offer more than a diploma. We need to offer real guidance, grounded in partnership and trust.

Effective advising doesn’t just happen in a counselor’s office. It can take place at the dinner table, on a lunch break, or in a conversation with a trusted adult. Whether you’re a parent talking to your child, a teacher checking in with a student, or a colleague offering advice to a teen in your life, we can all be advisers. And guidance starts with questions, not answers: What are you interested in? What kind of life do you want? What makes you excited about the future? These conversations create space for young people to reflect and be heard.

As adults, we often worry that young people spend too much time on screens and not enough on building real connections. But we’re just as guilty. We answer questions with links, send them to websites, or expect an app to do the listening for us. Meanwhile, we miss chances to engage meaningfully. If we truly want to connect, we have to step away from our own screens, carve out time, and show up with our full attention.

That might mean grabbing coffee, going for a walk, or just asking how a young person is really doing. A meaningful path forward doesn’t start with a form — it starts with a conversation.

From there, we can help them explore their options — whether that’s a four-year university, community college, trade certification or starting work with a plan for what comes next. Don’t stop at encouragement. Help them complete financial aid forms. Review applications. Connect them with someone in the field they’re curious about. Drive them to a college tour or career fair. Small, consistent gestures often make the biggest difference. You don’t have to have all the answers — you just need to be present and willing to help.

California has made important strides to support students, including new investments in school-based counseling and digital tools for academic and mental health services. These efforts are necessary. But they’re not enough.

The student-to-counselor ratio in California is still more than double the national recommendation. In too many schools, one counselor handles everything from schedules to crisis response to postsecondary advising. That isn’t sustainable if we want students to graduate with a supported path forward.

And while we believe deeply in the power of higher education — a bachelor’s degree remains one of the strongest levers for economic mobility — it’s not the only route to a meaningful life. Students shouldn’t be pressured into one definition of success. They need trusted adults who will walk alongside them, help them weigh options and support them in choosing paths that reflect their goals and strengths.

Before I led a college access organization, I worked in human resources. I hired people with all kinds of backgrounds — elite university grads, community college starters, GED holders, certified technicians. I learned that talent, adaptability and drive don’t always come in the packaging we expect. That experience shaped how I lead today: with a commitment to helping students recognize their potential, no matter their starting point, and supporting them in building futures that make sense for them.

A high school diploma is worth celebrating. But it should come with more than applause. It should come with a map — built in partnership with students and grounded in the belief that every young person deserves a future they can see, shape and own.

Let’s help them build it.

 

CVHEC Board re-elects three higher ed leaders to its executive committee

Reelected to the CVHEC Board of Directors Executive Committee for one-year terms that began Oct. 1: University of California Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and West Hills Community College District Chancellor Robert Pimentel. 

 Chancellors Muñoz, Pimentel and President Jiménez-Sandoval get new three-year terms

Three Central Valley higher ed leaders were re-elected to new three-year terms on the executive committee of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors effective Oct. 1, announced Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director.  

Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of University of California Merced, who is currently serving a one-year term as chairperson for the board that began in January, was re-elected to the executive committee along with Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and West Hills Community College District Chancellor Robert Pimentel. The previous three-year terms for all three expired Sept. 30.

The CVHEC Board of Directors  consists of the chief executive officers of 28 institutions of higher education in the valley’s 10-county region that comprise the consortium membership. The executive committee conducts business on behalf of the board when it is not available, especially for timely or urgent matters, and sets the agenda for board business, Durán said. 

Per CVHEC bylaws, each higher education segment has a set number of representatives on the committee who are elected by the full board of directors.  Seven executive committee members serve three-year terms beginning in October the first year.

“The executive committee acts as a smaller, more agile governing body, often handling operational issues and strategic planning between full board meetings, and serving as a sounding board for CVHEC internal leadership,” Durán explained.

The full board meets quarterly with the next session being planned  for an early December target date, said Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC associate director.

Executive meetings are also held four times a year prior to board meetings with the first meeting of the 2025-26 executive committee planned for early November at UC Merced where the committee will vote to fill the secretary, treasurer and chair position from among its membership, Ramírez said.

At the recent CVHEC board retreat in August, Chancellor Sánchez Muñoz welcomed the valey higher ed  leaders and said about CVHEC’s next steps, “We need to work together to support our students. We’re here to create a vision for how we celebrate.” [

President Jiménez-Sandoval said, “Being reelected for three more years to the executive board of CVHEC is a tremendous honor, as it allows us to continue our noble work in our Valley. This continuity of leadership will allow us to be intentional about our resolve to harness the power of AI, build a strong pipeline between community colleges and four-year institutions, and promote the power of higher education.”

The membership of the 2025 CVHEC Executive Committee by segment with their terms noted is:

• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES (2)
President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Fresno State (2025 –2028)
President Britt Rios-Ellis, CSU Stanislaus (2024 –2027)

• CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES (3)
NORTH – President Chris Vitelli, Merced College (2024 –2027)
CENTRAL – Chancellor Robert Pimentel, West Hills Community College District (2025 –2028)
SOUTH – President Brent Calvin, College of the Sequoias (2024 –2027)

• UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (1)
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, UC Merced ( 2025 –2028)

• PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT (1)
President Andre Stephens, Fresno Pacific (2024 –2027)

SPOTLIGHT: federal HSI cuts affect CVHEC members

“Why would this happen, especially when these funding programs have existed for decades and have a proven track record of success?” – Dr. Benjamin Duran, CVHEC executive director.

Fresno State, Central Valley colleges
lose federal grant for Hispanic students

 

BY MARINA PEÑA

Reprinted from The Fresno Bee – (Updated Sept. 23, 2025)

 

Central Valley colleges and universities will lose millions in federal funds under the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate a long-standing grant benefitting campuses with significant Hispanic student populations.

The decision, announced Sept. 10 by the U.S. Department of Education, affects funding for Fresno State, UC Merced and community colleges in Madera, Reedley, Clovis, Fresno and Merced.

The discontinued grants, for decades, awarded funding to colleges and universities deemed Hispanic-Serving Institutions and will heavily impact California, a Hispanic-majority state with the nation’s largest Hispanic student population.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement that the grants were discriminatory for “restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas.”

Higher education officials in the Central Valley said they were alarmed by the decision.

“My initial reaction was, ‘What’s going on?’ “ said Benjamin Duran, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium. “Why would this happen, especially when these funding programs have existed for decades and have a proven track record of success? I just saw it as being racially motivated because they’re targeting institutions that serve predominantly Latino students, simply because they enroll at least 25% Latinos.”

Duran, a former president of Merced College, said 14 Central Valley community colleges that identify as Hispanic-Serving Institutions will take financials hits.

With nearly 60% of its student body identifying as Hispanic, Merced College was awarded a $2.75 million Developing Hispanic-Serving Institution (DHSI) grant in October 2022.

That grant funded student support services, professional development for faculty and counselors, and an increase in dual enrollment pathways to create opportunities for high school students to get a head start on college.

Merced College now faces the loss of about $1.1 million in funds for that grant, or approximately $550,000 per year for the final two years of the grant, according to a spokesperson for Merced College, which will lead to those programs and resources getting scaled back.

Duran said the funding is typically used to support all students through services like professional tutoring, counseling, computer labs, and increasing awareness of available programs and opportunities on campus. He noted that the funds are primarily invested in staffing rather than physical infrastructure or new buildings.

“For the Trump administration to come in, and in one fell swoop, with the Secretary of Education, who is not an educator herself, and cut this funding is devastating and surprising, to say the least,” he said.

Jason Bush, the interim associate vice president for research and sponsored programs a Fresno State, said the university is “still trying to understand the full impact of affected programs as it’s an evolving situation.”  But he said the programs most affected at the university include those focused on pursuing a master’s degree and expanding Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in criminal and civil justice professions, both supported by the U.S. Department of Education.

In July 2021, UC Merced received a $15 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the university’s status as a federally recognized Hispanic- Serving Institution (HSI). The grant increased faculty diversity and promoted equity in research and teaching.

A spokesperson for the University of California said the public university system “remains committed to expanding access and ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed.”

California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia said in a statement that federal HSI funding is used “to support all CSU students, not just Hispanic

She added that the CSU system is closely watching the U.S. Justice Department’s decision not to defend a federal law that underpins the Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) grant program, as a legal challenge threatens its future.

She also highlighted the high stakes for CSU campuses, where nearly half of the 460,000 students identify as Latino. Garcia explained that HSIs play a crucial role in advancing economic mobility, particularly for students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds.

“The CSU remains firmly committed to ensuring that all of our students— especially our Latino students—have access to a high-quality, affordable education,” she said.

In California’s Central Valley, all four campuses within the State Center Community College District — Clovis, Fresno City, Madera, and Reedley — are designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and have secured millions in grant funding to enhance various programs for student support services.

Cris Monahan-Bremer, a spokesperson for Fresno City College said that the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees recently adopted a budget recently that “deliberately set aside (funds) to ensure continuity with these programs, knowing that federal support could shift.”

“Because of the district’s strong financial position and careful planning, we are prepared to navigate this challenge,” he said.

 

This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM.

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article312133885.html#storylink=cpy

 

Marina Peña     The Fresno Bee     

Marina Peña is the Latino communities reporter for The Bee. She earned a bachelor’s in Political Economy and another one in Journalism from the University of Southern California. She’s originally from Buenos, Argentina, but grew up in Los Angeles.

MEMBER NEWS: Boxer José Ramírez opens Fresno State Feria de Educación Oct. 11

The Fresno State Feria de Educación Oct. 11 will feature opening remarks by José C. Ramírez, a Fresno State alumnus and boxing champion who has represented the United States in the Olympics. In this 2016 photo, José poses with the late former Fresno State President Joseph Castr, former First Lady Mary Castro and son Jess. Dr. Castro passed away Aug. 24 and Jose attended his Celebration of Life Oct. 5. Like the boxing champion, Dr. Castro was a champion of La Feria de Educación that is presented by Fresno State Outreach and Special Programs, The California State University and UnivisionFresno.

10th annual Feria de Educación welcomes

students, families to Fresno State

By MARISA MATA
Fresno State TODAY

Students and families from across the Valley will gather at Fresno State on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to participate in the university’s 10th Feria de Educación. An annual event meant to empower bilingual students and families, Feria de Educación connects students with resources to succeed in higher education and beyond, while offering their families tools to support and advocate for their students.

Hosted in partnership with Univision, Feria de Educación was implemented at Fresno State and other California State University campuses as part of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, aimed at eliminating equity gaps in college readiness and degree completion.

This year’s Feria de Educación will feature opening remarks by José Ramírez, a Fresno State alumnus and boxing champion who has represented the United States in the Olympics.

Throughout the day, attendees will have access to a resource fair, campus tours, a kids area and reading garden. Feria de Educación will also host a variety of informative workshops on topics including Bulldog Bound, Cal State Apply, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, what to expect during the first year of college and developing social-emotional skills.

Intended to also celebrate Latine art and culture, Feria de Educación will feature performances from Mariachi Orgullo de Fresno State and Los Danzantes de Aztlan. Attendees will also be able to view the newly installed statues in the Maple Mall that are part of the “Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico” exhibition in Fresno, showcasing the artistic traditions of Oaxaca and Central Mexico.

“We are expecting between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees this year, and for many families and students, this will be their first time stepping onto a college campus,” said Martina Granados, interim associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management at Fresno State. “It’s an important opportunity for them to envision themselves in a collegiate environment, to learn about the resources available to support their goals, and understand the pathways that make higher education attainable.”

“Feria de Educacion is more than an event–it’s a celebration of access, opportunity, and belonging. It reaffirms to our students and their families that they matter, that they are seen, valued, and capable of shaping their own futures no matter the challenges they may face or what they may hear or experience elsewhere. Their dreams and goals are worth pursuing.”

To see all resources available to students, visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/studentresources/index.html.

INFO: Jesse Farias at jfarias@csufresno.edu or Martina Granados, martinag@mail.fresnostate.edu.

See original Fresno State TODAY story.

BOARD NEWS: YCCD Chancellor Lena Tran first state-of-district address

First YCCD  State of the District address

Interim Chancellor Tran praises community partnerships, innovation at MJC event

BY VIVIENNE AGUILAR
CV Journalism Collaborative

In a year when many California colleges faced the possibility of deep budget cuts, Yosemite Community College District leadership offered a brighter vision in the first-ever State of the District address Wednesday.

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, with Dr. Lena Tran, interim chancellor of YCCD, at her first state-of-the-district address Sept. 24 held at Modesto Jr. College.

Interim Chancellor Lena Tran spoke to about 200 assembled fellow administrators, staff, faculty, students and community members on the Modesto Junior College east campus in a speech showcasing the slogan “Deep Roots, Bold Futures.”

In her opening remarks, Tran recounted the barriers she faced to obtain higher education as an immigrant who was brought to America from Vietnam at 8-years-old, and connected her experience to those she hears from students of YCCD colleges.

She acknowledged the sacrifice and struggle community college students in the region face as they work to improve themselves and ultimately, their families and communities.

“That is why I stand here, not only as your interim chancellor, but as someone who deeply understands what it means to fight for that promise. That is why this year’s theme is deep roots and bold futures,” she said.

Since taking on the role of interim chancellor for the district in May, Tran said she and the board of trustees drew on her recent experience as president of Columbia College to create the program. In that role, she held State of the College events at the beginning of each semester, so it was natural for her to continue the tradition.
YCCD oversees MJC and Columbia College in Sonora.

Student enrollment across the district went down slightly in the 2023-24 academic year at 28,500. The year before, YCCD reported 30,000 students between the two colleges.

While the district only operates two schools, its coverage area reaches all of Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties, and parts of Alpine, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Merced and Santa Clara counties.
The district’s 2024-25 budget is more than $170 million, over $20 million more than the previous academic year.

In the last academic year, YCCD helped 2,400 students obtain associate degrees and 83% of career program graduates found employment after graduation. More than half of all YCCD students identify as female, and just over half identify as Hispanic. The district reported 32% of all students are enrolled full-time.
While the California State University and University of California systems initially both faced the prospect of big cuts from the state budget, funding for the state’s 116 community colleges has largely remained intact. The state legislature eventually backed off the deepest cuts.
Darin Sousa, a classified employee at MJC, said he didn’t know what to expect from an event like this, since there has never been one before, and was simply excited to learn what the district’s leadership had to say.

“I’ve worked part time with the athletics department (at MJC) for over 20 years. Now I’m a full time employee, but this is the first time I’ve seen (the district) host an event like this,” he said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom sent congratulations to YCCD for their inaugural program.

“The Central Valley, as you know, is the backbone of our economy and the targeted investments in agriculture, manufacturing and the trades we’re giving more Californians the skills to support their families and strengthen their communities,” he wrote in a message, read by Jesse Ryan, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity.

Health care and agriculture are two of the most notable and necessary workforces in the region, according to Tran. In an effort to innovate and strengthen these sectors, YCCD is connecting its students with local and global experts in these fields.

The district offers students in the health care field dual-enrollment within rural high schools, like the ones in Calaveras and Sonora.
In Modesto, students studying animal husbandry, a sector of agriculture, are being connected with experts in Europe.

This summer, the district combined over $15,000 in scholarship funds from dairies around the Modesto-area to send MJC’s dairy judging to represent the state and country in The Royal Highland Show, a global competition held in Scotland.

Matthew Gutierrez, 19, serves as YCCD student trustee and is studying plant science and education at MJC. He told The Modesto Focus that he’s a product of the district’s strategic planning, especially when it comes to their plans to integrate tools like artificial intelligence and virtual reality into classrooms.

In his agricultural courses, Gutierrez is learning firsthand how artificial technology can be used to improve genetic engineering in plant science.

“It’s not really a future thing. I think it’s already happening,” he said.

Later this year, Gutierrez will intern at Generation Growers Inc., a Modesto-based and family-owned nursery as he plans his transfer to a university.

Tran praised student leaders like Gutierrez for energizing her team and showing them why their work matters.

“Our job is to give them that gift of hope, the tools to achieve their goals, while also reminding them the importance of being humble,” she said.

For more information on career pathway opportunities at Modesto Junior College, visit the school’s “Accelerated Careers Training (ACT)” webpage.

— Vivienne Aguilar is a reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact Aguilar at vivienne@cvlocaljournalism.org.

BOARD NEWS: President Rios-Ellis Invested as Stan State’s 13th Leader

‘Leading with Cariño, Rising with the Pulse of Possibility!’

Stanislaus State marked a historic moment with the investiture of Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis as its 13th president during a ceremony Oct. 3, at Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena  with several fellow Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors members and team attending.

The event blended academic tradition with the spirit of the Central Valley, welcoming campus and community members to celebrate Stan State’s mission and future.

President Rios-Ellis began her tenure on July 1, 2024. The investiture, a longstanding academic tradition, formally celebrates her leadership and the university’s shared vision for the future.

CVHEC board members at the Stanislaus State investiture were Chancellor Robert Pimentel, President Carla Tweed, President Angel Reyna and CVHEC Associate Director Angel Ramirez.

From the moment guests arrived, the program reflected the University’s student-centered identity. CVHEC board members who attended were: West Hills Community College District Chancellor Robert Pimentel, Coalinga College President Carla Tweed and Madera College President Angel Reyna.

Team members attending were CVHEC Associate Director Ángel Ramírez and Administrative Specialist Priscilla Arrellano.

“It was great to see so many familiar faces from across the Central Valley, including our CVHEC colleagues and the Stan State community, come together to celebrate President Rios-Ellis,” Ramírez said. “Moments like this remind us how connected we are in our shared mission to serve students and strengthen our region.”

Outside the arena, Ballico Taiko, a student drumming group from the Ballico-Cressey School District, set the tone with a powerful drum performance. Student-athletes lined the processional route, creating a corridor of Warrior pride as the platform party entered Fitzpatrick Arena in academic regalia.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rich Ogle served as the emcee for the celebration. Jack Clarke Jr., chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, offered greetings on behalf of the board, welcoming Rios-Ellis and acknowledging the significance of the occasion. Additional greetings were offered by the speaker of the Academic Senate, chair and secretary of Staff Council, president of Associated Students, Inc. and chair of the Alumni Advisory Council.

Musical performances throughout the program reflected the cultural richness of the region and the personal story of the president. The Stanislaus State Latin Jazz Ensemble took the stage early in the ceremony, led by Rios-Ellis’s husband, music educator and musician Enrique Rios-Ellis, on flute. The ensemble performed one of the president’s favorite songs, “La Bikina.”

One of the most heartfelt moments came when Rios-Ellis’s three children — Xóchitl, Enrique Jr. and Itzél — took the stage to share their reflections. As her daughter Xóchitl Rios-Ellis grew emotional, President Rios-Ellis wiped away tears of joy.

“What gives me hope is to see people like you in leadership — people who choose to lead with kindness, respect, integrity and empathy,” Xóchitl Rios-Ellis said. “To have watched you climb from professor all the way to the president of a university is incredibly inspiring, but above all it is well deserved.”

The Mariachi Juvenil Corazón Ranchero from Los Banos Unified School District, featuring students in grades K-12, followed with three songs, delighting the audience and filling the arena with the sounds of celebration.

The ceremony then turned to reflections from distinguished guests. Ron Carter, president and chief executive officer of Carter & Associates and a nationally respected leader in higher education, recognized as an A-C-E Sage and a longtime mentor to Rios-Ellis, offered heartfelt remarks recalling her leadership journey and the qualities that have defined her career.

The Chancellor of the California State University Mildred García followed with remarks praising Rios-Ellis’ vision and the compassion that drives her leadership.

“She calls it a spirit of cariño — a deep caring and commitment to the students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who comprise the extended Stan State family,” García said.

“Britt, there is no doubt in my mind that under your leadership this institution will reach even greater heights as a shining model of inclusive excellence, a powerful engine for social mobility and as a vital and essential community, economic, social and cultural hub for the Central Valley.”

As the final speaker, Rios-Ellis took the podium to close the ceremony with a message of shared purpose and gratitude.

“Please know that I am both deeply blessed and inspired by the trust you place in me to lead this extraordinary University,” she said. “Our gathering today symbolizes a unified commitment to nurturing a vibrant community dedicated to progress. This investiture is about us.”

In her address, titled “The Pulse of Possibility and Leading with Cariño,” Rios-Ellis reflected on the University’s role as more than an academic institution.

“We have always aspired to be much more than an academic institution,” she said. “We are a beacon where dreams flourish and opportunities abound. Together, we are creating an environment wherein knowledge, diversity, respect and collaboration thrive, ultimately shaping a brighter future for the Valle Central.”

“Together we are building something powerful: A University nationally recognized for its quality, value and impact. A University that not only reflects the Valle Central but shapes its future. There is one undeniable fact: When Stan State thrives, the Central Valley thrives,” said President Rios-Ellis

Throughout her remarks, Rios-Ellis returned to recurring themes of belonging, equity and shared purpose, ideas that have defined her first year as president. She emphasized the transformative power of education and the importance of equity-driven practices as catalysts for progress.

“My vision for Stan State is one where everyone, of all backgrounds, has equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive,” she said. “Cariño-laden inclusivity is the force that transforms education into equity, and equity into progress. At Stan State, cariño is demonstrated in the way we show up for one another, the way we center students in every decision and the way we embody strength and kindness as Warriors.”

She described the “pulse of possibility” she felt the moment she arrived on campus — a rhythm of resilience, dreams and aspirations carried by students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners throughout the Valley.

“It is the rhythm of hard work through challenges overcome and destinations realized,” she said. “This pulse is alive in every lecture hall, every lab, every relationship and every graduate who walks across our stage. It is truly the sound of bright futures unfolding.”

The Investiture served as the centerpiece of a series of events celebrating Rios-Ellis’s presidency. Additional festivities are scheduled for later this month.

Friday’s ceremony reflected the themes that have guided her first year: belonging, collaboration and a shared commitment to the Valley’s future.

“This moment,” Rios-Ellis said, “is our chance to reaffirm our dedication to excellence, belonging and the transformative power of education, ensuring that Stan State is a place where dreams are realized and families and communities are strengthened.

“Together we are building something powerful: A University nationally recognized for its quality, value and impact. A University that not only reflects the Valle Central but shapes its future. There is one undeniable fact: When Stan State thrives, the Central Valley thrives.”

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HIGHER ED NEWS: Castro family endowments honor late CSU chancellor

Friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Joseph I. Castro joined his family in a Celebration of Life Tribute and Reception at the Harris Ranch near Coalinga Oct. 5.

Reflecting Dr. Castro’s belief in the power of education

to transform lives and his legacy of hope and opportunity

 

Services were held Oct. 3 and 4 for the late Dr. Joseph I. Castro, the former chancellor of California State University, former president of Fresno State (a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium-member) and former CVHEC board chair, followed by a Celebration of Life Oct. 5 at the Harris Ranch in Coalinga.

President Joseph I. Castro and First Lady Mary Castro served Fresno State from 2013-2020.

For those who wish to honor his legacy, his family has established two endowment accounts that reflect Dr. Castro’s lifelong belief in the power of education to transform lives and carry forward his legacy of hope and opportunity for future generations.

The Fresno State Castro and Borges Family Basic Needs Endowment Fund was established in 2020 to support Fresno State students by helping meet their essential needs such as food, clothing, housing, financial assistance and safety. Created in honor of Dr. Joseph I. Castro and Mary Castro’s dedicated service to California State University, Fresno, the fund reflects their deep commitment to student well-being as a vital foundation for academic success.

The UC Berkeley Community Leaders Endowment Fund provides sustained support for initiatives that foster leadership excellence and reflect the mission of the Chicanx Latinx Student Development Office at UC Berkeley where Dr. Castro was a two-time alumnus.

“It empowers students who are deeply committed to their community, helping them grow as leaders and achieve lasting impact,” Mrs. Castro said.

Their son Isaac said, “My Dad understood the importance of access to a quality education, and the impact it had on our family. He wanted others to have the same opportunities. Join us in contributing to the next generation of leaders, just as my Dad did every day of his life.”

The Castro family posing last October on the field at Cal (UC Berkeley). Dr. Castro started his higher education path in the University of California system where he was hired for his first professional job, served at five campuses and ended with his hospice care in a UC teaching hospital.

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