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

The fall winds of change

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHAT THE CV-HEC IS HAPPENING BLOG (Nov. 2024): Dr. Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz

Read more

Math Task Force AB1705 collaborations to continue

Central Valley’s math professionals go above and beyond  

 

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

A “unique collaboration” was the vibe for more than 60 community college math educators and other education officials who met last month at the third meeting of the “Central Valley Way to AB1705 Success and Beyond” convening where they shared ideas and perspectives addressing implementation of Assembly Bill 1705 curriculum.

Presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force with the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), the Oct. 25 convening continued two years of discussion as Central Valley community colleges and their counterparts statewide prepare to meet the requirements of the state law related to equitable placement, support and completion practices for STEM programs.

Plans are already underway for the next math gathering in spring 2025 with a tentative March 28 date, said Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force and co-facilitator with Dr. Tammi Perez-Rice, Dana Center course program specialist.

“At that 2025 meeting, we will continue the vibrant conversation for even more intersegmental collaboration related to improving success for students in STEM math courses,” Spevak said.

In three virtual and three in person sessions beginning in early 2023, the task force addressed the various options available to the state’s community colleges for AB1705 implementation, a unique situation that the consortium has dubbed “The Central Valley Way” because of its innovative approach of bringing the region’s math community together for the first time.

“This confluence of thought and individuals of math faculty and math professionals is unique to California,” said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director and president-emeritus of Merced College.

“This was truly a boots-on-the-ground campaign, and we commend the folks who rolled up their sleeves and crossed territorial lines to collaborate for a great impact on our students,” Durán said. “As many excellent educators are driven to do, some went above and beyond the call of duty, even working through the summer, to prepare for this culmination and beyond.”

After the various previous sessions leading up to the Oct. 25 gathering, which was held at the Clovis Community College Herndon campus, the task force narrowed its focus to three strands with cross-institution teams developing reports regarding:

  • calculus 1 corequisite design and implementation,
  • designing and implementing an innovative pre-calculus course,
  • evaluating the efficacy of the courses in the path to calculus as reported out by strand leads.

Spevak said each community college has worked on its own plan to comply with the new legislation, for implementation in fall 2025, but the collaboration gave them the opportunity to see what sister Central Valley campuses were doing and feed off each other.

“Each college benefitted from the ideas presented by fellow college math educators,” Spevak said. “The comment most frequently heard was ‘I appreciated the opportunity to learn what other community colleges are doing and to share what my college is doing’.”

Joan M. Zoellner, the Dana Center’s Launch Years Initiative lead who also delivered a presentation, “National Best Practices in Math Student Success,” at the event summarized the outcome.

“Despite taking different approaches, all of the participants displayed dedication to student success, discussing a wide variety of topics including active learning, flipped classrooms, scheduling with other STEM departments and creatively leveraging existing campus resources such as MESA programs,” she said.

Spevak also noted that the spirit of collaboration extended to math educators from other segments who participated in the math gathering, including three Central Valley high schools and representatives from the California State University System and the University of California as well from UC campuses at Merced and Davis.

Dr. Erik Cooper of the California Community College Chancellors Office briefly discussed the AB1705 guidance.

Zoellner said of the vice chancellor’s Zoom appearance, “Attendees had the opportunity to pose several logistical questions that are still ambiguous.”

Sharing updates on work in progress throughout the Central Valley as well as statewide to enhance math education research, teacher training and student support were Dr. Lynn Cevallos of College Bridge, Dr. Ted Coe of the California Mathematics Education Collaborative, Dr. Fred Uy from the CSU Chancellors Office, Dr. Liz Rozell of the Kern Master’s Teacher Upskilling Project. Rolin Moe of UC Online sent comments presented to the group by Spevak.

Several high school officials and other higher education representatives also offered input throughout the day, highlighting the impression the Central Valley Way has made on the Dana Center representatives who work with several education organizations throughout the nation on math issues. In California, they have worked with CVHEC since 2018, when AB705 was initially being implemented and more recently into the current partnership focusing on the AB1705 implementation.

“We have been honored to work with the dedicated math faculty in the Central Valley over the course of these past years,” Zoellner said. “We have witnessed the thoughtful and intentional work by the faculty to design corequisite supports that will best support their local student populations, even when buy-in to the overall guidance was mixed.”

She echoed Duran’s assessment saying the cross-sector collaborative work happening in the Central Valley — including high schools, community colleges, CSUs and UCs — is unique in the state and in the country.

“The collaboration of many Central Valley community colleges, including small rural colleges, to share ideas, strategies and data will help identify and make the case for scaling effective ways of implementing AB1705 for similar schools in the state,” Zoellner said.

Perez-Rice said that this collaboration will be highlighted in a presentation by the Dana Center at the annual conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta Nov. 14-17 that will include two of the three CVHEC Math task Force strand leads who will share the CVHEC story addressing AB 1705 the past two years.

Set to participate in that national presentation are math professors Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College.

“So really the nation is seeing what is happening in the Central Valley of California and how CVHEC is leading the way showing what it means to convene like this; what it means to work across sectors to this caliber,” Perez-Rice said.  “We hope the story behind the ‘Central Valley Way to Math Success’ collaboration will serve as a template for similar regional collaboration throughout the state and nation. It’s quite exciting.”

This national attention is possible “thanks to all the math professionals in our region for their dedication to math success for our Central Valley students,” Durán said in a recorded welcome for the group.

“You are all doing something unique — a collaboration of math educators working closely together to create the ‘Central Valley Way to Math Success.’ Now the work of your partnerships is being noticed nationally.”

SPOTLIGHT – CVHEC on the road

Executive Director Benjamín Durán (third from left) led the CVHEC delegation at the Strategic Transfer Summit with Transfer Project Lead Stan Carrizosa, Jennifer Johnson of California Community Colleges Foundation and Dr. James Zimmerman of UC Merced. (Photo below): The California Economic Summit in October was attended by Ángel Ramírez, Elaine Cash, Tom Uribes (back), Priscilla Arrellano posing with Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula.

Strategic Transfer Summit provides showcase for

CVHEC’s Transfer Project as reps make the rounds

Central Valley Higher Education Consortium delegations are making the rounds this fall at several state and national conferences including the recent Strategic Transfer Summit presented by the California Community Colleges Nov. 8 at UC Merced.

Other destinations include the Complete College America National Conference in Indianapolis Nov. 18-20; the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta Nov. 14-17 through the Dana Center with CVHEC Math Task Force members Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College; and the Community Colleges League of California Nov. 22 in Sacramento.

CVHEC also attended the California Economic Summit held Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento.

At the recent Transfer Summit, CVHEC’s Transfer Project team presented an update on its progress in partnering with the consortium’s 15 community college members using the Program Pathway Mapper software for a smoother transfer process for students. Leading the CVHEC delegation at the UC Merced event was Executive Director Benjamín Durán and Transfer Lead Stan Carrizosa along with James Zimmerman vice chancellor of UC Merced and Jennifer Johnson California Community Colleges Foundation.

Carrizosa said the summit, attended by the chief executive officers of the state’s three public higher ed segments – the University of California, the California State University and the California Community Colleges – provided a prime opportunity to showcase the consortium’s Transfer Project.

“The participation of the statewide CEOs of CCC, CSU & UC — coupled with powerful student testimony — makes this event an inflection point that sets our Transfer Project on its next upward trajectory,” Carrizosa said.

CVHEC’s Transfer Project has been designated as a California Community Colleges Demonstration Project by Chancellor Sonya Christian to serve as a model systemwide.

This month, Duran will also attend the CLCC in Sacramento as well as lead the CVHC delegation to the CAC national conference in Indiana. Attending the CAC with him will be Angel Ramirez, operations/finance director; Elaine Cash, grants coordinator; and Tom Uribes, communications/media coordinator.

For the CA Economic Summit in October, Ramirez, Cash and Uribes were joined by Priscilla Arrellano, administrative specialist.

MEMBER NEWS: Fresno State and UC Merced awarded Seal of Excelencia

Two CVHEC members earn Seal of Excelencia recertification

for their efforts to advance Latino success

 

Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, announced last month that Fresno State and UC Merced have earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia recertification for their efforts to advance Latino success.

Both universities, which first earned this national certification in 2021 for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latino students, are members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium and are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions.

The Seal of Excelencia framework represents a rigorous assessment of certified institutions’ intentionality and impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice and leadership. Ultimately, this process strengthens efforts to serve all students. Seal certification remains valid for three years, after which institutions have the opportunity to recertify progress.

This year’s cohort of newly certified and recertified institutions belongs to a collective of 46 colleges and universities that have earned the seal. Together, they represent less than 1% of all institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latino students nationwide.

The Seal is not a ranking, nor an award. It is a rigorous verification process that culminates with certification. It is part of Excelencia’s tactical and systemic approach to:

  • Closing the education equity gap.
  • Meeting a goal of 6.2 million Latino students attaining college degrees by 2030.
  • Supporting America’s civic and workforce needs by effectively preparing Latinos, now the nation’s second-largest ethnic population.

“Being recertified is an accomplishment that we are very proud of and is a testament to the work that continues to be done by staff, faculty and campus leadership,” said UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz in a university press release. “It illustrates our ongoing commitment to impact the lives of our Latino/a students and is a direct result of intentional, collaborative work across departments that see diversity as a strength and inclusion as a priority.”

The universities were honored during an event in Washington, D.C. Oct. 1.

See:

UC Merced press release

Fresno State press release

AB1705 update: Math Task Force Convening draws state higher ed officials

Oct. 25: “The Central Valley Way to

AB 1705 Success and Beyond”

 

BY JOHN SPEVAK

Math and English Task Forces Coordinator – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium

 

With our Oct. 25 math gathering, “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond,” in Clovis a few weeks away, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium presents our agenda for the day that includes a few new developments for the dedicated and persevering math educators of our Math Task Force who have been engaged in hearty discussions regarding implementation of AB 1705 the past year-plus for the benefit of our region’s students.

Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC Math and English Task Forces coordinator.

First a reminder for those who haven’t already, please register as soon as you reasonably can for the free convening, which I again have the honor of co-facilitating with Tammi Rice-Perez, Ed.D., of the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin).

And thank you to the 61 who to date have registered for this free event which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clovis Community College Herndon campus (390 W. Fir Ave. in Clovis) and includes breakfast (8 a.m.) and lunch.

The task force’s successful discourse has drawn great interest not only around our region but in the state and even nationally and we are pleased to announce that representatives of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and University of California Presidents Office will participate.

And, the task force has gained national math attention evidenced by the invitation for our three strand leaders  to present about the “Central Valley Way to Math Success” collaboration at the annual conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta Nov. 14-17 though the Dana Center.

Shelley Getty – Taft College

Making the trip will be Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College.

So, what do we have in store for this fourth in-person convening in this mission of math educators from CVHEC’s member community colleges and K-12 partners — in addition to great discussions along the way with significant time for sharing in the afternoon?

First, notice the title of our event — you’ll see something a little different this time around: “… and Beyond.”

Our primary focus remains AB 1705, but as our mission winds down, we will look ahead to our  CVHEC Math Task Force  continuing the collaboration energy that has effectively been established and maintaining this momentum for future math issues of common concern.

And, I understand that task force members will have developed the curricula for courses beginning in the fall of 2025 so there will be time to talk about and share curriculum ideas. But there will also be time for talking about delivering the curriculum, through innovative pedagogy and best teaching practices.

Additionally, our discussions have grown to include many guests/partners on the agenda from the state’s three segments of higher education as well as representatives from the California Mathematics Education Collaborative (CMEC) who will participate first by observing what we’re doing as well as sharing what they are doing in relation to teaching math and, in particular, to teaching STEM math.

Jeremy Brandl – Fresno City College

The session will open with a general introduction acknowledging the state leaders who will participate:

  • Dr. Erik Cooper, California Community College vice-chancellor will join us by Zoom to represent CCC Chancellor Sonya Christian;
  • Rolin Moe, executive director of UC Online in the University of California Office of the President will make the trip to Clovis to represent UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D.
  • FredUy, director of Systemwide California State University Education and Leadership Program;
  • Ted Coe, vice president, Content Advocacy – Mathematics of Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), and a member of the California Mathematics Education Collaborative (CMEC).

At 9:30 a.m. for the Math Strand Report Outs, our three strand leaders will present and lead discussion on work undertaken with other Math Task Force members from throughout our 15 community college CVHEC members since our April 19 meeting – including ongoing strategizing over the summer – on three strands and discussion regarding Chancellor office guidance:

  • Developing a single-course prerequisite to calculus – Jeremy Brandl, Fresno City College
  • Developing a calculus course with a corequisite – Shelley Getty, Taft College
  • Verifying single-course prerequisite – Nathan Cahoon, Taft College
  • Profs concerned about C.O. guidelines – Tina Akers-Porter, Modesto Junior College

Vice Chancellor Cooper will take the virtual stage from 10:30 to 11 a.m. to present “Reflections from Chancellor’s Office.” He first joined us a year ago in our second session of what will now be seven AB1705 meetings by the Math Task Force since mid-2023.

Next, we will present the “Updates on Regional and State Math Innovations” segment with these topics:

  • Innovation in Central Valley High Schools — College Bridge (5 mins)
  • K-16 Collaborative Math Mentorship Program – Liz Rozell, CVHEC Kern Master’s Upskilling Program math faculty mentor coordinator (10 mins)
  • UC-CCC Dual Enrollment: Enhancing Transfer Opportunities Through Online Collaboration” – Rolin Moe, UC Office of the President (20 mins)
  • Update from CSU: Statewide Math Initiatives – Fred Uy, director of Systemwide CSU Education and Leadership Program (20 mins)
  • Update from the California Mathematics Education Collaborative (CMEC): “What CMEC is Currently Doing” – Ted Coe, CMEC (10 mins)

Following a 40-minute lunch break, we will hear a discussion about “National Best Practices in Math Student Success,” by Joan Zoellner, M.A. and Dr. Rice-Perez, both from The Dana Center from 12:40-1:10 p.m.

The afternoon breakouts session, “Sharing, Discussion Primarily on Pedagogy and Data,” will follow up the three stand topics (above) led by the three strand leaders

Report-outs from the breakout sessions will be presented before the day wraps with the topic “Where do we go from Here? Setting the Date for Spring 2025” presented by Tammi and myself from 2:45 – 3 p.m.

This closing discussion will serve to bring our work on AB1705 to a close and begin looking to what lies ahead.

I am impressed with two observations about the past year and half of intense work by the Central Valley Math Task Force that I have mentioned before: I believe we are in the midst of a “math tsunami” in our state and our country. And we in the Central Valley are not only in it, but we are in many ways leading the way via “The Central Valley Way” to student math success.

Our Math Task Force members have been going above and beyond duty for the sake of students and their success so we are preparing for a good turnout Oct. 25. The more math brains involved, the better the outcomes.

AGENDA – Oct. 25, 2024

Event questions:  contact Ángel Ramírez, director of operations and finance, at angelr@csufresno.edu or 559.292.0576.

Media inquiries: Tom Uribes, text 559.348.3278 or cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Dr. Eric Cooper – CCC Vice Chancellor

 

 

 

 

Joan Zoellner, M.A., and Dr. Tammi Rice-Perez, both from the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), with Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, at the first in-person MTF/AB1705 Convening last year.

 

 

 

 

CVHEC DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE (October 2024)

Fall momentum: creating rich learning

environments for successful collegiate experiences

 

Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CVDEEP Task Force sets dual enrollment convening for educators in 10-county region

 

 CVDEEP Convening planned for Feb. 3, 2025

 

[UPDATE DEC. 18, 2024]: This event is rescheduled for Feb. 3, 2025. See updated story: https://bit.ly/CVHEC-DualEnrollConv25

bit.ly/DualEnrollment25cvhec-REGISTER

WHAT THE CV-HEC IS HAPPENING BLOG (Oct. 2024): Taft College dual enrollment

This  month, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium announces the return of our Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity  (CVDEEP) Task Force Convening set for Nov. 14. So for our “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog this issue, we take a look at one member’s approach to dual enrollment at Taft College. Marni Cahoon, M.S., adjunct instructor of mathematics for the West Kern Community College District, recounts the road the Taft College faculty traveled to establish a program that helps its students face challenges on their academic journey with a renewed sense of hope and accomplishment. An alumna of University of Alaska, Southeast, Brigham Young University and the University of West Florida, Prof. Cahoon has been teaching at Taft since 2022.  

The CVHEC blog features perspectives about the higher education community and issues. Submissions are welcome for consideration: send to Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Dual enrollment: overcoming

higher ed obstacles

‘… a force for opening college opportunities to more of our students’

  

BY MARNI CAHOON, M.S.
Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics (Taft College – West Kern Community College District)

During the 2022-2023 school year, I had the opportunity to teach the first dual enrollment mathematics course taught through Taft College on the campus of Taft Union High School in Taft, CA.  Taft is a small tight-knit community on the southwest edge of the San Joaquin Valley, and about a 45-minute drive to Bakersfield.

Historically, Taft exists because of the presence of oil fields; indeed, many are still employed in this industry.  As with much of the San Joaquin Valley, there is also a strong agricultural presence here.

Before embarking on my adventures at Taft High, I sought to understand the population I would be working with.  At that time the latest data available was from the 2021-2022 school year. I found that Taft High serves a predominantly minority population with over 82% of students considered socioeconomically disadvantaged.  Unfortunately, the latest test scores also showed that only 9% of Taft High students tested met or exceeded state standards in mathematics.

Economic disadvantages and low test scores combined with local industries not known for encouraging college education have perhaps left Taft High students less likely or seemingly unable to pursue higher education.

I see dual enrollment as vital to overcoming obstacles to higher education within my community. With the ability for students to enroll in and take higher education courses on their own high school campus, at no monetary cost to them or their families, I hope that dual enrollment is a force for opening college opportunities to more of our students.

This first dual enrollment math course was conceived with the desire to offer Calculus I to high school seniors, particularly those with an interest in entering the highly desirable STEM fields.  Because the incoming senior class had spent a few of their high school years in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a dual enrollment Precalculus course was offered as a prerequisite during the fall 2022 semester to ensure students would be prepared for the rigors of Calculus I in the spring.

My students came to me having had Algebra 2 and much of their high school’s Precalculus course online. As such, they had fought through much adversity to be eligible for Calculus I. Even so, the semester of dual enrollment Precalculus was invaluable in reviewing and reteaching concepts from algebra and trigonometry.  I also saw this first semester as good exposure to the expectations of a college-level math course.  By the time Calculus I came around that spring semester, my students understood that our course would move at a pace much quicker than a typical high school math class and were able to plan accordingly.  They also were prepared for open-ended tests, and deeper dives into critical thinking. With these benefits, it was decided to continue teaching dual enrollment Precalculus before Calculus I in subsequent years.

As I have continued to teach dual enrollment throughout the semesters, I am always impressed with my students’ abilities to rise to the demands presented to them. Although many of my students have or will become the first in their families to attend college, they are determined to succeed.

Most importantly, my students are able to start a journey of essential self-discovery.  Having successfully taken a rigorous college course undoubtedly gives these students confidence in their abilities to be successful college students.  Indeed, as Calculus I is often considered a gateway to STEM careers, the ability to take the course before becoming traditional college students has allowed many of my students to narrow their academic focus and have a better understanding of the direction they would like their college education, and their future careers, to take.

Most of my students have gone on to enroll in engineering programs and Calculus II after high school graduation, with several attending Taft College. Others were able to decide before entering college full-time that a STEM degree wasn’t the best fit for them, thus allowing them to start their freshman year of college in a major better suited to their interests.  So far, all of my students have started college after high school graduation.

Whichever path my students ultimately end up taking after leaving my class, the ability to take college-level math courses in high school will help them transition to life as college students.  They are better able to rise above the demographics of their community and position themselves to take advantage of additional higher education opportunities.

BOARD NEWS: Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. appointed CSUB president

Harper has been serving as interim president since Dec. 31

 

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Vernon B. Harper Jr. to serve as president of California State University, Bakersfield, effective Sept. 25 when the announcement was made.

Dr. Harper has been serving as the university’s interim president since Dec. 31 following the retirement of President Lynnette Zelezny.  As a president of a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium member institution, he has been serving on the consortium board of directors since his interim appointment and will continue.

“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted to continue the stewardship of this extraordinary university that has had such a transformational impact on so many families across our region,” said Dr. Harper. “I’m thrilled to carry forward our student-centered work and strengthen partnerships across the university and throughout the region that will allow the CSUB community to reach new heights.”

Dr. Harper becomes the university’s sixth leader to serve in the role in a permanent capacity.

“During his interim appointment, Dr. Harper has taken meaningful and inclusive steps to enhance access, academic excellence and student success at CSU Bakersfield,” said CSU Trustee Douglas Faigin, chair of the CSUB Presidential Search Committee. “He has proven himself to be an equity-driven leader with a history of innovation in academic programming and student support. He will continue to identify and advance CSUB’s vision through a period of sustained growth and student success.”

During his tenure as interim president, Dr. Harper has launched a number of initiatives that support increased access and student success, including the middle and high school pre-admit program, making CSUB the first-choice destination for an increasing number of Kern County high school graduates. He also launched the Umoja Black Student Success Transfer Program in partnership with Bakersfield College to support student success, and CSUB will open its Black Students Success Center in the coming months.

Dr. Harper also began an initiative for CSUB to pursue the statewide Black-Serving Institution designation, has championed the `Runners on the Rise campaign, and has accelerated the completion of donor-supported facilities projects on campus.

Prior to his role as interim president, Dr. Harper served in several leadership roles at CSUB, starting in 2016, including as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, associate vice president of the same division, and dean of Academic Programs. He is also a professor of communications.

In his capacity as provost, Dr. Harper led initiatives that resulted in all-time highs in graduation and retention rates at CSUB; advanced diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for faculty and students; built significant public-private partnerships to increase enrollment; and inspired successful philanthropic efforts and investments to advance student success.

Dr. Harper previously served as the associate vice president for Academic Administration (2012-2016) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he led the opening of a branch campus located in downtown Philadelphia and worked with the Frederick Douglass Institute to develop the campus’s Diversity Strategic Plan to attract diverse candidates for faculty positions. Dr. Harper also served as associate provost at Wilkes University of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2012, where he was responsible for regional accreditation, assessment and institutional effectiveness.

Before joining Wilkes University, Dr. Harper was an associate for Academic Affairs at the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia, the system administrative body of the 16 four-year institutions and 23 two-year institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Harper earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in rhetoric and communication from West Chester University and a doctorate in human communication from Howard University. He also served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve and is the recipient of the U.S. Army Achievement Medal and the Martin Luther King Unity Award.

See the CSU Bakersfield press release.

Media coverage:

Vernon B. Harper Jr. appointed as President of California State University, Bakersfield

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