Summer Edition 2025: 

CVHEC’s first six months of the year

BY TOM URIBES

Communications Lead — Central Valley Higher Education Consortium

 

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

JANUARY 2025 (No. 46)

– Published Jan. 16

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

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

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

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

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

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

UC Merced Chancellor Muñoz to chair CVHEC Board of Directors

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

Math Bridge: foundation for postsecondary journey, academic success

Since the Central Valley Math Bridge program was funded in late 2022 in partnership with CVHEC, the Rand Corporation and several community college members of the consortium, its small but energetic College Bridge team has made headway into 18 high schools in the consortium’s 10-county region thanks with funding from the California K-16 Collaborative (Central – Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Counties; and We Will! – Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties). This update submitted by Audra Burwell, College Bridge communication coordinator, presents the program’s 2024 progress as it moves into 2025 with its first cohorts. Look for more in our upcoming September issue.

CSU sets another first-year student enrollment record

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

Taft College names new acting superintendent/president

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

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

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

(Social media – JAN) TO DO

FEBRUARY 2025 (No. 47)

– Published Feb. 12

CVDEEP Convening 2025: dual enrollment at scale and with equity

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

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

 Transfer Project Update: Persistence — commitment with intelligence 

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

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

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

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

By Ashley Emerzian, Jenna Cummings and Pamela Schock

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

(Social media – FEB) TO DO

MARCH 2025 (No. 48)

– Published March 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Social media – MARCH) TO DO

APRIL 2025 (No. 49)

– Published April 17

State’s higher ed systems to present at CVHEC Summit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPOTLIGHT: CDE podcast transcript featuring CVHEC

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

 

BOARD NEWS

 

Fresno City College president: Dr. Denise Whisenhunt comes home

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

 

(Social media – April) TO DO

 

JUNE 2025 (No. 50)

– Published June 4

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

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

YT:  https://youtu.be/Y7kLTfa0YsU

 

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

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

BLOG: Commencement 2025 

By Ellie Oliva, Class of 2025 – Fresno State

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

(Social media – JUNE) TO DO

 

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

SUMMER –  TO DO

(Social media ONLY  – JUNE/JULY)

TO EDIT

MidYearRvw25-sumNL25 v1

 

 

 

 

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

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

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 Executive Director Benjamín Durán was interviewed by ABC30 Fresno at the Central Valley Higher Education Summit May 9.