Master’s Upskill: Mentors helping teachers, teachers helping students

Read more

Transfer Project Update: from CCC ‘demo’ to national stage at CCA

 

 

 

CVHEC Transfer Project and PPM moves from ‘demo’ to

CCC ‘Vision 2030’ status; national presentation set

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Lead

The demonstration status that the Central Valley Transfer Project was conferred by California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian in 2023 has been elevated with the inclusion of the project into the CCC “Vision 2030,” the system announced recently.

Simultaneously, the Transfer Project became formalized when the California State Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved state funding for all colleges to align with the “Program Pathways Mapper” software platform that is the Transfer Project’s central feature.  

Now, CVHEC announces that its team will present the Transfer Project at the Complete College America national conference later this fall along with the Central Valley Math Bridge Program presented by College Bridge.

The Central Valley Transfer Project is the fruit of efforts by a small team of Central Valley higher education leaders convened by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) in 2022 who set out to break down the barriers between community college, California State University and University of California campuses to increase successful transfers from community colleges to four-year institutions.  

The project is supported through the PPM software platform, a Cloud-based, public facing application that rides independently on the internet and is accessible to all parties the same as all public applications.

CVHEC’s Transfer Project initiative is also helping eliminate the equity gap among historically underrepresented students, said Stan Carrizosa, president emeritus of College of the Sequoias who is now CVHEC’s Transfer Project co-lead with Tom Burke, chancellor-emeritus of the Kern Community College District

Now the CVHEC initiative will be shared on the national stage at the Complete College America national conference in Baltimore Nov. 18. A CVHEC team will share how the project originated with a pilot effort including UC Merced, Merced College and Bakersfield College.  (CCA line-up)

Chancellor-emeritus Burke will make the trek to Baltimore with Dr. Benjamin Duran, CVHEC executive director, and Jennifer Johnson of California Community Colleges Foundation.

“Our team will present how the process has been refined and streamlined to achieve effective collaboration between all entities,” Burke said.

They will share how CVHEC’s protocols were so successful that CCC Chancellor Christian adopted the Transfer Project as a statewide demonstration project in 2023, first announced at CVHEC’s Higher Education Summit in Fresno that October.

Carrizosa said the Transfer Project process that will be shared at the national conference includes intersegmental convening of faculty, advisors and guidance staff to engage in focused efforts to review, align and approve lower and upper division course sequences as transfer pathways from community colleges to four-year colleges

Through the ease of access to PPM, historically marginalized and underrepresented students have easy access to quality, accurate course sequences to help clearly map their pathway to degree completion, he explained.

“PPM also enables counselors, advisors, high school students and parents to engage with the same official information and start their college planning at any point along their K-12 experience,” Carrizosa said.

“And the Transfer Project is leveraging the implementation of dual enrollment courses in high schools across the system further enhancing timely completion of transfer-level requirements in English and Math and closing the student achievement gap.”

Perhaps just as important, he said, the project now has collected baseline data from 5,000 incoming freshman to Bakersfield College that presents the positive impact the project is having on eliminating the equity gap among historically underrepresented students.

Joining CVHEC at the national conference will be Owyn Lancaster of College Bridge who will discuss in a separate session, “Central Valley Math Bridge: Creating Seamless Pathways for Student Success.”

He will present how the Math Bridge Program, with support from   CVHEC and the Rand Corporation, is redefining math education by creating seamless, equity-driven pathways from high school to college and how, through strategic partnerships between high schools and community colleges, the program aligns curriculum, instruction and support to eliminate learning gaps and boost student success. (See related Math Bridge data article in this issue).

“With an 88 percent pass rate and 248 students earning college credit in 2024–25 alone, the initiative proves what’s possible when systems work together,” Lancaster said. “We will discuss with the national audience how Math Bridge isn’t just about curriculum alignment; it’s about reshaping outcomes, removing barriers and transforming how students experience math, paving the way toward educational equity and degree attainment.”

See CCA full lineup

 

###

Central Valley higher ed leaders retreat for strategic planning

The CVHEC Board of Directors and team members convened Aug. 15 at UC Merced for a hybrid strategic planning retreat. Attending in person: (FRONT): Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval; CHSU President Flo Dun; Coalinga College President Carla Tweed; YCCD Interim Chancellor Lena Tran; San Joaquin Delta College Superintendent/ President Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson; Madera Community College President Ángel Reyna; Clovis Community College President Kim Armstrong; Merced College Superintendent/ President Chris Vitelli; CVHEC Dual Enrollment Lead Kristin Clark; UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. (MIDDLE): CVHEC Admin Assistant Priscilla Arellano; Fresno City College President Denise Whisenhunt; Bakersfield College Interim President Stacy Pfluger; Taft College Acting Superintendent/ President Leslie Minor; CVHEC Executive Director Benjamín Durán; Reedley College President Jerry Buckley. (BACK): CVHEC Associate Director Angel Ramirez; WHCCD Chancellor Robert Pimentel; Lemoore College President James Preston; Modesto Junior College President Brian Sanders; Fresno Pacific University President André Stephens; College of the Sequoias President Brent Calvin.  (Photo: Juan Rodriguez – UCM).

CVHEC board sets direction for next 3-5 years

with collaborative focus on student success

 

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Lead

Leaders from colleges and universities across California’s Central Valley gathered at the University of California, Merced for a one-day Strategic Planning Retreat hosted by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Board of Directors Aug. 20.

The session marked an important milestone in the consortium’s 23-year history, as presidents, chancellors and higher education CEOs from across the region came together to chart a bold course for the next three to five years, said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, .

“This was a ‘roll up your sleeves’ kind of day,” Durán said, reflecting the spirit of the retreat. “It was about open discussion, candid collaboration, and making decisions that will set the state and direction for CVHEC in the years to come.”

A Trusted Voice for Higher Education Advocacy and Collaboration in the Valley

Hosted by UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, the retreat began with welcome remarks that underscored the importance of regional collaboration in advancing higher education opportunities.

The day carried special significance as participants reflected on CVHEC’s origins. Founded at California State University, Fresno under the leadership of President-Emeritus John Welty, the consortium has grown into a trusted voice for higher education advocacy and collaboration in the Valley.

Current Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval noted in a social media post after the event the historical connection he found in reminiscing about his predecessor.

“This is a deeply meaningful program to our university and region,” President Jiménez-Sandoval said. “It represents not just a partnership but a shared responsibility to lift up the Central Valley through education. I look forward to our continued intentional collaboration on so many areas — from AI to transfer pathways to joint research projects.”

The retreat agenda featured a presentation by Durán and Ángel Ramírez, associate director, who revisited CVHEC’s founding story and outlined its core purpose: strengthening higher education access and success across the Central Valley.

“When institutions across the Valley work together, we amplify our impact for students, families, and communities,” said Ramírez, who previewed a draft of a video currently in progress telling the CVHEC story.

Their presentation highlighted the consortium’s current initiatives, including:

  • The Central Valley Transfer Project, streamlining student movement between community colleges and universities.
  • Expansion of dual enrollment programs.
  • And Math alignment efforts including the Math Task Force and CV Math Bridge work.

Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor -emeritus of the West Hills Community College District participating as a former CVHEC board member, reinforced CVHEC’s uniqueness. She served on the board including as chair until her retirement from WHCCD last year.

“The CVHEC Board of Directors is made up of CEOs. That’s powerful,” she said. “It means we have the ability to drive collective impact at the highest levels of our institutions. We are not duplicating anyone’s work. We are doing what no single institution can do alone. That’s why this board matters.”

Collaborative Workshops: From Challenges to Solutions

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.

“This is the hard part,” said Wakhlu with a smile. “It’s easy to generate ideas. It’s harder to commit to action. But today you’ve done both.”

“This was the consortium at its best,” Dr. Duran said. “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.”

Building Toward the Future

The retreat outcomes included:

  • Stronger relationships among member CEOs.
  • Deeper understanding of CVHEC’s history and ongoing work.
  • Clear priorities for regional collaboration.
  • Champions stepping up to lead the next phase of CVHEC initiatives.

In addition to the retreat, UC Merced staff offered participants a guided campus tour, showcasing the university’s growth and commitment to serving the Valley.

Reflecting on the day, Associate Director Ramírez expressed optimism for what lies ahead.

“This was more than just planning,” Ramírez said. “It was about reaffirming our shared purpose and commitment in CVHEC’s work. Together, we can expand opportunities and outcomes for every student we serve.

Math Bridge update: data shows an 89% pass rate

 

In 2022, CVHEC partnered with College Bridge to expand its Math Bridge program into the Central Valley as a model strategy to align math pathways.  Using dual enrollment college courses as the delivery method, this effort is intended for high school students who have historically struggled with math and might feel they are not college-ready.  Thanks to K-16 Collaborative state funding, this project has been implemented in two regions of CVHEC’s 10-county service area – Mid-Valley and North Valley – with our sights set on expanding this pioneering program to other regions in the next year. This story by Audra Burwell of College Bridge shares data demonstrating the initiative’s impact to date and how a targeted program like Math Bridge effectively helps rural high school students successfully complete gateway college level courses before graduating from their high school.  Research shows that programs like these with wrap-around services for targeted student populations serve as springboards towards college completion for these students .

From Doubt to Determination

CV Math Bridge first

cohort explodes with Success Revealing an 89% Pass Rate

 

(July 8, 2025) — For many high school students, especially those who struggle with math, the idea of college can feel distant, even impossible. The Math Bridge Project was created to change that trajectory.

Designed as an academic intervention, Math Bridge aligns high school and college mathematics programs, offering a supported, credit-bearing alternative that prepares students for college success.

What makes this program truly transformative is that many of the students who joined Math Bridge didn’t initially plan to take higher level math courses during high school. Some believed they weren’t “math people.” Others had never taken a college course or imagined they could. But throughout the school year, they participated in a supportive environment where college faculty and high school teachers worked collaboratively to guide them. Students engaged with rigorous college-level material, received detailed feedback on their work, and built confidence. Now, many are looking toward college with a sense of purpose, a completed math requirement, and a clearer idea of the future they want.

Partner Colleges & Schools

College Bridge spent over a year visiting high schools up and down the Central Valley, building relationships, engaging with educators, and ultimately securing the following partnerships:

  • San Joaquin Delta College: Stagg HS, Weber Institute of Applied Sciences & Technology
  • Merced College: Golden Valley HS, Livingston HS, Atwater HS, Buhach Colony HS, Mariposa HS
  • Reedley College: Dinuba HS, Orosi HS, Sanger HS, Sanger West HS
  • Taft College: Taft HS
  • West Hills Lemoore College: Riverdale HS

Student Eligibility Criteria

The Math Bridge Project is specifically designed to support students who have historically struggled with math and may not see themselves as college ready. To qualify, participants must be in the 12th grade, have a cumulative GPA between 2.3 and 3.4, and must have already completed their high school graduation math requirements. By targeting this particular student population, the program ensures that those most in need of academic support receive guidance and the opportunity to succeed in college-level math.

Spring 2025 Math Bridge Outcomes: By the Numbers

For the 2024-2025 school year, the Math Bridge program served over 300 students across fourteen classrooms. Looking ahead, we estimate that the number of students enrolled in Math Bridge will double for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Program-Wide Success Rates

Across all partner schools, Math Bridge achieved an impressive pass rate of 89% for the 2024-2025 school year. Each student completed a transferable college-level math class, which for many, will be the only math course they will need to graduate from college.

Several classrooms distinguished themselves with outstanding outcomes. Notably, Buhach Colony, Riverdale, and Sanger West reached a 100% pass rate in their college classes.

90% of Math Bridge graduates are headed to college:

  • 65 % plan to attend a California Community College
  • 23% will be enrolling in a California State University (CSU) 10% are headed to a University of California (UC) campus Expanding Access & Empowering Students

The Math Bridge Project is more than just a math course; it’s a model of how educational systems can work together to eliminate barriers and open doors. With this year’s data reinforcing the power of collaboration, we’re excited to expand even further in the 2025- 2026 school year by adding an additional community college and several more high schools to the Math Bridge project. More students. More schools. More futures rewritten.

As one student stated: “I feel more prepared for college-level math thanks to the Math Bridge program. It is helpful to see what I can expect in the future.”

– Julissa, Livingston High School

Are you an educator or school leader interested in transforming the math journey at your school or campus? Explore our website to learn more about the Math Bridge project, discover how it’s making an impact, and find out how you can become involved.

 

Audra Burwell

© 2025 All Rights Reserved

College Bridge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

SUMMER 2025: CVHEC MID YEAR REVIEW

Summer Edition 2025: 

CVHEC’s first six months of the year

BY TOM URIBES

Communications Lead — Central Valley Higher Education Consortium

 

Our annual Mid-Year Review summer edition highlights CVHEC’s first six months of 2025 as reported across our news and social media platforms from January to June, prepared by Tom Uribes, the consortium’s communications lead.

JANUARY 2025 (No. 46)

– Published Jan. 16

CCC Chancellor Sonya Christian to keynote Dual Enrollment Convening Feb. 3 

New: pre-conference session for schools new to dual enrollment 

Dr. Sonya Christian, chancellor of the California Community Colleges, was named to keynote the “Dual Enrollment in the Central Valley” Convening  Feb. 3 in Fresno presented by CVHEC and its Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity (CVDEEP) Task Force with sponsor support from the College Futures Foundation. More than 100 secondary and postsecondary educators from throughout the valley’s ten-county region will hear the chancellor address challenges and barriers to dual enrollment success that can pave the way for high school students statewide leading to a degree or certificate. “Dual enrollment is a game changer in bringing college to first-generation students whose parents did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education,” said Chancellor Christian. “Central Valley colleges have shown tremendous momentum in expanding dual enrollment pathways. The work led by CVHEC in collaborating, facilitating, and realizing dual enrollment is truly a gold star standard for the rest of the country.”  

BLOG: ‘Progress in a Time of Disruption: The Urgency of Reimagining Higher Ed’

– By DR. JAMIE MERISOTIS, President/CEO, Lumina Foundation

With the advent of a new year, and many new developments across the nation and worldwide, we kicked off our first Central Valley Higher Education Consortium newsletter of 2025 with a special guest edition of our “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog featuring a reprint of the keynote address delivered by Dr. Jamie Merisotis, president of the Lumina Foundation, at the 2024 Complete College America (CCA) 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 which drew 800 participants from throughout the country who heard Dr. Merisotis issue both an alarm that higher education is at a crossroads and a call to positive action through system changes in higher ed.

UC Merced Chancellor Muñoz to chair CVHEC Board of Directors

 Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of University of California Merced, began a one-year term as chairperson for the CVHEC Board of Directors, announced Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director. Chancellor Muñoz succeeded Dr. Kristin Clark who retired from her position as chancellor of West Hills Community College District last year, an action that also vacated her seat on the CVHEC board and as chair. As chair, Chancellor Muñoz leads the executive committee of the CVHEC board and presides over the board’s quarterly meetings as well as the CVHEC Annual Summit.

Math Bridge: foundation for postsecondary journey, academic success

Since the Central Valley Math Bridge program was funded in late 2022 in partnership with CVHEC, the Rand Corporation and several community college members of the consortium, its small but energetic College Bridge team has made headway into 18 high schools in the consortium’s 10-county region thanks with funding from the California K-16 Collaborative (Central – Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Counties; and We Will! – Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties). 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. Look for more in our upcoming September issue.

CSU sets another first-year student enrollment record

 For the second consecutive year, the California State University (CSU) welcomed an all-time high number of first-time, first-year students for fall 2024—more than 68,500 new students across its 23 universities, including at the three CSU members of CVHEC: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus.

Taft College names new acting superintendent/president

Dr. Leslie Minor has assumed the acting superintendent/president role at West Kern Community College District/Taft College effective Jan. 13. As CEO of a CVHEC member institution of higher ed, President Minor now serves on the consortium board.

CCA ‘Math Pathways 2.0’ report: national conversation corequisite focus 

Complete College America (CCA) released its latest report, “Formula for Success: How to Support Every Student Through Math Pathways” that, drawing from extensive work with institutions nationwide, offers a comprehensive framework for implementing Math Pathways 2.0 and transforming mathematics education to support student success and advance equity goals. Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, said the report reinforces work that CVHEC members and partners such as the Dana Center at the University of Austin (Texas) are pioneering in Central California.

(Social media – JAN) TO DO

FEBRUARY 2025 (No. 47)

– Published Feb. 12

CVDEEP Convening 2025: dual enrollment at scale and with equity

CCC chancellor keynote: ‘Central California is state model for dual enrollment’ 

Citing the Central Valley as the state leader and exemplary model for dual enrollment implementation, California Community College Chancellor Sonya Christian provided a powerful keynote launch for the “Dual Enrollment in The Central Valley” Convening held Feb. 3 in Fresno. The day-long event, presented by CVHEC and its Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity (CVDEEP) Task Force in partnership with the California Guided Pathways Project at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, featured a panel of five valley high school students sharing their dual enrollment experiences and the foundation set for future academic goals. Dr. Christian brought an insightful and encouraging message to the event as she emphasized Vision 2030, a bold strategy set when she was named chancellor in 2023.

 Transfer Project Update: Persistence — commitment with intelligence 

With 2025 well into its second month, CVHEC presented a look at the success of our Central Valley Transfer Project that was catapulted into the state limelight when it was declared a California Community Colleges Demonstration Project by Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian in fall 2023. Transfer Project Lead Stan Carrizosa, president-emeritus of COS, reported that 12 of the 15 Central Valley Higher Education Consortium-member community colleges were on board along with members UC Merced and our three CSU campuses: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus. He noted how “the Central Valley Way” of collaboration and “working smarter, not harder” that characterizes CVHEC initiatives is spreading into a statewide effort to increase successful community college transfers with the implementation of the project’s software platform, Program Pathways Mapper (PPM). [STORY]

CVHEC Math Task Force: Next AB1705 convening March 28 — going ‘beyond’ student success

While its work with math curriculum for Assembly Bill 1705 over the past two years neared a conclusion In February, the CVHEC Math Task Force ramped up its mission within a broader math landscape for the valley’s 10-county region when CVHEC announced “The Central Valley Way to Math Success: AB 1705 Success and Beyond” Convening set for March 28 at the new West Fresno Center of Fresno City College. The daylong event continued two years of discussion by Central Valley community colleges and their counterparts statewide about meeting the requirements of the state law related to equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs. Dr. Erik Cooper of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office agreed to attend person and address a CCCCO memo issued Dec. 10, 2024, “Updated Guidance for Placement and Enrollment for Students in STEM Programs.”

BLOG – New year, new laws:  the Stop Campus Hazing Act is now in effect

By Ashley Emerzian, Jenna Cummings and Pamela Schock

The February edition of the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog featured Fresno attorney Ashley Emerzian of Emerzian Shankar Legal Inc., who specializes in education law, providing informative insights into the Stop Campus Hazing Act that was signed into law by President Biden in December, and the newly enhanced Clery Act that requires universities to include hazing data in their annual Clery Reports as well as publish a separate report which describes hazing violations. She reports that “staggering” statistics on higher education campus hazing have been widely reported in recent years and presents key areas of compliance that institutions of higher education will need to implement this year including deadlines and penalties such as loss of federal financial aid funding for Clery violations. She was joined in this blog by law partner Jenna Cummings and Pamela Schock of CVHEC-member Fresno Pacific University. [STORY]

(Social media – FEB) TO DO

MARCH 2025 (No. 48)

– Published March 7

Topics set for CVHEC Summit 2025 — Complete College America rep will provide national perspective for higher ed CEOs May 9 

As educators across the nation face urgency reimagining higher education to meet the needs of today’s students and society, CVHEC announced topics for its Higher Education Summit 2025 set for May 9 in Fresno that present voices from policy makers and practitioners nationally, statewide and from throughout the Central Valley’s 10-county region. The CVHEC 2025 Summit brings together chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 Central Valley institutions of higher education — who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors – with other educators and policy makers including elected officials who develop litigation that affect the region.

One of the panelists participating this year will be Dr. Brandon Protas, assistant vice president for Alliance Engagement at Complete College America, a national alliance of higher education institutions and organizations including CVHEC in California. [STORY]

BLOG: Blazing a Trail–my journey as an undocumented student & the path forward for higher ed

— BY DR. ILIANA PEREZ – Executive Director, Immigrants Rising

The March edition of the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog featured Dr. Iliana Perez, executive director of Immigrants Rising, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for undocumented communities.   Dr. Perez, who was raised in the Central Valley (Turlock), is an alumna of CVHEC-member Fresno State where she earned a BA in mathematics before attending Claremont University for her master’s and PhD. She and her organization have worked with several CVHEC-member campuses regarding issues related to undocumented students including an entrepreneurship incubator and pitch competition for undocumented students with a shark tank style competition held at Fresno State in the spring semester.  In this month’s blog, she shares her personal experience as an undocumented student who has reinvested herself in her community. She outlines gains and ongoing challenges in that landscape as well as resources regarding undocumented students  that are available to institutions of higher education.  CVHEC members interested in collaborating with Immigrants Rising for their undocumented students may contact Dr. Perez at iliana@immigrantsrising.org.

Math profs share ‘The Central Valley Way’ to AB1705 at AMATYC national meet at March 28 MTF

CVHEC released the official agenda for the “The Central Valley Way to Math Success: AB 1705 Success and Beyond” Convening set for March 28  at the new West Fresno Center of Fresno City College including a report from two community college professors, Shelley Getty and Jeremy Brandl,  discussing how they shared at the national conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Conference (AMATYC)  Nov. 17 CVHEC’s approach to addressing AB 1705 the past two years. They attended with Dr. Tammi Pérez-Rice, course program specialist for the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin). Also planned for the convening were updates in five breakout sessions from Central Valley community colleges regarding their revised calculus and precalculus curricula and a visit by Dr. Erik Cooper of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to present “Reflections from Chancellor’s Office” regarding a Dec. 10, 2024 memo which provides “additional direction on placement and enrollment options.” [STORY]

CVHEC presents Master’s Upskill, Math Bridge programs for CADEP Conference 

Over 650 educators, presenters and sponsors met at the 3rd California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento Feb. 23-26 including a CVHEC delegation that presented a panel on two dual enrollment initiatives: the Master’s Upskilling Project and the Central Valley Math Bridge Program. Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, led the CVHEC delegation of eight with six presenting on the panel, “Using Dual Enrollment as a tool for Math Alignment and Increasing Instructor Capacity in the Central Valley.” The panel team was Seth Williams, Sanger High School; Ginny Sandhu, Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified); Taft High School Principal Mary Alice Finn; Taft math teacher Oscar Nuno; Owynn Lancaster, College Bridge (Math Bridge Program) and Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC (visuals). Also attending was CVHEC communications coordinator Tom Uribes. Conference co-hosts were the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships (CADEP), Career Ladders Project and Education Trust–West. [STORY]

Dr. Clark resumes higher ed career leading CVHEC dual enrollment with Cash

Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor-emeritus of West Hills Community College District (WHCCD), has joined the CVHEC team as a consultant leading the development of a “Dual Enrollment Guide/Playbook of Best Practices” for Central Valley colleges, especially those serving students in rural areas. Dr. Benjamin Duran, CVHEC executive director, announced the appointment bringing the former chancellor out of retirement seven months after stepping away from her 30-year career in higher education that also included the presidency of West Hills College-Lemoore (now Lemoore College) and service on the CVHEC board of directors. Dr. Clark will pair up with Elaine Cash, CVHEC grants and programs lead and dual enrollment coordinator, and former superintendent of Riverdale Joint Unified School District.

DUAL ENROLLMENT WEEK 2025: CVHEC featured on “The Bridge to Success” podcast

To help kick off Dual Enrollment Week March 10-14, we present the California Department of Education (CDE) podcast, “Bridge to Success: Navigating Dual Enrollment,” recorded Feb. 25 at the California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference featuring members of the CVHEC delegation. Interviewed and sharing our dual enrollment initiatives at the third annual statewide conference held Feb. 23-26 in Sacramento were Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director; Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC Operations & Finance manager, Ginny Sandhu, Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified) English teacher who earned qualification to teach dual enrollment courses through CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Program. The podcast by Diane Crum, Education Programs consultant in CDE’s High School Innovations and Initiatives Office, explores dual enrollment success stories from around the state of California. She dives into inspiring stories, best practices and expert insights to help students bridge the gap between high school and college. [STORY]

DREAMSCAPE: Merced College pioneers first community college VR lab in the state

A little journey into an immersive alien landscape at Merced College’s new Dreamscape Learn Lab that is now in use to aid in learning the basics of biology provided CVHEC team members a break from their usual routines. President Chris Vitelli extended an invite to Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, for an exclusive tour Feb. 28 of the first permanent, brick-and-mortar virtual reality learning facility in the California Community College system to deploy both a Dreamscape Learn classroom and a free-roam pod experience.  Joining Dr. Duran on the virtual reality trek were Priscilla Arellano, Ángel Ramírez, Elaine Cash and Tom Uribes.

UCSF Appoints Dr. José M. Barral Sánchez as Fresno Regional Campus vice dean  

José M. Barral Sánchez, MD, PhD, was named vice dean for the UCSF Fresno Regional Campus, effective May 1, 2025. UCSF School of Medicine Dean Talmadge E. King, Jr., MD, announced recently. Dr. Sánchez will oversee medical education, faculty development and research growth, including regional campus expanding partnership with UC Merced, Dean King said. [STORY]

(Social media – MARCH) TO DO

APRIL 2025 (No. 49)

– Published April 17

State’s higher ed systems to present at CVHEC Summit

“Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way” May 9 summit also features Congressional reps, state legislators

Representatives from California’s four systems of higher education will tackle pressing issues facing colleges across the nation in the keynote panel for the CVHEC 2025 Summit next month in Fresno under the theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way.”  Panelists – including federal and state legislators – have been announced for the summit set for Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. [STORY]

Master’s Upskilling Program making its mark — Recruitment for North Valley HS English teachers cohort

The CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program – now successfully scaled across three California K-16 Education Collaboratives regions throughout the consortium’s 10-counties with 146 degrees conferred to date — recruited for 12 North Valley and three more Kern County English high school teachers interested in earning a master’s degree that will qualify them to teach dual enrollment college courses. [STORY]

CCCCO rep address tough questions as CVHEC member colleges report compliance with AB 1705

The CVHEC Math Task Force held its fifth AB1705 convening Mar. 28 in Fresno where about 65 community college math professors, California State University and University of California representatives and other higher ed professionals gathered to follow up on two years of deliberations regarding compliance with the state law for STEM requirements including an incisive face-to-face interaction with Vice Chancellor Eric Cooper of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Facilitator Dr. John Spevak, former Merced College vice president who is now CVHEC’s Math and English Task Forces lead, provided a recap of the Math Task Force convening and how CVHEC’s 15 community college members have submitted curriculum plans to the Chancellor’s Office.

BLOG April 2025 -Retired, but not expired: a higher ed encore

By Dr. Kristin Clark – CVHEC Dual Enrollment Lead; Chancellor-emeritus, West Hills Community College District

This edition of the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog features Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor-emeritus of the West Hills Community College District, who in March came out of short-lived retirement to join the CVHEC team as dual enrollment lead (see March issue). Here Dr. Clark provides some insight into this bold move to throw down the retirement mantle and resume her “commitment to higher education, particularly in support of those who have been marginalized and underserved.” For more information about partnering with CVHEC’s dual enrollment team: CVHECinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Dr. Bennett joins CVHEC’s team – Master’s Project seeking community college mentors

Dr. Lori Bennett, president-emeritus of Clovis Community College (CCC), is the latest addition of talent to CVHEC, announced Executive Director Benjamín Durán. Dr. Bennett, who retired from CCC in 2023, will serve as Math Faculty Mentor coordinator for CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Project for English and Mathematics. She joins the MA Upskilling team of Tom Burke, the Kern MA Upskilling lead; and Dr. Vikash Lakhani, English Faculty Mentor coordinator. Burke also announced that the project is currently recruiting community college professors to serve as mentors to the program participants for assignments starting in fall of 2025. The community college mentors receive two stipends of $1,000 each during their mentorship period.

SPOTLIGHT: CDE podcast transcript featuring CVHEC

This issue, we spotlight the transcript for the California Department of Education podcast “Bridge to Success: Navigating Dual Enrollment” recorded Feb. 25 at the California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference featuring members of the CVHEC delegation that was first featured in our March issue. Interviewed and sharing our dual enrollment initiatives at the third annual statewide conference held Feb. 23-26 in Sacramento were Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director; Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC Operations & Finance manager, and Ginny Sandhu, Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified) teacher who earned qualification to teach dual enrollment through CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Program (also see Dual Enrollment Week video that includes an excerpt of the podcast).

 

BOARD NEWS

 

Fresno City College president: Dr. Denise Whisenhunt comes home

Ms. Denise Whisenhunt, J.D., was named Fresno City College president effective July, 2025 by the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Board of Trustees at its May 6 meeting. She also took a seat on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors at its quarterly meeting May 8, filling the spot vacated when Dr. Robert Pimentel became chancellor of the West Hills Community College District (remaining on the CVHEC board by virtue of his WHCCD position).

 

(Social media – April) TO DO

 

JUNE 2025 (No. 50)

– Published June 4

CVHEC SUMMIT 2025 WRAP: 175+ higher ed professionals, leaders and students ‘Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way’

More than 175 higher education leaders who gathered at the Central Valley Higher Education Summit in Fresno on May 9 rallied to address sweeping federal changes reshaping the education landscape nationwide. The summit, hosted by CVHEC and sponsored by College Futures Foundation, was marked by a powerful virtual address from California Attorney General Rob Bonta (see related story). It featured panels addressing national trends, equity, the state’s higher education systems policies, student experiences and collaborative innovation. The summit theme, “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way,” was delivered through five panels with members of the CVHEC board providing panelist introductions and moderating. Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of UC Merced and chair of the CVHEC board, set the tone for the panels and Bonta’s remarks later in the afternoon: “The focus of today’s summit is unique in that higher education across the nation is dealing with challenges created by a new administration in Washington and the ever-changing higher education landscape.”

YT:  https://youtu.be/Y7kLTfa0YsU

 

California Attorney General Bonta, ACE VP Fansmith assess the higher ed challenge

CVHEC in May virtually delivered the voices of two key leaders at the head of the quick changing education landscape facing the nation amidst policy and funding changes by the current White House Administration. At CVHEC’s summit May 9, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told the leaders of higher education institutions in the Central Valley they are facing an “all-hands-on-deck moment” as changes under the Trump administration threaten educational equity and federal funding. The day before, at the quarterly meeting of the CVHEC Board of Directors – made up of the university and college chancellors, presidents and educational administrators of 28 institutions of higher education in the valley’s 10-county region – Jon Fansmith, American Council on Education (ACE) senior vice president, delivered a deeply informative and, at times, sobering virtual conversation including an alert about possible TRIO Programs funding cuts.

BLOG: Commencement 2025 

By Ellie Oliva, Class of 2025 – Fresno State

Like many high school seniors, Ellie Oliva had big college dreams after graduating from high school. But, just like for numerous students, her plans changed and she “took a break” to earn some money and “live life” before eventually returning to her academic journey. For our commencement season “What the CV-HEC is Happening” blog, we recruited Ellie to tell her story of not giving up on her dream and eventually experiencing the thrill of graduating from two CVHEC-member colleges in the past 365 days including walking in two commencement events last month. Right after her Fresno State graduation May 17, Ellie began her full-time professional career with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno as its social media coordinator.

Increasing transfers the Central Valley Way: consortium Transfer Project moves from CCC ‘demonstration’ status to ‘Vision 2030’ strategy

CVHEC is renowned for its effectiveness in fostering regional collaboration among all of the Valley’s higher education institutions. Most notable, as evidenced by the recent Central Valley Higher Education Summit, is the ability to bring intersegmental partners together from the University of California, California State University and California Community college systems as well as independent/private institutions for the purpose of increasing access and success of Central Valley students in their higher education experience.

At the summit, a more recent and very powerful example of this was the presentation by Dr. James Zimmerman on the panel, “What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley,” where he discussed the success of the Central Valley Transfer Project initiated by CVHEC in partnership with UC Merced (UCM), backed by the testimony of successful transfer student Araceli Tilley in the student panel earlier that morning. CVHEC’s Transfer Project protocols were so successful that California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian adopted the Transfer Project as a statewide demonstration project in 2023, first announced at our CVHEC Summit that October. It is now part of the CCC Vision 2030.

 

 

 

CVHEC BOARD MEETING: New Taft College, UCSF-Fresno reps welcomed to board; key initiatives discussed

 

The CVHEC Board of Directors welcomed two new members at its quarterly meeting May 8 in Fresno: Acting Superintendent/President Leslie Minor of Taft College and Vice Dean José M. Barral Sánchez, M.D., Ph.D. from the UCSF Fresno Regional Campus.

 

 

(Social media – JUNE) TO DO

 

National Higher Education Day June 5 — Salute to our California Central Valley college leaders
TO EDIT
In observance of #HigherEducationDay today … our annual salute to the leaders of 28 Central Valley institutions of higher ed in our 10-county region from San Joaquin to Kern who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors: speaking in a single voice on higher education policy issues that affect our region the #CentralValleyWay.

Collectively these educational executives – chancellors, presidents, campus directors – collaborate as the CVHEC board to increase Central Valley’s certificate and degree attainment rates while serving as a regional convener on post-secondary equitable work.

A special shout out to new board members: Acting Superintendent/President Leslie Minor of Taft College and UCSF Fresno Vice Dean José M. Barral Sánchez.

Also, in transition, congrats to Yosemite Community College District Chancellor Henry Yong on his retirement and to Dr. Lena Tran, @columbiacollege president who was named YCCD interim chancellor to replace Chancelor-emeritus Yong.

 

 

 

SUMMER –  TO DO

(Social media ONLY  – JUNE/JULY)

TO EDIT

MidYearRvw25-sumNL25 v1

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION DAY 2025 – Salute to our California hashtag#CentralValley college leaders

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/central-valley-higher-education-consortium_centralvalley-highereducationday-centralvalleyway-activity-7336862025744035842-zChf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEetUeABZGR4latQ94RUk49u9iN8YQN6Zdg

ICYMI: CVHEC Summit 2025 panels videos


CVHEC 2025 Summit – Higher Education & Justice: A Virtual Forum

VIRTUAL REMARKS: California Attorney General Rob Bonta

Central Valley Higher Education Summit 2025 Panels 

In case you missed it …. here is a look at the panels from the Central Valley Higher Education Summit held May 9 in Fresno: how the region’s higher ed professionals convened with national and state officials to address pressing issues currently at hand, including the virtual session with California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Planning is already underway for the 2026 summit tentatively planned for spring. Stay connected via our social media platforms and newsletter for announcements and updates. The summit provides the opportunity for our region’s higher education minds to collaborate to improve college attainment rates for Central Valley residents.

See previous newsletter stories:

• Summit Wrap story

• CVHEC speakers story

PANEL 1 (Higher Ed)

CVHEC 2025 Summit – Stronger Together: Aligning Systems for Equitable Outcomes


PANEL 2 (Students)

CVHEC 2025 Summit – In Their Words: Real Students Talking about Central Valley Strategies


PANEL 3 (Data)

CVHEC 2025 Summit – Data at Every Level: Sharing National, State and Local Insights


PANEL 4 (CVHEC initiatives)

CVHEC 2025 Summit – What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley


PANEL 5 (Legislative)

CVHEC 2025 Summit – The Path Forward: Higher Ed Policy and the New Administration


CVHEC Summit Reception May 8, 2025 – entertainment

Fresno State Latin Ensemble CVHEC Summit 2025


CVHEC 2025 SUMMIT RECAP FINAL


UPDATE: CVHEC increases transfers the Central Valley Way


Dr. James Zimmerman (center) on the CVHEC Summit panel, “What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley,” May 9 demonstrated how the Central Valley Transfer Project addresses educational disparities in the region by fostering increased access to higher education for students in the Central Valley. Here he is flanked by Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor-emeritus of the West Hills Community College District and now CVHEC’s dual enrollment lead, and Dr. Benjamín Durán, president-emeritus of Merced College and now CVHEC’s executive director.


Transfer student Araceli Tilley testified in the CVHEC summit student panel May 9 that the the Central Valley Transfer Program’s Program Pathways Mapper app not only  helped her, but she uses it to help other students in the Merced College Student Success Program where she now works. She has presented her Transfer Project/Mapper experiences at several conferences statewide.

Consortium Transfer Project moves from CCC

‘demonstration’ status to ‘Vision 2030

strategy

BY STAN A. CARRIZOSA, SR.
CVHEC Regional Coordinator
(President-emeritus, College of the Sequoias)

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is renowned for its effectiveness in fostering regional collaboration among all of the Valley’s higher education institutions.

Most notable, as evidenced by the recent Central Valley Higher Education Summit, is the ability to bring intersegmental partners together from the University of California, California State University and California Community college systems as well as independent/private institutions for the purpose of increasing access and success of Central Valley students in their higher education experience.

At the summit, a more recent and very powerful example of this was the presentation by Dr. James Zimmerman on the panel, “What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley,” where he discussed the success of the Central Valley Transfer Project initiated by CVHEC in partnership with UC Merced (UCM), backed in practice by the testimony of successful transfer student Araceli Tilley’s convincing testimony in the student panel earlier that morning.

Determined to overcome the low number of community college transfers to UCM, this partnership set out to carve a new path in accelerating successful transfers.

Fully launched in 2020 the project focuses on streamlining and enhancing the process of transferring from community colleges to four-year institutions within California’s Central Valley. This project seeks to address challenges faced by students in navigating complex transfer pathways and aims to increase the number of students successfully earning bachelor’s degrees.

Historic firsts: faculty input/ CCC implementation statewide

It was an historic first when CVHEC brought UC faculty to the table alongside community college faculty in convenings structured to review and approve lower-division course patterns for successful transfer to UCM.

Dr. Zimmerman recalled the dynamics of this collaboration at the summit re-telling the message UC Merced conveyed to Bakersfield College to lay what would be the foundation of the Transfer Project:

“ ‘Our faculty want to partner with your faculty to make sure that the courses that you have on your campuses, will transfer to UC Merced with no problems’,” he said. “ ‘Can we have a sit down where your faculty talk to our faculty, and we start having a course-by-course listing that shows if they spend their first two years on your campus, they transfer to our campus for two years and they finish with a bachelor’s degree?’ That’s what the goal was.”

He noted that “the cornerstone of what makes this so powerful is the Program Pathways Mapper,” software app students can use with ease to align classes for transfer.

Enter student Araceli. When Araceli speaks, college chancellors, presidents and university officials in the  Central Valley’s 10-county region – and throughout California — listen.

She first did so at the 2023 CVHEC Summit on the student panel testifying how the Central Valley Transfer Program’s Program Pathways Mapper helped her get from Merced College to the University of California, Merced the year before. We have also taken her to the California League of Community Colleges statewide conference to share her story.

“Because of the Pathways Program Mapper, I was actually able to graduate on time because I didn’t realize that the UC had different requirements for a communications class than the CSU system,” Araceli recounted during the student panel at the recent CVHEC Summit last month. “So on the pathways mapper, I saw that the class that I needed, I had to take my last semester at Merced College. If not, I wouldn’t have been able to transfer to UC Merced.”

But this time she had some new developments to share underscoring the Transfer Program’s growth and success in the 18 months since her first summit appearance.

“Now, I work at Merced College in the Student Success Program, and I’m able to use it to help other students that come for help,” Araceli said. “Just anyone that I run into, I’m able to help them navigate — maybe what college they want to go to, because they can look at different requirements at different colleges, or what the course load is going to look like, what classes they’re going to be required to take depending on where they go. I always recommend the Pathways Mapper to them because they’re able to see what the different courses are going to look like, what their path is going to look like. So I’ve utilized it not only for myself, but to help other students that I come into contact with.”

As CVHEC Executive Director Benjamin Duran said at the summit: it’s one thing when adults talk about its value, it’s another when you hear the youngsters vouch for its usefulness.

These protocols were so successful that California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian adopted the Transfer Project as a statewide demonstration project in 2023, announced at our CVHEC Summit that October.

One year later the “demonstration” label has been lifted, and this process is now embedded in the Chancellor’s “Vision 2030” initiative!

Goals of the Project

The Central Valley Transfer Project is designed to:

  • Simplify the articulation agreements between community colleges and universities.
  • Enhance academic advising to guide students through seamless transfers.
  • Improve the equity and accessibility of higher education opportunities.
  • Reduce the time and cost associated with obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

Key Features

The project incorporates several strategies to achieve its objectives:

  • Structured collaboration among faculty and staff from UC, CSU and community colleges.
  • Development of clear and comprehensive transfer pathways in high-demand disciplines.
  • Collaboration among multiple educational institutions to ensure alignment of curricula.
  • Use of technology software to provide up-to-date resources and tools for students.

Impact on the Region

See live links below.

Also at the CVHEC summit May 9, Zimmerman demonstrated how the Central Valley Transfer Project addresses educational disparities in the region by fostering increased access to higher education for students in the Central Valley. It is part of a broader effort to promote workforce development, improve the economic well-being, and elevate the economic and educational profile of the entire Central Valley region.  He urged community colleges to make the most of funding that is available to them for implementation of the Program Pathways Mapper.

The project has now expanded beyond the Central Valley and is being embraced by higher education statewide. 

 Conclusion

The power of CVHEC’s longstanding expertise in promoting regional collaboration is paying huge dividends for Central Valley community college students through this latest effort to increase successful transfers to upper-division institutions. This strong tradition has been the catalyst for faculty and staff from the UC’s, CSU’s and CC’s to work together like never before, dispelling historical stereotypes of each other and building new collegial relationships focused on student success.

By creating smoother transfer pathways and reducing barriers to higher education, the Central Valley Transfer Project plays a crucial role in helping students achieve their academic and professional goals, contributing to the overall advancement of the Central Valley region.

Table 1 below shows the current status of CVHEC membership implementation

Table 2 shows the impact on successful transfers to UC Merced since the project began in 2020.

Table 3 shows the change in percentage of successful completion of on-path courses to degree. The control factor among 5,000 incoming freshman to Bakersfield College is the use by students of the Transfer Project software platform, Program Pathways Mapper (PPM).

Table 4 shows how the use of the PPM closes the equity gap among all students in the increased percentages of completing on-path courses to degree.

Table 5 shows how participation in the Transfer Project keeps students on a clear pathway to completion and reduces the total number of units to degree.

Program Pathways Mapper

PPM Frequently Asked Questions

California’s four higher ed systems to present at CVHEC Summit 2025

May 9 summit also features legislative update

from the region’s five Congressional reps

 

SUMMIT UPDATES:

• Attorney General Rob Bonta’s “Higher Education & Justice Virtual Forum” at CVHEC Summit May 9

• REGISTRATION CLOSED (waitlist open)

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Coordinator

Representatives from California’s four systems of higher education will tackle pressing issues facing colleges across the nation in the keynote panel for the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Summit 2025  next month in Fresno under the theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way.”

Panelists – including a conversation with legislative members from the US House of Representatives, senate and state assembly – have been announced for the summit set for Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (2233 Cesar Chavez Blvd.).

At the summit, the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of 28 valley universities and colleges making up the consortium membership will convene with the higher education system representatives and Congressional representatives as well as other legislators, educators, partner representatives and policy makers to address pressing issues as well as hear from a student panel.

The keynote panel, “Stronger Together: Aligning Systems for Equitable Outcomes,” from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., will feature key representatives of the state’s four higher education systems: California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.

For the legislators update panel “The Path Forward: Higher Ed Policy and the New Administration” at 1:15 p.m., panelists will address issues surrounding abrupt changes and imperiled federal funding, said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director.

He said this year’s event will have a different focus than previous years.

“With the dismantling of the Department of Education and wholesale severance of federal funds, higher education now faces perhaps its biggest challenge in the nation’s history,” Durán said.

“Now, as massive ongoing policy and program changes hit, we find it imperative that our region’s university and college leaders deliberate critically but thoughtfully with legislators, policy makers and other educators in general to share our perspectives in search of concrete solutions for the benefit of our student populations. We must act judiciously. Our 2025 summit, with leaders from the state’s higher ed systems and our Congressional representatives  sets the stage for this interaction.”

About 150 participants are expected to attend the summit that is open to the public with free registration compliments of the College Futures Foundation, event sponsor. Breakfast and lunch are included with the registration.

The quarterly meeting of the CVHEC Board of Directors – the chancellors, presidents and campus directors of the consortium’s 28 member colleges and universities in the ten-county region from San Joaquin to Kern – will precede the summit the day before along with the CVHEC Welcome Reception from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. featuring the Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble (Thursday, May 8).

The summit features five 45-minute sessions. Members of the CVHEC Board will provide panel introductions and serve as moderators.

Dr. Juan Muñoz, UC Merced chancellor and chair of the CVHEC Board of Directors, will open the summit at 9 a.m. with a board welcome followed by Durán reviewing the summit agenda.

The keynote panel, “Stronger Together: Aligning Systems for Equitable Outcomes,” from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., will be moderated by State Center Community College District Chancellor Carole Goldsmith after CSU Stanislaus President Britt Rios-Ellis introduces the panel:

  • Rowena M. Tomaneng, California Community Colleges deputy chancellor;
  • Nathan Dietrich, California State University assistant vice chancellor of University Relations and Advancement;
  • Yvette Gullatt, University of California vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs, vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and chief diversity officer;
  • Alex Graves, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities vice president for Government Relations.

“This year’s CVHEC summit will give our systems panelists, as well as all the panelists, the opportunity to share their thoughts on these tumultuous times and help lay foundation to unite for formidable action,” said Durán, who is superintendent/president-emeritus of Merced College, serving on the CVHEC Board during that tenure from 1998-2012. He became the consortium executive director in 2015.

A panel featuring student testimony, “In Their Words: Real Students Talking about Central Valley Strategies,” follows from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. facilitated by Lemoore College President James Preston. Columbia College President Lena Tran will introduce the student panelists.

The third panel, “Data at Every Level: Sharing National, State, and Local Insights,” will be moderated by Merced College President Chris Vitelli.  Kern Community College District Chancellor Steven Bloomberg will introduce the panelists:

After lunch, the legislative update panel, “The Path Forward: Higher Ed Policy and the New Administration,” from 12:30 – 1:15 p.m. will be moderated by Chancellor Muñoz after Porterville College President Primavera Monarrez introduces the panelists serving in the United States Congress and the State Legislature.

Congressmembers Jim Costa (21st District) and Adam Gray (13th District) and California State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (District 27) will present in-person updates regarding the elected officials’ efforts to address such issues as federal funding cuts and student concerns amidst deportation and other immigration actions by the Administration that took office in January.

At 2 p..m. Attorney General Rob Bonta will Zoom in for the “Higher Education & Justice Virtual Forum.”

The final panel before the closing session, “What the CVHEC is Happening in the Central Valley,” from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. will be moderated by Durán after Fresno Pacific University President André Stephens introduces the panelists:

For the summit’s Closing Comments session, “Where Do We Go from Here?” from 2:30 to 3 p.m., Durán will discuss plans for a regional data project and a campaign to support former students seeking to complete degree requirements, the Central Valley Reconnect Project.

“This year’s CVHEC summit attendees will leave with a good understanding of the work Central Valley higher education institutions have been doing,” Duran said.  “They will also be introduced to some new initiatives like the Reconnect Project, which will reach out to those students who left their studies before completing their degrees and certificates.  This project alone will go a long way in lifting the economic and educational wellbeing of the Central Valley.”

 See:

Panelist bios

Welcome Reception May 8

 

 

 

ABOUT CVHEC

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a California non-profit made up of 28-instutitions of higher education in the ten-county region from San Joaquin to Kern that is the size of some states. Through CVHEC, higher education professionals and academicians in the Central Valley address difficult and complex initiatives, scaling them up across the region for mutual effectiveness to serve our students and communities.  

CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program making its mark

[UPDATE APRIL 24, 2025]: the WeWill Program has approximately three seats open for the English cohort. Interested high school  teachers may sign up for an information session at the National University team’s calendly link.


Recruitment underway for

North Valley English HS teachers cohort

 

The  Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Master’s Upskilling Program – now successfully scaled across three California K-16 Education Collaboratives regions throughout the consortium’s 10-counties — is now recruiting for 12 North Valley and three more Kern County English high school teachers interested in earning a master’s degree that will qualify them to teach dual enrollment college courses.

An online information session is set for April 22 with registration now available.

The program, which provides tuition funding support, is open to English Single Subject credential holders who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in English with a specialization in rhetoric. In addition to dual enrollment courses, the degree also qualifies them to work as adjunct instructors in a community college.

The CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Program was first launched in 2021 with the Fresno/Madera K-16 Collaborative. In 2022, the program was funded for the South Valley by the Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative and in 2024 for the North Valley by the WE Will! K-16 Workforce and Education Collaborative.

The program is in partnership with two CVHEC-members — Fresno Pacific University (math) and National University (English) — along with CVHEC member community colleges and their service-area high schools.

In addition to covering  a large part of the cost of the upskilling coursework, the program provides the high school teachers with community college mentors to support them in their academic journey and in their eventual role as college instructors, said Tom Burke, CVHEC’s  Master’s Upskilling Program coordinator.

For the North Valley participants (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, & Merced counties), CVHEC’s We Will! Workforce and Education Collaborative grant provides $12,500 per student. National University provides a 20 percent tuition reduction scholarship per student also in partnership with CVHEC.

For the South Valley participants receive $14,400 each from Kern’s Regional K16 Education Collaborative and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC).

They also receive a 20 percent ($3,978) employee tuition reduction each from the CVHEC partnership with National University.

Classes are scheduled to begin Spring/Summer 2025 for completion in 12-months or less with 10 courses (45 quarter units) that are fully online, asynchronous instruction in a one-course-per-month format. The program uses a cohort-based model with 12 students per cohort.

Similar to the Fresno and Kern initiatives, National and CVHEC are now working with Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties Superintendent of Schools Offices to recruit for the 12 slots open to high school English teachers in the three North Valley counties seeking this opportunity, as well as working with regional community colleges to identify mentors for the participating teachers.

The Kern program has been recruiting for 15 slots the past few months with 12 slots filled to date.

The April 22 info session webinar covers both North Valley and Kern participants, said Jessica Gladney, senior director of Educational Partnerships Workforce and Community Education (WCE) for National.

Burke said community college professors interested in serving as a mentor should contact the respective coordinators:  Dr. Lori Bennett (math) at lori.bennett@csun.edu or Dr. Vikash Lakhani (English) at vikashlakhani@hotmail.com.

He provided this breakdown of the program’s progress since it began in 2022, with 188 high school teachers to date in the valley’s three K-16 regions completing the postgraduate degree requirements that will qualify them to teach California Community College courses in dual enrollment at their respective high schools:

  • The Fresno/Madera K-16 completed eight cohorts in 2022 that produced 140 master’s degrees: four English cohorts resulted in 54 master’s degrees and in the math component, 86 degrees were conferred in four cohorts also.
  • For Kern K16, 48 master’s degrees have been conferred: three English cohorts have been completed with 32 degrees and a fourth cohort will begin this spring for completion in May 2026 with 12 high school teachers currently recruited (recruitment is still open for three additional slots). In math, one cohort has been completed resulting in 16 degrees conferred and two cohorts are in progress with 12 students set to complete in May 2025 and 22 students in May 2026.
  • The North Valley K-16 (WeWill) program began this year: one English cohort of 12 will begin this spring for completion in May 2026. Recruitment is still open with the April 22 information session.  One math cohort also begins this spring for completion in fall 2026 with 10 students enrolled (recruitment for this math cohort is closed).

For questions about the English program cohort openings, contact Kondwani Prater, National University outreach specialist at kprater@nu.edu or text (818) 214-9044.

 

See:

 

 

Contact Us

  • cvhecinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu

  • 559.278.0576

Join Our Newsletter