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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CVHEC SUMMIT 25: California attorney general, ACE VP assess the higher ed challenge

California Attorney General Rob Bonta tells the CVHEC Summit 2025: “This is an all-hands-on-deck, all-tools-in-the-toolbox moment where everyone needs to rise up and push back against the attacks and make sure that we’re continuing our pathway to progress.”

 

‘ …we’re here to represent California’s beautifully diverse communities and ensure everyone

can achieve their vision of the California dream. So we’re here for you.’

– Calif. AG Rob Bonta

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Coordinator

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, earlier this month, 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.

Calif. Attorney General Rob Bonta

During a virtual forum at the Central Valley Higher Education Summit in Fresno May 9, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told the participants 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 – American Council on Education (ACE) Senior Vice President Jon Fansmith delivered a deeply informative and, at times, sobering virtual conversation including an alert about possible TRIO Programs funding cuts.

Both gatherings provided more than 175 participants the opportunity to review progress regarding ongoing strategies and initiatives in CVHEC’s quest to improve educational outcomes under the summit theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way.”

“We are navigating a landscape shaped by sweeping policy shifts, federal restructuring, and the lasting impact of a historic pandemic,” Dr. Benjamin Durán, CVHEC executive director, told the assembly.

Jon Fansmith, American Council on Education (ACE)

“At the same time, we are adapting to revolutionary changes in instructional delivery, integrating artificial intelligence into academic life and responding to the evolving demands of a dynamic workforce. These unprecedented challenges are not just obstacles—they are the defining forces of a new era in higher education. As the summit theme affirms, we are called to lead, adapt and innovate as we chart a course through this pivotal time.”

In addition to Bonta and Fansmith, the CVHEC summit, funded by the College Futures Foundation, included national and state lawmakers providing updates on the legislative front and representatives of the California’s four systems of higher ed sharing perspectives regarding White House policies on their respective landscapes statewide (see related story).

Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, chancellor of UC Merced and chair of the CVHEC board, introduced Bonta in the 2 p.m. virtual forum after lunch.

“As you know, the attorney general has been at the forefront not just for California, but nationally leading legal response to some very concerning directives from the federal government related to educational funding,” said Chancellor Muñoz.

‘An all-hands-on-deck, all-tools-in-the-toolbox moment …’

Bonta recounted that he and 19 other attorneys general have filed 20 lawsuits nationwide to stop such actions as freezing $3 trillion in capital critical federal funding that would threaten hundreds of billions of dollars in California annually as well as affecting immigration and international students.

“We also issued guidance to higher education institutions and K-12 schools in response to the Department of Education’s threats to withdraw federal funding from institutions that retain DEI programs and policies,” the attorney general said.

“Bringing our diverse perspectives to campus benefits all students and everyone deserves equal access to public education. Educational institutions should be encouraged to continue to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.”

Bonta thanked the educators for protecting access to higher education and pledged his commitment to stand with them.

“The California Department of Justice is here to protect and defend, and enforce our state’s laws and protections,” Bonta told the summit participants. “And we’re here to represent all of California’s beautifully diverse communities and ensure everyone can achieve their vision of the California dream. So we’re here for you. And you can be sure that if Trump breaks the law or violates the Constitution, we will see him in court.”  

Bonta noted that the attorneys general have successfully challenged the Trump administration “for conducting an illegal mass firing of nearly half of all employees at the US Department of Education.

“I sued the Trump administration for conducting an illegal mass firing of federal probationary employees,” he said.  

As a result, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from firing thousands of workers at the Department of Education, ruling that the announced terminations were a thinly veiled effort to dismantle the entire department without congressional approval. The judge said that the thousands of terminations announced in March “had deeply disrupted services for students, families and states, making processes less efficient.”    

Also, another  federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from preventing Harvard from enrolling foreign students.   

Bonta also addressed concerns about the treatment of immigrants, an issue colleges are facing with their DACA students.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative that we make sure all immigrants and their families know the rights and protections afforded to immigrants under the law — rights and protections that I’m here to defend and to enforce,” Bonta said.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck, all-tools-in-the-toolbox moment where everyone needs to rise up and push back against the attacks and make sure that we’re continuing our pathway to progress.”

One summit participant said she was glad to hear the attorney general make that declaration that day.

Dr. Iliana Pérez, executive director of Immigrants Rising based in Long Beach which works with immigrant students across the state supporting their pursuit of access to higher education, career opportunities and entrepreneurship, said the attorney general’s perspective around immigration as expressed in the virtual forum “is so needed at this moment in time.”

Dr. Iliana Perez, executive director of Immigrants Rising with CVHEC Executive Director Dr. Benjamin Durán after Attorney General Rob Bonta’s virtual remarks at the 2025 higher ed summit.

An alumna of CVHEC member Fresno State who wrote a blog for the CVHEC newsletter in February, Dr. Pérez said, “There’s a lot of fear in the community. To have an attorney general that is definitely taking a stance that is supportive of the rights of all individuals in California, including immigrants, I think delivers the kind of message we need to hear. We need to hear that California stands with its residents, regardless of immigration status.”

Once undocumented herself, Dr. Pérez has been an advocate for Dreamer students for over a decade, especially in the area of entrepreneurship, and asserts it is in the best interest of the community at large to provide access to higher education support for them.

“The reality is that undocumented students, and all immigrants in the state, are contributing to the economy,” Dr. Pérez said.

“These students are graduating, they’re pursuing careers in a variety of different fields, they are contributing to the workforce. It really is a disinvestment if we don’t protect their rights, if we don’t protect the freedoms of all students. So this is a time for higher education leaders to be able to come together to really be thinking about how important it is to stand in support of students.”

That was accomplished in the day’s panels beginning with Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, in the opening welcome session, echoing Chancellor Muñoz’ assessment that higher education in California — and across the nation — “is facing a transformative moment” that beckoned the valley’s education leaders to the summit.

It was also carried out the day before when the higher ed CEOs sat as the CVHEC Board of Directors and heard Fansmith after Duran laid out the board’s charge.

“As challenges in higher education continue to evolve — particularly for rural and underserved areas — CVHEC remains a critical force in ensuring that the Central Valley’s colleges and universities not only adapt but thrive,” Durán said.

‘… a sense of the temperature and temperament in DC …’

This dynamic was underscored in ACE senior vice president Fansmith’s virtual presentation to the board about pressing national issues affecting higher education.

He was introduced by Chancellor Muñoz, a member of the ACE board who noted that Fansmith has a daily ongoing interaction with legislators in the halls of Congress.

“John is on the Hill almost every day, he’s in the entrails of all of these congressional offices both on the House and the Senate side and regularly provides updates to the ACE members,” said Muñoz who arranged for Fansmith to provide the CVHEC board “a sense of the temperature and the temperament of what he’s seeing in DC relative to higher education legislation.”

In the board session, Fansmith addressed the challenges campuses face surrounding immigrant student populations, an especially relevant issue in the Central Valley, which is home to a large immigrant and first-generation college student population.

He provided insights into the shifting landscape of federal education grants and how institutions can navigate these changes to continue supporting underserved students.

In particular, he discussed serious federal funding threats to higher education support programs such as TRIO.

Fansmith explained that the Trump administration’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes eliminating the TRIO program, along with other major cuts to educational support programs such as GEAR UP, work-study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and campus childcare.

While Congress is unlikely to approve these drastic cuts in full, even partial adoption could cause significant harm to institutions and students, he said.

Despite the proposed elimination, Fansmith expressed cautious optimism about TRIO’s future. He noted that TRIO enjoys strong bipartisan support, especially from influential lawmakers such as the Republican chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

He also emphasized the effectiveness of TRIO advocates within the Department of Education. However, recent political tensions have generated some pushback from outside education circles, he cautioned.

He summarized that, while TRIO faces real threats, its broad support in Congress gives it a better chance of survival than some other programs. Fansmith said he and his colleagues continue working in Washington to protect these critical resources for underserved students.

Duran said the two presentations underscored CVHEC’s mission and ideals.

“With continued collaboration and a shared vision, the consortium board meeting and summit reaffirmed the power of regional unity in advancing student success,” said Duran who is also president-emeritus of Merced College. “Bringing our leadership together in one room to engage in this dialogue is essential for shaping a voice for higher education in the Central Way as we move forward.”

CVHEC SUMMIT 2025 NEWS: California Attorney General Rob Bonta to update Valley’s college chancellors, presidents

SUMMIT UPDATES: •2025 CVHEC Summit Program FlipBook   •Summit 2025 panelist bios  •News release: CVHEC Summit 2025 panels

NOTE: Registration  is now closed.

Panelists announced for CVHEC Summit May 9;

Congress, State Legislature reps to address funding cuts

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications/Media Coordinator

(May 7, 2025 — FRESNO, CA) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta will address the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Summit 2025 Friday, May 9, in Fresno during a Zoom session, “Higher Education & Justice: A Virtual Forum,” where he will discuss with the heads of the valley’s university and colleges the litigation that he and a coalition of state attorneys general have initiated challenging Trump Administration executive orders affecting higher education.

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, announced today that Attorney General Bonta will connect at 2 p.m. via Zoom with the chancellors, presidents and campus directors who make up the CVHEC Board of Directors and other participants at the summit which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel  (2233 Cesar Chavez Blvd.).

Prior to Bonta’s talk, Congressmembers Jim Costa (21st District) and Adam Gray (13th District) and California State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (District 27) will present in-person updates at 12:30 p.m. 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.

In the opening morning panel, top administrators representing California’s four systems of higher education: California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, will discuss the current state of affairs and strategies within their respective systems at 9:15 a.m. to kick off the event’s five panel discussions.

Under the theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era – The Central Valley Way,” the summit will convene 175 educators, legislators, policy makers, community members and higher education professionals from throughout the valley’s 10-county region as well as from throughout the state and nation.

Duran also announced that registration for the free event, supported by event sponsor College Futures Foundation, reached capacity and is now closed.

CVHEC also recently announced names of other panelists for the summit including valley higher education leaders that serve on the consortium board who will be panel moderators and provide introductions of the panelists.

Duran said the annual summit takes on special significance this year with major changes occurring and he expects critical deliberation between political, community and education leaders in attendance.

“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,” said Durán.

“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.”

He said the 2025 summit, with leaders from the state’s higher ed systems collaborating with the federal and state legislators sets the stage for this interaction.

Duran also is superintendent/president-emeritus of Merced College, serving that tenure from 1998-2012 before he became the consortium executive director in 2015. He also served on the CVHEC Board when he was Merced College president.

The Attorney General’s office said Bonta will update the valley’s college leaders on his latest efforts “to hold the Trump Administration accountable to the law and protect our students and higher education institutions.”

Since President Trump took office for a second term, the Attorney General has filed lawsuits “challenging the unlawful mass firing at the U.S. Department of Education, the unlawful termination of education grants, unlawful NIH funding cuts that impact universities and research institutions, and the unlawful attempt to freeze nearly $3 trillion in nationwide federal funding.”

He and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief last month “challenging the Trump Administration’s executive orders allowing for the ideologically-motivated revocation of visas for students and faculty who exercise their free speech and association rights.”

The Attorney General has also proactively published information on immigrant rights and protections in California, including the right to an education.

Attorney General Bonta, who became the state’s 34th Attorney General in 2021, has led statewide fights for racial, economic and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters, and working Californians. He previously worked as a deputy city attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, served as an Alameda Council Member and represented Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro in the California State Assembly. Bonta is the first person of Filipino descent to occupy the position.

“For so many, higher education is a key that opens doors to vibrant careers and unlocks access to the California Dream,” the Attorney General said about his address to the Central Valley’s higher education leaders and community.

“As the Trump Administration attacks colleges and universities that do not blindly fall in line with their demands, we must do all we can to defend, protect and invest in institutes of higher learning so they fulfill their role of inspiring future generations of leaders. From advancing scientific research to training school teachers to opening minds, encouraging freedom of speech and educating students, our colleges and universities play a critical role in our communities and our democracy.

“As Attorney General of California, I am proud to uplift and support the many colleges and universities that help make California great,” Bonta said.

The panelists

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

  • Dr. 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.

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 student panelists are two college students: Aracelli Tilley, Merced College and UC Merced, and Zeidi Diaz, Fresno State; and three Dinuba High School students: Abigail M. Soto Toscano, Izabella Cavazos and McKenzie Rosas.

The third panel, “Data at Every Level: Sharing National, State, and Local Insights,” will be moderated by Merced College President Chris Vitelli.  Coalinga College President Carla Tweed will introduce the panelists:

After lunch, the legislative update panel, “The Path Forward: Higher Ed Policy and the New Administration,” from 1 – 1:45 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.

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:

  • Dr. James Zimmerman, UC Merced, will discuss the Central Valley Transfer Project with an update since its designation as a California Community Colleges Demonstration Projectwas announced at the 2023 CVHEC Summit.
  • Dr. Kristin Clark, CVHEC Dual Enrollment lead, will discuss dual enrollment models; data showing how the Central Valley leads the state; and the CVHEC Master’s Upskilling Project’s collaboration with K-16 partners and how 250 high school teachers are projected by 2026 to earn the graduate degree required to teach dual enrollment courses at their respective campuses.
  • Dr. Lynn Cevallos, president/founder of College Bridge, will discuss the Central Valley Math Bridgeproject in partnership with CVHEC community college members and K-16 partners.

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.

“The CVHEC summit will provide our panelists and participants alike the opportunity to share their thoughts on these tumultuous times and help lay foundation to unite for formidable action,” Duran said. “This year’s CVHEC summit attendees will leave with a good understanding of the work Central Valley higher education institutions have been doing.”

The CVHEC board also will hold a quarterly meeting the day before followed by the CVHEC Welcome Reception from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Thursday, May 8) for registered summit participants featuring the Fresno State Latin Jazz Ensemble.

ABOUT CVHEC

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a California non-profit made up of institutions 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.  

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.  

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.

SPOTLIGHT: Pathways to College Completion in the San Joaquin Valley

 

California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV) has the lowest college enrollment and completion rates in the state, which both reflects and perpetuates the region’s economic challenges. Yet it could be on the verge of dramatic improvements. How can institutions, educators, and policymakers expand support for its college-going pathways?

Last month, PPIC senior fellow and director of the Higher Education Center Olga Rodriguez presented new findings and led a discussion with valley higher education leaders Aug. 20 to answer this question including Dr. Benjamín Durán, executive director, of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium. They were joined by Tressa Overstreet, Fresno Unified School District’s executive director of college and career readiness, and Dr. Orquidea Largo—associate vice chancellor and chief outreach officer at UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnership

“The single largest obstacle for SJV youth is the transition from high school to college,” Rodriguez said. “The second is the transfer from community college to four-year institutions.” She stressed that districts with the best outcomes have expanded access to dual enrollment courses and made the A–G coursework needed to qualify for California’s public four-year colleges an integral part of high school curricula. Even so, only 39% of valley high school graduates complete the requirement.

Most SJV high school graduates who go on to postsecondary education start out in community college, but their transfer rates are 5 percentage points lower than in the rest of the state. “Parents and students in the valley see a college education as a key to a brighter future,” Rodriguez said, “including greater career and economic opportunities. Ensuring they have access to the information they need is critical to their success.”

Tressa Overstreet, Fresno Unified School District’s executive director of college and career readiness, agreed. Citing the importance of introducing college and career readiness well before ninth grade, she said, “We need to spend time with our families and our youngest students, to develop the mindset that I am college material.” To facilitate student success, Fresno Unified made A–G its default high school curriculum, expanded access to dual-enrollment courses, prioritized data, and last year added transition counselors. “We have a full department focused on monitoring and meeting the needs of every student,” Overstreet said. “This year our students earned over 12,000 credits through dual enrollment.”

Asked what advice she had for students, Orquidea Largo—associate vice chancellor and chief outreach officer at UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnerships—said that improved policies and procedures have rendered today’s students more aware and assertive than in the past. But more needs to be done to ensure they arrive at high school academically well prepared, with a sense of where they are going. “I want to remind them we are working for them. It is not an inconvenience to approach their teachers, their counselors, their principals and declare what path they want to follow and how they expect our educational system to support them in pursuing their college aspirations.”

Benjamin Duran, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, addressed the challenge of improving transfer rates. As an example, he talked about the Central Valley Transfer Project—a collaborative effort between his organization, valley community college and California State University (CSU) campuses, and UC Merced. Among other improvements, an associate degree can now qualify students for the region’s public four-year colleges. Duran is especially excited about the Pathways Mapper application. “We think it’s going to have a huge impact on the transfer numbers we already see,” he said. “Youngsters involved are transferring at greater numbers than those seeking their own pathways.”

All the panelists pointed to data sharing as an essential aspect of such collaboration. Largo emphasized the importance of real-time district-level data in making adjustments to policies and practices that might be creating barriers for students. Overstreet agreed, noting that data is essential not only to building Fresno Unified’s master schedule but also to monitoring student progress in such a way that interventions can be made. She emphasized the need to break out of silos of all kinds: “We truly believe we are stronger together. This is going to take a community lift, to shift our regional socioeconomic status. Our students deserve pathways to hope.”

 

SeeL

NEWS RELEASE: Durán joins Aug. 20 panel examining new PPIC findings

CVHEC IN THE NEWS: KVPR – CVHEC chief says we ‘are nearing pre-pandemic levels or higher’

KVPR: PPIC data shows college enrollment dipped but CVHEC chief says we ‘are nearing pre-pandemic levels or higher’

KVPR reported that new data released by the Public Policy Institute of California shows statewide college enrollment by recent high school grads was down 5 percent in 2020.

The PPIC data showed most high school students in the Valley opt for community colleges. Enrollment at community colleges took a hit in 2020 because of the pandemic, but they have slowly bounced back. 

Central Valley Higher Education Consortium executive director Dr. Benjamín Durán, said, “Almost all, if not all community colleges in the Central Valley are back to pre-pandemic levels or higher so they’ve been able to attract and get students back into college. A lot of it has to do with cost, a lot of that has to do with access and familiarity with the area.” 

– See KVPR story.

MEMBER NEWS: 2023 Champions of Higher Education

 

Six CVHEC members among CCO 2023 Champions of Higher Education

 

The Campaign for College Opportunity celebrated the Champions of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer last month with six Central Valley Higher Education Consortium members recognized: Bakersfield College (twice), San Joaquin Delta College, Madera College, Clovis Community College, California State University, Fresno and California State University, Stanislaus.

They were among 27 exemplary and committed California Community Colleges and California State University campuses recognized for leading the state in conferring the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), enrolling ADT earners on guaranteed pathways to a bachelor’s degree, and intentionally working to support Latinx and Black students on their path to a degree.

The Campaign for College Opportunity celebrated the Champions of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer Nov. 1 by announcing the honorees during a special Instagram Live celebration prior to an official awards ceremony Nov. 14 via Zoom.

CCO recognized 27 “exemplary and committed California Community Colleges and California State University campuses that are leading the state in conferring the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), enrolling ADT earners on guaranteed pathways to a bachelor’s degree, and intentionally working to support Latinx and Black students on their path to a degree.”

Since the passage of SB 1440 (Padilla) in 2010, the California Community Colleges have awarded 488,663 Associate Degrees for Transfer, providing a streamlined pathway between community colleges and the California State University (CSU) system.

The Campaign for College Opportunity championed this historic legislation to create a clearer pathway for community college students to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree in a more timely and cost-saving manner. Transforming transfer has been more than 10 years in the making, and the 2021 passage of AB 928 (Berman) will continue to accelerate the pace of transfer and degree attainment. The Associate Degree for Transfer pathway is making college dreams a reality for thousands of California students.

READ THE METHODOLOGY

Champions of Higher Education 2023 Recipients

 

• Total Associate Degrees for Transfer

The following is a ranking of California Community Colleges reflecting the number of students earning Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADTs) in the 2021–22 academic year.

Bakersfield College

East Los Angeles College

Mt. San Antonio College

 

• Growth in Associate Degrees for Transfer

The following is a ranking of California Community Colleges reflecting the total numeric growth in the number of students earning Associate Degrees for Transfer between the 2020–21 and the 2021–22 academic years.

Mission College

San Joaquin Delta College

Madera College

 

• Associate Degrees for Transfer as a Percentage of all Associate Degrees

The following is a ranking of California Community Colleges reflecting the percent of total Associate-Degree earners who earned Associate Degrees for Transfer in the 2021–22 academic year.

Evergreen Valley College

Berkeley City College

Citrus College

 

• Associate Degrees for Transfer Relative to Campus Enrollment

The following is a ranking of California Community Colleges reflecting the number of students earning Associate Degrees for Transfer relative to 50 full-time enrolled students (FTES) in the 2021–22 academic year.

Clovis Community College

Grossmont College

Moorpark College

 

• California State University Associate Degree for Transfer Implementation

The following is a ranking of CSUs that successfully ensured both that over half of their 2022 undergraduate transfers students were ADT earners, and that of those ADT earners, over half were on a guaranteed pathway.

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Sacramento

California State University, Stanislaus

Equity Champions of Higher Education

 

• California Community Colleges Equity Champions for Black Students

These colleges led the way in supporting Black students to earn an ADT with at least 65% of their Black associate-degree earners having earned ADTs, as well as supporting these students to perform as well or better in this metric compared to the rest of the student body.

Evergreen Valley College

Long Beach City College

Citrus College

Berkeley City College

Crafton Hills College

College of the Desert

 

• California Community Colleges Equity Champions for Latinx Students

These colleges led the way in supporting Latinx students to earn an ADT with at least 65% of their Latinx Associate Degree earners having earned ADTs, as well as supporting these students to perform as well or better in this metric compared to the rest of the student body. 

Evergreen Valley College

Citrus College

West Valley College

Bakersfield College

Glendale Community College

College of the Desert

College of San Mateo

 

• California State University ADT Equity Champions for Black Students

These universities successfully ensured both that over half of their 2022 Black undergraduate transfer students were ADT earners, and that of those ADT earners, over half were on a guaranteed pathway.

California State University, Fresno

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, San Bernardino

California State University, Sacramento

 

• California State University ADT Equity Champions for Latinx Students

These universities successfully ensured both that over half of their 2022 Latinx undergraduate transfers were ADT earners, and that of those ADT earners, over half were on a guaranteed pathway.

California State University, Fullerton

California State University, Long Beach

California State University, Los Angeles

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

California State University, Sacramento

Sonoma State University

California State University, Stanislaus

 

See the CCO Champions of Higher Education 2023 announcement.

MEMBER NEWS: WHCCD campuses eligible for 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

The West Hills Community College District’s Coalinga and Lemoore campuses have been named eligible candidates for the prestigious 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Aspen, often referred to as the “Oscars for great community colleges,”  is a highly-coveted award presented biannually to recognize community colleges nationwide for their exceptional performance in critical areas, including teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, access, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

Out of the thousands of community colleges nationwide, only 150 have been identified as eligible candidates for the 2025 Aspen Prize.West Hills College Coalinga and West Hills College Lemoore are the only community colleges in the Central Valley region to receive this prestigious acknowledgment.

“We are incredibly proud of West Hills College Coalinga and West Hills College Lemoore for their outstanding achievements and well-deserved recognition as eligible candidates for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,” said Kristin Clark, West Community College District Chancellor. “This achievement reflects our colleges’ dedication to providing exceptional education and support services to our students, empowering them to achieve their goals and aspirations.”

Chancellor Clark serves as chair of the CVHEC Board of Directors which includes WHC Coalinga President Carla Tweed and WHC Lemoore James Preston.

 

See the WHCCD press release.

Merced College: DR. BENJAMÍN T. DURÁN BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, and his wife, former Merced City School District Superintendent Dr. RoseMary Parga Durán, will be honored by the Merced College Foundation at Merced College’s annual State of the College event April 25, 2024 when signage for the newly renamed Dr. Benjamín T. Durán Business Resource Center will be unveiled.

 

(MERCED COLLEGE, Merced Calif.) — In tribute to a storied career that helped shape the fabric of higher education in the Central Valley, the Merced Community College District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to rename Merced College’s Business Resource Center after President Emeritus Ben Durán.

Established in 2008, during Durán’s tenure as president, the Business Resource Center revitalized and enhanced relationships between the college and the business community, leading to partnerships that have created countless opportunities for local students and workers to gain valuable skills, knowledge and training to advance their careers.

Located in downtown Merced, the center offers programs and services for businesses and employers looking for job training opportunities for their employees, as well as community education classes for adult learners. It will now be named the Dr. Benjamín T. Durán Business Resource Center.

“Dr. Durán has been a driving force for the growth of Merced College and the evolution of our region for decades,” President Chris Vitelli said. “The work he did to unite the college with the local business community has created countless opportunities for local students who might never have pursued higher education otherwise. Dr. Durán’s impact on this region is truly immeasurable, and we are proud to recognize him in this way.”

The son of migrant farmworkers in Le Grand, Durán built a distinguished life and career devoted to education. He served for nearly 14 years as Merced College’s president before retiring in 2012, and is now executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), an organization that brings together community college and university CEOs to collaborate on higher education issues in the Central Valley of California.

During Durán’s time as president, Merced College’s student enrollment increased by thousands, and the district passed vital bond measures that led to new and renovated buildings at both the Merced and Los Banos campuses, including the Business Resource Center.

“This honor, from my perspective, is a recognition of the many others who worked side-by-side with me over all those years to make Merced College and the region better,” Durán said. “The existence of the Business Resource Center is a testament to the importance of community colleges not only to students, but to the business community. We were able to elevate the interactions between businesses and the college to the point where it truly became a partnership.”

After being approached by the college regarding the naming of the Business Resource Center, Durán and his wife, former Merced City School District Superintendent Dr. RoseMary Parga Durán, decided to make a substantial gift to Merced College to provide support to students who experience unexpected challenges on their educational pathways to a better life.

Ben and RoseMary Durán will be recognized by the Merced College Foundation at Merced College’s annual State of the College event, scheduled for April 25, 2024, at the Business Resource Center.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I’d like to express our admiration for Dr. Durán’s remarkable legacy and our gratitude for the support of the Durán family,” Trustee John Pedrozo said. “Dr. Durán’s contributions have left an indelible mark on Merced College, and it’s our honor to name the Business Resource Center after him in recognition of his transformative role in the educational journey of our community.”

Merced College Media Contact: James Leonard, james.leonard2@mccd.edu, 209.681.1061

CVHEC Media Contact:  Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu, 559.348.3278

 

See Merced College press release: https://www.mccd.edu/…/merced-college-renames-business…/

Contact Us

  • cvhecinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu

  • 559.278.0576

Join Our Newsletter