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)

CVHEC Mini-Grants support degree attainment strategies

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Mini-Grants have been creatively used by faculty from member institutions for individual projects that help achieve the consortium strategy of increasing degree attainment rates.

Now in its third year, the CVHEC Mini-Grants program, currently funded by the College Futures Foundation, provides awards with a maximum $7,500 each.

Last year, the grants awarded for projects in various amounts provided assistance and professional learning associated with Guided Pathways, Math Pathways, implementation Corequisite English and math course development, and advancement of Pathways for Associate Degrees for Transfer. This new funding cycle is seeking to additionally incentivize Basic Needs and Equity, Race and Social Justice work.

One project last year funded a four-day workshop for faculty learning, strategies and techniques that have made the institution’s English coreq model successful.

Another produced a video capturing student voices for Guided Pathways and funded professional development for student services personnel to redesign student services for Guided Pathways.

A third grant supported faculty stipends for researching effective supplemental learning models/services and development of recommendations as well as travel to colleges to investigate supplemental learning models.

“These grants provide great incentive for faculty to undertake measures that will help their students pursue courses relevant to attaining their degree,” said Dr. Ben Durán, CVHEC executive director.

The filing period is now open for the CVHEC Mini-Grants and while there is no set deadline to apply, the funds must be expended prior to April 30, 2021 so applicants are encouraged to submit their request as soon as possible to get started on their respective projects.

For more information or to receive another application packet (first distributed in October), contact Duran (bduran@csufresno.edu) or Angel Ramirez (angelr@csufresno.edu) in the CVHEC office.

Counselors FOCI Series 6 and Spring 2021 Workshops

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The Charles A. Dana Center of the University of Texas at Austin will facilitate its Focused Online Collaborative Interactions (FOCI) Series 6 for counselors and advisors focusing on guiding students into Math Pathways.

This no-cost FOCI series consists of six highly interactive sessions that inform and guide counselors and counseling departments to scale math pathways toward increased equitable access and outcomes in transfer level mathematics courses aligned to students’ academic and career goals.

The FOCI Series 6 will provide a Central Valley cohort of only 25 a learning opportunity with the tools and support to carry on in their counseling practice.

For more information on this FOCI Series please view the FLYER.

REGISTER HERE for FOCI Series 6
Registration Deadline: Jan. 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm PT

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SPRING 2021 Professional
Development Opportunities

Registration is OPEN and filling up! These are no-cost opportunities.

FOCI Series 5 on equity: “Driving Equitable Student Outcomes, Implementing Equity-Minded Teaching and Learning” (FLYER)

Registration for the Focused Online Collaborative Interactions (FOCI) Series 5 on equity from Feb. 4 – April 15 is open until 2 p.m. PT Jan. 28.  
REGISTER HERE 

This six-part series will give Central Valley region faculty the opportunity to engage with the research-based ideas and strategies that are most compelling for addressing equity gaps while meeting the needs of college students from diverse backgrounds and preparation.

Dates & Times: Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. PT

• Feb. 4, Feb. 18,
• March 4, March 18,
• April 1 and April 15

Pedagogy Virtual Convening (FLYER)
Feb. 23-25, 2021 (2-4 p.m. PT)
These workshops are designed to help support faculty in implementing student success strategies in their online courses. Topics include:

• Helping Students Transition to Learners (REGISTER) 

• Introduction to Psychosocial Factors: Belonging (REGISTER) 

• Differentiated Instruction Online (REGISTER)

Continuous Improvement of Corequisite Supports Virtual Convening (FLYER)
March 9-11, 2021

Participants will explore a continuous improvement framework for identifying, implementing and evaluating incremental changes to increase the efficacy of the corequisite models at their institution.

• Tuesday, March 9 (2-4 p.m. PT): Promoting Continuous Improvement (REGISTER) 

• Wednesday, March 10 (1-4 p.m. PT): Introduction to Quality Improvement (REGISTER)

• Thursday, March 11 (2-4 p.m. PT): Continuous Improvement Planning (REGISTER)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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)

CVHEC Mini-grants are back!   

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Mini-Grants for member institutions will be offered again in 2021 with an eye towards pandemic and equity-related activities.

Applications are now being accepted. This round of grants will be capped at $7,500 per institution and must be expended by April 30, 2021.

As a result of COVID impacts, CVHEC was able to adjust its budget and offer another round of CVHEC Mini-grants forinstitutions to meet needs on their campuses.  The mini-grants are intended to fund activities of faculty and staff for implementation, assistance and professional learning associated with Guided Pathways, Leading from the Middle, Math Pathways, implementation of AB 705 and EO 1110 and advancement of Pathways for Associate Degrees for Transfer. New to the list are basic needs and equity.

“In response to the COVID Pandemic and calls for equity and racial justice, we are adding Basic Needs and Equity, Racial and Social Justice to the list of activities the dollars can provide assistance toward,” said CVHEC Executive Director Ben Duran.

He urged CVHEC members to get the word out and encourage their staff to submit applications as soon as possible.

“The last round of grants were well received and impactful in assisting our member campuses to improve student success and completion,” Duran said.

Application forms with details were sent to members in October. For any questions, contact Duran (bduran@csufresno.edu) or Angel Ramirez (angelr@csufresno.edu) in the CVHEC office.

Equity FOCI Spring 2021 Series and Workshops – Registration

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Equity FOCI Series 5: ‘Driving Equitable Student Outcomes:
Implementing Equity-Minded Teaching and Learning’ Feb. 4 – April 15

The Dana Center Charles A. Dana Center of the University of Texas at Austin will facilitate its Focused Online Collaborative Interactions (FOCI) Series 5 on equity, “Driving Equitable Student Outcomes, Implementing Equity-Minded Teaching and Learning,” Feb. 4 – April 15.

This six-part series, in partnership with the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, will provide faculty in the nine-county region the opportunity to engage with the research-based ideas and strategies that are most compelling for addressing equity gaps while meeting the needs of college students from diverse backgrounds.

Participants will experience collaborative activities, relevant readings, videos and research summaries. They will personalize their learning by planning for and enacting modest changes in their classrooms (including remote settings) and professional learning communities that have the potential for transformative change in learning environments and student outcomes.

Early registration is encouraged as the cohort is limited to 25.
REGISTER HERE (closes 2 p.m. PT Jan. 28, 2021). Dates & Times: Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. PT

• Feb. 4, Feb. 18,
• March 4, March 18,
• April 1 and April 15
For more information: (FLYERS)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]SAVE THE DATE 
… for these additional Professional Development Opportunities facilitated by the Charles A. Dana Center scheduled for Spring 2021:

Counselor FOCI Series 6 – Supporting Academic Advisors to Scale Math Pathways: Guiding students’ math journey to and through math pathways (FLYERS) 

CVHEC Cohort Dates & Times:
Wednesdays (1-3 p.m. PT)
• Feb 3, Feb 17
• March 3, March 17, March 31
• April 14

REGISTER HERE for FOCI Series 6
(Registration Deadline: Jan. 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm PT)

 

Pedagogy Virtual Convening (FLYER) 
Feb. 23-25, 2021 (2-4 p.m. PT)
Topics include:

• Helping Students Transition to
Learners REGISTER
• Introduction to Psychosocial Factors:
Belonging REGISTER
• Differentiated Instruction Online REGISTER

 

Continuous Improvement of Corequisite Supports Virtual Convening (FLYER) 
March 9-11, 2021

• Tuesday, March 9 (2-4 p.m. PT): Promoting Continuous Improvement REGISTER

• Wednesday, March 10 (1-4 p.m. PT): Introduction to Quality Improvement REGISTER

• Thursday, March 11 (2-4 p.m. PT): Continuous Improvement Planning REGISTER

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Equity FOCI 5 Spring 2021 Flyer (3 pages)

FOCI Series 6 – Math Pathways Counselors Workshop Sp 2021 Flyer (3 pages)

FOCI – Continuous Improvement of Corequisites Sp2021 Flyer

Contact Us

  • cvhecinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu

  • 559.278.0576

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