Higher Education Summit May 9, 2025 – topics set; CCA provides national data

Valley’s higher ed CEOs to convene at CVHEC Summit 2025

Complete College America will provide national perspective; summit topics announced

 

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

As educators across the nation face an urgency to re-imagine higher education to meet the needs of today’s students and society, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Summit 2025 this spring in Fresno is shaping up with topics that present voices from policy makers and practitioners nationally, statewide and from throughout the Central Valley’s 10-county region.

With the theme “Navigating Higher Education in a New Era: The Central Valley Way,” registration is now open for the CVHEC summit set for Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. The event is open to the higher education community who register in advance with breakfast and lunch included. Registration is free compliments of  the College Futures Foundation, event sponsor.

The CVHEC 2025 Summit will bring 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. Various CVHEC board members will moderate the panels that are planned.

CVHEC’s Welcoming & Networking Reception will be the day before the summit, May 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., at the convention center’s Valdez Hall Breezeway to provide an opportunity to connect with other attendees and the CVHEC Board of Directors in an informal relaxed setting.

Dr. Brandon Protas, Complete College America

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,  Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, announced.

“Join us as we convene with national, state and regional colleagues, partners and friends for a full day of discussions and showcases related to higher education in the valley that lead to degree completion for our students,” Durán said.

Topics to date include an overview of CVHEC efforts such as the Central Valley Transfer Project; the Master’s Upskilling Project, dual enrollment initiatives; and math alignment measures such as the CVHEC Math Task Force and the Central Valley Math Bridge Program with College Bridge.

Also featured will be a “Legislative Update” with federal legislators providing the latest about higher education laws; a student panel “What Does this Mean for Students?”  and a panel with the four segments of higher education in California.

Dr. Protas will be a panelist on the “The Central Valley Landscape: Honing in on the Data” panel.

The CCA vice president, who guides the planning and management of the CCA Alliance to support institutions, systems and states in their efforts to improve student success, will participate on the data panel providing insights to CCA’s nationwide data compilation efforts. CCA works with states, systems, institutions and partners to scale highly effective structural reforms and promote policies that improve student success.

Durán represents CVHEC as an alliance lead responsible for providing oversight and coordination for local initiatives as well as CCA-sponsored projects and in November, he led a consortium delegation to CCA’s three-day conference which drew 800 participants from throughout the country.  He said the CVHEC summit provides a regional and state version of CCA’s national gathering.

“The CVHEC annual summit always draws interest from our region’s higher education community, but this year brings a difference sense of urgency as we learned at the Complete College American national conference last fall,” said Durán, president-emeritus of Merced College, referring to the national conference’s keynote address delivered Nov. 19 by Dr. Jamie Merisotis, president of the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all which also provides support to CVHEC.

“We both see the urgency of reimagining higher ed to meet the needs of today’s students and today’s society,” Dr. Merisotis’ said at the conference regarding the partnerships between Lumina and CCA. “And we both put special focus on reaching those who have too often been left out.”

CVHEC featured that keynote as the “What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog” in the consortium’s January newsletter and Durán said Merisotis’ message fuels the CVHEC summit as well as the CEOs of its member institutions from San Joaquin County in the North Valley to Kern County in the South Valley.

“I hope that this national education leader’s words generate some dialogue between you and your colleagues and we encourage you to share those conversations, as we will at our 2025 CVHEC Summit and on our various consortium social media platforms,” Durán said in setting the tone for the summit.

 

 

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.  

 

Valley math profs to present national experience at AB1705 convening March 28


Jeremy Brandl and Shelley Getty (seated at right) presenting CVHEC’s approach to addressing AB 1705 at the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Conference (AMATYC)  conference last fall .

Getty, Brandl share ‘The Central Valley Way’ to AB1705 at

AMATYC national meet – March 28 MTF agenda released

[REGISTER]

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

Among the highlights of the upcoming Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Math Task Force convening this month in Fresno will be a full report from two members featured in the national spotlight with a presentation at a national math conference in Atlanta last fall about “The Central Valley Way” in tackling AB 1705 curriculum issues.

Jeremy Brandl, Tammi Pérez-Rice and Shelley Getty.

CVHEC released the official agenda for the “The Central Valley Way to Math Success: AB 1705 Success and Beyond” Convening set for March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new West Fresno Center of Fresno City College where community college professors Shelley Getty  and Jeremy Brandl will discuss how, at the national math conference Nov. 17, they shared  CVHEC’s approach to addressing AB 1705 the past two years.

In addition to updates in five breakout sessions from Central Valley community colleges regarding their revised calculus and precalculus curricula, the upcoming event will feature a visit by Dr. Erik Cooper, assistant vice chancellor of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, presenting “Reflections from Chancellor’s Office” regarding a Dec. 10, 2024 memo which provides “additional direction on placement and enrollment options.”

Dr. John Spevak, CVHEC regional coordinator who oversees the consortium’s Math Task Force and serves as event facilitator, said participants will also hear about innovations in teaching calculus from university colleagues, as well as ways to improve math outcomes through student engagement from the Central Valley Math Bridge Program now in full swing by College Bridge and CVHEC.

“We will have an opportunity in break-out sessions to hear what our math colleagues are doing, now that curricula has been finalized and fall schedules are set, in terms of innovative pedagogy, student support structures and collecting relevant data,” Spevak said.   “We will conclude the event with discussions about next steps.”

Session topics are:

  • “Math Strand Report Out”
  • “Math Bridge in the Central Valley – Improving Student Engagement Quantitative and Qualitative Outcomes of Increased Student Participation in Mathematics”
  • “Reports & Updates on Regional and State Math Initiatives”
  • “Conversations around Pedagogy, Support and Data”
  • “How was Atlanta? Showcasing CV Math Efforts to a National Audience”

The Atlanta session features Getty of Taft College and Brandl of Fresno City College who attended the  American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Conference (AMATYC)  with Dr. Tammi Pérez-Rice, course program specialist for the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin), a co-facilitator of past MTF convenings with Spevak.

When the delegation returned, Pérez-Rice commended the Central Valley math professors for their Atlanta presentation which she said drew approximately 20 participants representing about six states.

“Our presentation at AMATYC was a success,” Pérez-Rice said in an email report. “Jeremy and Shelley were amazing.  Even more exciting are the conversations sparked during the session, including ideas about returning next year with even more data and updates to share. The enthusiasm and engagement from attendees were inspiring, and it’s clear that the momentum around this work is only growing.”

Brandl noted in the email report that “many in attendance were very taken back with what we are going through, and how we are navigating it all.”  He said the national conference experience also provided the opportunity to attend other presentations that provided numerous ideas.

“I will have some notes to share, both to my department, as well as the CVHEC community,” he said.

Getty called it an “amazing experience” where the attendees were “very interested both in the challenges we have faced in California and the benefit CVHEC and the Dana Center have offered us.

“I have learned a lot from some great presenters and gathered ideas that will be very beneficial as we continue to move forward in this adventure we call AB1705,” Getty said. “It has been really good to see how schools across the country are wrestling with similar challenges, but on much longer timelines. It has made me very thankful to be a part of ‘the Central Valley Way’.”

Event questions:  contact Ángel Ramírez, operations and finance manager, at CVHECinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.278.0576.

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

FULL AGENDA [link to come]

See:

Community colleges loosen STEM math placement rules, calming some critics – EdSource (Dec. 13, 2024)

‘What the CV-HEC is Happening’ Blog: Immigrants Rising – undocumented students on campus

This edition of the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog features Dr. Iliana Pérez, executive director of Immigrants Rising, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for undocumented communities.  Founded in 2006, Immigrants Rising transforms individuals and fuels broader changes to help our nation edge closer to fulfilling its ideal as a land of opportunity and access for all. With resources and support, undocumented people are able to get an education, pursue careers and build a brighter future for themselves and their community. Dr. Pérez, who was raised in the Central Valley native (Turlock), is an alumna of CVHEC-member Fresno State Fresno State where she earned a BA in mathematics before attending Claremont University for her master’s in economics and her PhD in education policy, evaluation and reform. 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 planned at Fresno State later this 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 and resources regarding undocumented students available to institutions of higher education.  CVHEC members interested in collaborating with Immigrants Rising for their undocumented students may contact Dr. Pérez at iliana@immigrantsrising.org. (Submissions are welcome for consideration: Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu).

Blazing a Trail: my journey as an undocumented student

and the path forward for higher education

BY DR. ILIANA PÉREZ
Executive Director, Immigrants Rising

Growing up undocumented in the United States, higher education often felt like an impossible dream. The barriers were daunting, and the path ahead was unclear. Yet, with resilience, the support of my family and community, and the guidance of dedicated educators, I navigated my way from being an undocumented student to ultimately becoming one of the first undocumented Ph.D.s in the nation.

Today, as the executive director of Immigrants Rising, I see both the incredible progress we have made and the challenges that still lie ahead for undocumented students in higher education. It is my pleasure to see many more undocumented students breaking barriers, knowing that our collective success is shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. It is your necessary presence that transforms higher education and your resilience that carves out a future where undocumented students are an integral part of higher education. Your dreams, contributions, and belonging will shape the future of education for generations to come.

A mentor once told me, “We can’t make big, bold changes by remaining the token person — we must push forward, bring others with us, and work toward systemic change.”

Many undocumented students on this journey today may be facing some critical questions: Do my contributions matter? Are my dreams valid? What legacy — what journey can there be for human beings like me with this uncertainty? Do I belong here? These are questions that loomed over me when I began my academic journey at Fresno State in 2005. Considerable progress has been made since then, but today, these questions resurface.

My academic journey was deeply shaped by my time at Fresno State, a proud member of Central Valley Higher Education Consortium. As an undergraduate, I experienced firsthand the power of a supportive institution — one that embraced students like me, who often had to carve our own paths when there were no clear policies and financial aid structures. Fortunately, I was able to secure a full-ride scholarship through the Smittcamp Family Honors College at Fresno State, which provided the financial stability I needed to focus on my studies. However, even with this scholarship, barriers remained. I was restricted from employment and paid career training opportunities and remained uncertain about my undocumented status. At the time, about 1,620 undocumented students enrolled in higher education faced significant hurdles: ineligibility for federal financial aid, limited access to scholarships, and the ever-present fear of being unable to continue our education due to policy changes beyond our control.

Despite these challenges, I found support in the form of mentors, allies, and advocacy efforts within Fresno State and beyond. AB 540, which allowed me to pay in-state tuition, was a lifeline that enabled me to pursue my education, but just as crucial were the people who believed in my potential. After graduating from Fresno State, I continued my academic journey, eventually earning a doctorate—a milestone that once seemed unattainable. My pursuit of higher education was fueled by a commitment to open doors for others, just as so many had done for me.

My experiences as an undocumented student have informed my work in advocacy, research, and policy, particularly in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively support undocumented students and prepare them for their careers. It is not enough for these students to be admitted; they must receive the resources and structures necessary to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Today, we have made significant strides in California to support undocumented students. We have expanded AB 540 and passed the California DREAM Act to make higher education more accessible to undocumented students. We’ve also passed legislation that enables undocumented professionals to get professional licenses — all opportunities that did not exist a decade ago. Many colleges and universities, including those within CVHEC, have established undocumented student resource centers, offering critical guidance on financial aid, mental health, and career pathways.

Yet, challenges remain. Federal inaction on immigration reform continues to leave undocumented students in a precarious situation, uncertain of their futures. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is no longer available to new applicants, and the program itself remains under threat, exacerbating the uncertainty faced by many students.

Today, It is estimated that there are about 86,805 undocumented students enrolled in higher education in California and each year about 14,000 undocumented high school students graduate who are ineligible to apply for DACA. Additionally, there has been a decline in enrollment into higher education, as many undocumented students face mounting financial barriers and concerns about their future. Access to internships, professional licensure, and postgraduate opportunities remains a major hurdle, limiting the career trajectories of countless talented individuals. Moreover, the mental and emotional toll of living with uncertainty weighs heavily on undocumented students, impacting their academic and personal well-being.

As I work with CVHEC and its member institutions, I am reminded daily of the critical role that higher education plays in shaping opportunities for students like me. Institutions must go beyond simply admitting us; they must ensure we thrive. This means expanding access to institutional aid, advocating for inclusive policies at the state and federal levels, and fostering an environment where undocumented students feel seen and supported. Colleges and universities must also actively engage in career development efforts, ensuring undocumented students can access paid experiential and research training and learn about entrepreneurship opportunities. By leveraging community partnerships and state resources, institutions can help bridge the gap between education and career success.

As we look to the future, it is imperative that we continue advocating for systemic changes that will allow undocumented students to thrive. Through collective action, institutional commitment, and policy advancements, we can ensure that higher education remains a powerful vehicle for social mobility and justice. At Immigrants Rising, we are dedicated to providing undocumented students with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to achieve their academic and career aspirations. By fostering a community of empowerment and opportunity, we continue to push for systemic change and a future where all students, regardless of immigration status, can thrive. I invite you to join us in this mission—whether through advocacy, mentorship, or supporting policies that create more inclusive opportunities. Together, we can make a transformative and tangible difference in the lives of undocumented students and ensure that higher education remains accessible to all.

So, to all the undocumented students navigating this journey today: You belong in higher education. Your dreams are valid, your contributions matter, and your presence is reshaping the landscape of academia for generations to come. The moment you step onto a college campus, you are building a legacy that challenges barriers and opens doors for those who follow. Your journey is powerful, and your success will inspire countless others to dream bigger and strive for more.

CVHEC members interested in collaborating with Immigrants Rising for their undocumented students may contact Dr. Pérez at iliana@immigrantsrising.org.

CVHEC presents at California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference ’25


CVHEC executive director Dr. Benjamín Durán (center), led the CVHEC delegation presenting the consortium’s initiatives at the California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento Feb. 23-26: Angel Ramirez CVHEC (panel visuals); Seth Williams, Sanger High School; Ginny Sandhu, Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified); Taft High School Principal Mary Alice Finn; Taft math teacher Oscar Nuno; and Owynn Lancaster, College Bridge (Math Bridge Program). See photo gallery below.

CVHEC presents Master’s Upskill, Math Bridge programs

at California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference 2025

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

Over 650 educators, presenters and sponsors met at the 3rd annual California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento Feb. 23-26 including a Central Valley Higher Education Consortium delegation that presented a panel on two dual enrollment initiatives: the Master’s Upskilling Project and the Central Valley Math Bridge Program.

The statewide conference featured pre-conference sessions; two full days of keynote — including a virtual message from Dr. Sonya Chistian, California Community Colleges chancellor — and breakout presentations; and site visits to high schools in the region. It was co-hosted by the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships (CADEP), the Career Ladders Project and the Education Trust–West.

Taft High School Principal Mary Alice Finn answers questions with the CVHEC panel: Ginny Sandhu; Seth Williams; Owynn Lancaster; and CVHEC executive director Dr. Benjamín Durán.

CADEP, an affiliated chapter of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), is a unified coalition committed to the advancement of equity, student success and quality in dual enrollment programs in California. Its vision is “to unite individuals, state agencies and organizations committed to dual enrollment in California to promote and advance quality dual enrollment programming across the state.”

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, led the CVHEC delegation of nine with six presenting on the panel, “Using Dual Enrollment as a tool for Math Alignment and Increasing Instructor Capacity in the Central Valley.”

CVHEC is a 28-member strong consortium that is “blurring the lines” between community colleges and their K-12 partners to provide equitable dual enrollment opportunities for students.

“Removing barriers to access is a driver for CVHEC’s dual enrollment work,” Durán said. “CVHEC serves a quarter-million students across a 10-county region and works toward impactful and transformational solutions by leveraging partnerships.”

He said he was delighted to see talented community college faculty and our K12 partners from the Central Valley showcased in a statewide convening.

“Our session was a huge success evidenced by the interest from the audience and the in-depth questions of the presenters that followed,” Durán said. “It was encouraging to see the Central Valley recognized as a statewide leader in the delivery of dual enrollment classes and pathways for students from rural areas of the region.”

Durán moderated the panel which began with a discussion about how CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Project is increasing dual enrollment instructor capacity by upskilling existing high school teachers to meet the minimum qualifications to teach dual enrollment courses at their high schools.

CVHEC took two valley high school English teachers who participated in the program to share their experience earning a Master’s degree and now teaching dual enrollment: Seth Williams of Sanger High School and Ginny Sandhu of Sunnyside High School (Fresno).

For the Math Bridge component of the panel, CVHEC partner College Bridge was represented by the organization’s vice president of Academic Strategy, Owynn Lancaster, who was joined by Mary Alice Finn, principal of Taft Union High School, and one of her Math teachers, Oscar Nuno.

They discussed how College Bridge is bringing together secondary and post-secondary educators to work collaboratively and creatively through Math Bridge systemically aligning college and high school math programs and creating a seamless transition for students.

Also attending the conference were CVHEC team members Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC Operations & Finance manager, and Tom Uribes, Communications coordinator.

At the conference, Durán, Ramirez and Sandhu were also interviewed for the “Bridge to Success” Podcast by Diane Crum of the Californian Department of Education that was posted March 6.

In addition to CVHEC’s panel, the Central California region was represented by Jill Jiménez, a counselor for the McFarland High School Early College Program who discussed evidence-based practices that have been the driving force in the school’s dual enrollment initiative by creating processes and procedures to enhance student participation and sustainability.

Jiménez also presented at CVHEC’s Dual Enrollment Conference held Feb. 3 in Fresno.

Members of the CVHEC’s delegation provided comments about the conference:

Angel Ramirez, CVHEC Operations & Finance Manager

“The conference served as a great, and sometimes needed, reminder that we are not in this dual enrollment work alone. It also showed me that the collaboration and sharing we have in the Central Valley are unmatched and are what propel what we do forward.”

Seth Williams, English 9 teacher – Sanger High School (community college adjunct professor – Fresno City College)

“As a dual enrollment and adjunct instructor, it was good to hear about all of the progress that is being made in helping high school students get ahead in college and to create equitable opportunities to try and level the playing field for some of our students. As I heard from districts and areas that are beginning their implementation of dual enrollment, I appreciated how far the districts I work for –Sanger Unified and State Center Community College District — have come to create a thriving program. That being said, it also showed some of the areas that we can work on to support our students even better so that there are more opportunities to help our students achieve their goals.”

Ginny Sandhu, English teacher – Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified School District)

“At the 2025 Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento, I had the privilege of sharing my journey as a Dual Enrollment English 1A instructor at Fresno City College. My presentation highlighted the transformative impact of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Upskilling initiative, which funded my master’s degree and enabled me to bridge the gap between high school and college for underrepresented students. Through this opportunity, I was able to empower students who might not have otherwise accessed higher education, reinforcing the critical role dual enrollment plays in advancing educational equity.

“Beyond presenting, I gained invaluable insights from the keynote speaker and various sessions that shed light on state-level dual enrollment initiatives and their far-reaching implications. These discussions underscored how dual enrollment serves as a catalyst for student success, particularly for historically marginalized communities. Engaging with educators, policymakers, and advocates reaffirmed my commitment to this work, emphasizing that expanding access to college courses in high school is not just an educational strategy but a necessary step toward equity and social mobility.” 

Owynn Lancaster, vice president of Academic Strategy – College Bridge

“My thoughts, as a person supporting equitable dual enrollment implementation, it was really exciting to hear more success stories from folks all across the state who are now also in their implementation. It’s also really validating to hear some common challenges and hiccups that are happening for everyone and have this amazing opportunity to come together and learn from each other.”

Mary Alice Finn, Principal – Taft Union High School

“The opportunity to learn alongside other professionals at the Dual Enrollment Equity Conference in Sacramento is always a treat. The innovative ideas happening up and down the state truly highlight the creativity, tenacity, and perseverance of our students and educators to ensure they each have the voice and the support needed to be successful. As a presenter, it is an honor to share the journey TUHS has been on and help provide some ideas to those that may find value in a similar path.”

See related story: CDE Podcast featuring CVHEC

SPOTLIGHT ON CVHEC: Dr. Clark to co-lead CVHEC dual enrollment with Cash

Former WHCCD chancellor resumes higher ed career

(FEB. 23, 2025) — Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor-emeritus of West Hills Community College District (WHCCD), has joined the

Central Valley Higher Education Consortium core 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, recently 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 coordinator and former superintendent of Riverdale Joint Unified School District who last month was named to co-lead CVHEC’s dual enrollment project.

“We are very fortunate that Dr. Clark was available and willing to join us for this very important project,” Duran said. “Her addition to the powerful CVHEC consulting team comprised of retired higher education and K12 leaders will be a benefit to the entire area.”

This week, Duran leads a CVHEC delegation to the  2025 California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference (Feb. 23-26) in Sacramento by the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships, Career Ladders Project, and EdTrust–West.

CVHEC will present its Master’s Upskilling Project and Central Valley Math Bridge Project with College Bridge.

He said the Dual Enrollment Guide/Playbook is one of the priorities that has emerged from the Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity Task Force (CVDEEP) that CVHEC formed in 2019 with  representation from the consortium’s 15 community college members in the valley’s 10-county region.

See the full story about Dr. Kristen’s new CVHEC venture in the upcoming March issue of the CVHEC newsletter.

Dr. Clark’s full bio
Elaine Cash bio
“Dual Enrollment in the Central Valley, Working Toward a Unified Approach for Equity and Prosperity.”

 

SPOTLIGHT: Dual Enrollment Week Mar. 10-14, 2025 CDE podcast

 

Sharing our dual enrollment initiatives in a California Department of Education PODCAST by Diane Crum at the recent California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference held Feb. 23-26 in Sacramento were Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC Operations & Finance manager; Ginny Sandhu, Sunnyside High School (Fresno Unified) English teacher; and Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director:  https://bit.ly/CDEpodcast-CVHECdualenrollment 

CVHEC featured on CA Dept. of Ed podcast

“The Bridge to Success: Navigating Dual Enrollment” 

 

BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

Diane Crum – California Department of Education

To help kick off Dual Enrollment Week March 10-14, we present 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 Central Valley Higher Education Consortium 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 Unifed) teacher who earned qualification to teach dual enrollment 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.

“We appreciate the work Diane is doing through this CDE podcast with a component at the California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference for participants to share their respective dual enrollment stories,” said Tom Uribes, CVHEC communications coordinator.

 

See related story: CVHEC presents at California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference ’25

Hear the podcast:

 

SPOTLIGHT on CVHEC – Merced College Dreamscape Tour

Read more

CVDEEP Convening wrap: ‘dual enrollment at scale and with equity’


Caption

 CCC chancellor says Central California region

is state model for dual enrollment implementation

By Elaine Cash
CVHEC Dual Enrollment Co-Lead

and

Tom Uribes
CVHEC Communications Coordinator

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. 5 in Fresno.

The day-long event was presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium 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.

Six interactive breakout sessions and two panels were provided for 140 educators representing secondary and postsecondary institutions from throughout the valley’s 10-county region as well as from student-supporting community programs.

California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian chats up student panelists Ailyn Morales and Jonathan Alfaro of Mendota High School prior to the Central Valley Dual Enrollment Convening 2025 Feb. 3.

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.

“Our mission,” Dr. Christian declared, “is to work toward a future in which all California high school students enroll in community college transfer, career or apprenticeship pathways and complete high school with at least 12 units of college credit.”

Dr. Christian, a former Central Valley community college leader, noted that in 2021-2022, a goal was set to enroll 257,000 students in a dual enrollment course by 2030.  She announced that California surpassed this goal in 2023-2024 with almost 290,000 students enrolled in at least one dual enrollment course.

“The Central Valley, with over 20 percent of California dual enrollment students, is the state leader and exemplary model for dual enrollment implementation,” said the chancellor who previously served as a member of the CVHEC Board of Directors when she was president of Bakersfield College and chancellor of the Kern Community College District prior to her statewide appointment.

However, despite encouraging successes and especially the work in the Central Valley, Dr. Christian reminded her audience that 80 percent of California high school students still do not participate in dual enrollment coursework.

“So what is the work?” she asked.  “It is dual enrollment at scale and with equity.”

She cheered on the dedication of the educators convening and collaborating that day to keep improving dual enrollment pathways for valley students.

“I know all of you are engaged in making sure that you are fundamentally supporting each and every student so that they can continue on their educational pathway because that is at the core of what we do at the California Community Colleges,” Chancellor Christian said.

That dedication was reflected in the panels and breakout sessions beginning with a discussion about several models for dual enrollment through a presentation featuring partnerships between Reedley College and Sanger High School; Bakersfield College and McFarland High School; and Coalinga College and Mendota High School.

Moderated by Tressa Overstreet of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD), the “Dual Enrollment Models” Panel included Lissette Padilla, Coalinga College; Jill Jimenez, McFarland High School; Richard Aguilar, Reedley College; Travis Kirby, Mendota High School; Alma Feathers, Bakersfield College; and Carmen Garvis, Sanger High School.

Each described models of dual enrollment implementation such as Middle College; college courses on high school campuses and embedded in the master schedules; and hybrid on-campus and online programs, each suited to the unique needs that school sizes and locations require.

The breakout sessions emphasized a variety of useful elements of dual enrollment presented by successful implementers. Each presenter shared practical resources and “how to” strategies that were immediately applicable.   (See agenda for breakout topics and presenter names).

“Attendees were delighted with relevant information that stimulated conversations and promoted in-conference networking, and the exchange of phone numbers and emails to continue sharing,” said Dr. Benjamín Durán, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium who welcomed the participants in the opening session before introducing Chancellor Christian.

‘What Does This Mean for Students?’

But he noted that despite the power packed by the keynote speaker and the panels and breakout sessions, perhaps the highlight of the conference was a panel of high school students currently enrolled in dual enrollment pathway coursework.  Stan Carrizosa, president-emeritus of College of the Sequoias and now a CVHEC lead (Transfer Project), moderated the student panel, “What Does This Mean for Students?,” that closed the event.

Five students representing Sanger, Mendota and McFarland High Schools impressed the large Doubletree Inn ballroom full of educators with their straight-forward talk and thoughtful responses that described their dual enrollment experience. They articulated not only their ambition to attain a higher education – each citing the university they aspire to – but also the satisfaction of meeting the challenge of college courses that has provided a new level of self-confidence. Five of the six indicated they will be the first in their respective families to attend college.

Three of the students are seniors who are on path to earn an associate degree this spring: Andres Medina Zapien and Isaac Dircio, both of McFarland High School, will complete Bakersfield College requirements with their sights set on UC San Diego and Stanford respectively; and Saige Jones, who is enrolled in the Wonderful Ag Plant Science Pathway at Sanger High School, is completing Reedley College associate degree requirements with plans to attend Fresno State in the fall.

The other two are sophomores at Mendota High School with double majors through Coalinga College: Ailyn Morales plans to attend UC Irvine and Jonathan Alfaro is looking ahead to Fresno State then UC Berkeley.

“I believe that the college classes that I am taking are all different as they fulfill my gen ed,” Andres replied when Dr. Carrizosa asked the students what they felt was the greatest success in taking dual enrollment. “I feel like they are very beneficial because they give us new perspectives and open our minds to different things that we can do.”

When asked how dual enrollment students cope with the sacrifice  of committing time to the extra school work, Ailyn responded,  “It’s all about priorities. You have to determine what comes first, and what benefits you the most.”

Durán said the student panel detailed the challenges and advantages of participating in dual enrollment programs.

“It was heartfelt and insightful – even entertaining in its own way – as we heard the voices of the very youngsters our educators strive everyday to support for academic and personal success. Those voices bring home what we are doing right, and help reveal areas that we need to address.”

A new pre-conference session entitled “Dual Enrollment 101” was offered before the conference formally opened.  Bill Vasey of the California Academic Partnership and Sylvia Garvis of Sanger High School presented the session, which Vasey described as intended for those “that don’t feel they know a lot about dual enrollment and want to learn.”

“The conference was a full day of valuable information and relevant suggestions and resources that were well received,” said Durán.

He closed the event by informing participants that CVDEEP will reconvene in the fall to follow up the Feb. 5 discussions and urged them to complete a feedback form that will help improve future convenings

Ángel Ramírez, CVHEC finance and operations manager who coordinates consortium convenings and helps facilitate strategies, urged participants to build on the “Central Valley Way” — the power of collaboration, adding that materials and PowerPoints presented in the convening are available on the event page at the CVDEEP website.

“Let’s continue being persistent and collaborative in what we do,” Ramírez said. “This is why the Central Valley leads the state in our dual enrollment work. We look forward to coming together again at the fall convening.”

He said CVHEC now has its sights set on the upcoming 2025 California Dual Enrollment Equity Conference presented by the California Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships, Career Ladders Project, and EdTrust–West Feb. 24-26 in Sacramento where the team will present on CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Program and the Central Valley Math Bridge.

In a survey, participants offered these comments about CVHEC’s “Dual Enrollment in The Central Valley” Convening:

  • “Student comments were raw and great!!”
  • “Hearing from other districts and high schools and what is working for them pushes me to take new ideas back to my own site!”
  • “Continue the momentum! DUAL is researched and backed as advantageous for students.”
CVDEEP Convening Feb. 3, 2025 – Photo gallery

TRANSFER PROJECT UPDATE — Persistence

Persistence: commitment with intelligence

With 2025 well into its second month, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium presents here 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. CVHEC’s Central Valley Transfer Project Lead Stan Carrizosa, president-emeritus of COS, reports that 12 of the 15 Central Valley Higher Education Consortium-member community colleges are now on board along with members UC Merced and our three CSU campuses: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus. Carrizosa updates 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). He notes that funding to implement the PPM software — which is increasing the rate of successful community college transfers who utilize it to efficiently navigate their journey to a degree or certificate — is available to any community college for their students.

BY STAN CARRIZOSA
CVHEC Central Valley Transfer Project Lead

In 2018, a group of community college leaders, meeting in the annual gathering of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors, heard Dr. James Zimmerman, University of California, Merced senior administrator, share an update on the number of Central Valley community college students that had successfully transferred to UC Merced.

The results were dismal, Dr. Zimmerman reported, and UC Merced asked to meet with community college officials to enact a plan to increase successful transfers to UC Merced. The Central Valley Transfer Project was born.

A pilot for the project was funded through a state grant that engaged Merced College and Bakersfield College representatives in convenings with UC Merced staff to create successful transfer pathways from community college. In the beginning, the process was slow and arduous as many details and factors needed to be discussed and incorporated into creating those pathways.

UC Merced graciously broadened the scope of the project to review the already successful Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathways for transfer to CSUs. One-by-one different majors were reviewed, and UC Merced began accepting the ADTs as fulfilling the lower division requirements for successful transfer.

The pilot project ended with both Merced and Bakersfield College having approved multiple ADTs that would fulfill requirements for successful transfer to UC Merced.

The tool for combing combining? these lower division courses with their upper division requirements at UCM is a software platform called Program Pathways Mapper (PPM). PPM is a public-facing, internet-based URL that is easily accessible for students, parents, teachers, counselors and advisors. It is an application that is uploaded on our smart phone that enables us to see the lower division courses required for an ADT and the upper division coursework at the four-year college to complete a degree in the corresponding discipline major.

Taking it statewide – PPM funding available for colleges

PPM has since expanded and is now used statewide by community colleges, CSUs and UCs. It became such an advantage for students that a request was made for the state budget to fund the one-time costs for joining PPM and was approved by the Governor Newsome and California Legislature in 2022. Any community college can receive funding if requested to implement PPM for their students.

This combination of highly efficient convening protocols combined with easily accessible mapping software has spread across the state. In the Central Valley, all but three of the 15 community colleges are now on board along with UC Merced, CSU Bakersfield, Fresno State and CSU Stanislaus.

State Community College Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian declared the Central Valley Transfer Project a statewide Demonstration Project in her newly adopted “Vision 2030.” The CSU and UC system’s CEOs have also endorsed the Transfer Project and statewide effort to increase successful community college transfers.

Each step along the way, the Central Valley Transfer Team has tried to work smart by leveraging existing structures including ADTs and even dual enrollment for some community college’s by aligning and connecting these structures increasing their effectiveness for successful transfers. This type of intersegmental collaboration requires patience and, more than anything, persistence.

The natural resistance to change is ever-present. A feeling of “initiative overload” and fatigue exist, and the inertia inherent in any bureaucracy requires persistence which we have come to define as commitment with intelligence, often referred to as “working smarter, not harder.”

What the data shows

Baseline data on results are very encouraging. A control group of 5,000 incoming freshman to Bakersfield College were tracked comparing PPM users and non-PPM users over their first two semesters. Leaving all other recruitment services and outreach efforts in place the only variable that differed for these groups were those who used PPM to work their education plan and those who did not.

A review of the percentage of on-path course completion was measured among both groups to see if PPM provided any advantage in increasing students’ completion of required courses on-path to their degree. Both groups were reviewed for the number of units to degree in hopes that PPM would help reduce the number of unnecessary units completed.

Perhaps most importantly, tracking the differences in percentage of on-path course completion rates between subgroups of students by ethnicity addresses equity in success among different groups.

See our results in the graphics above.

Once Chancellor Christian designated this a Demonstration Project in her Vision 2030, the Central Valley way has begun to influence positive results for students statewide and beyond. The success of the project now reaches as far north as UC Santa Cruz all the way south to UCLA and UC Irvine. Community college transfer to the CSU system make up 50 percent of all their successful graduates.

Increasing successful transfers is a very effective strategy in the quest to increase four-year degree attainment!

INFO: Stan A. Carrizosa, Sr., –  scarrizosa44@gmail.com

Ángel Ramírez – 559.278.0576 or centralvalleyhec@gmail.com

CVHEC media inquiries: Tom Uribes – cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu or text 559.348.3278.

CVHEC’s Central Valley Transfer Project story:

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