Fresno State Ranks Among Nation’s Best for Graduation-Rate Performance

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Fresno State continued its five-year streak of ranking No. 3 among public national universities for graduation-rate performance in U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 Best College Rankings issued Sept. 13.

The University also placed fifth overall in graduation-rate performance among all national universities, according to an analysis of U.S. News’ Academic Insights data used in the magazine’s annual rankings.

Fresno State has ranked No. 3 among public universities for the past four years and was No. 1 in 2017. See press release.

Fresno State Earns 8th ‘Heed Education Excellence In Diversity’ Award

Fresno State received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

This is the eighth year Fresno State has been named a HEED Award recipient. As a recipient of the annual award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — Fresno State will be featured, along with 100 other recipients, in the October 2021 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

See press release.

PRESS RELEASE: Pursuing the Last Mile: Broadband in the Central Valley

Read more

Pursuing the Last Mile: Broadband in the Central Valley

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Three Central Valley college students share their experience during the pandemic in a CVHEC-commissioned video highlighting broadband disparity.

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Broadband Disparity: equity issue in California’s Central Valley – adequate
access is essential to increasing degree attainment rates 

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D. CVHEC Executive Director

Greetings Colleagues and Friends of CVHEC,

We are delighted to share with you a video project the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium undertook to highlight the state of broadband in the Central Valley — “Pursuing the Last Mile: Broadband in the Central Valley.”

The Central Valley’s broadband disparity — an inability to access reliable internet — is not a new story, however, in true pandemic fashion, COVID restrictions forced us all to face the reality of Central Valley students’ struggles to reach academic goals and work through remote learning with foiled attempts.

Everyone has a story. But this internet disparity hits at the heart of what CVHEC is attempting to accomplish — improve the Central Valley’s degree attainment rates. Pre-pandemic, the Central Valley already suffered inequitable access to postsecondary education (the Central Valley has nearly half of the Bay Area’s rate for bachelor degree attainment) — not having adequate access to broadband makes the goal of increasing degree attainment rates even more difficult.

“Pursuing the Last Mile: Broadband in the Central Valley” is a three-minute video CVHEC commissioned the Fenceline Media Group to create to tell the Central Valley broadband story. This video not only highlights three students’ personal struggles but also shines a light on their perseverance to reach their academic goals.

Our hope is that the California Legislature and the federal government consider the Central Valley story in building the last mile of broadband infrastructure that has been lacking and is creating even greater disparity.

Our Central Valley students shouldn’t have to prove themselves worthy of education by showing how creative they can be to secure some form of internet access. Reliable broadband should be afforded to all California students — even those who are attempting to access from our rural fields. California needs reliable broadband infrastructure to ensure all Californians are able to pursue their educational pursuits.

A COVID-impact survey of graduating high school students and continuing college students conducted by the California Student Aid Commission, released July 2020,  shows that students’ concerns over online learning during the pandemic caused them to change their academic plans.

Another COVID-impact survey conducted in May 2020 by the RP Group shows that African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o/x and American Indian students disproportionately lacked access to computers and the internet. Broadband is an equity issue that must be addressed.

As fall plans begin to emerge, a hybrid learning/work environment will likely be a reality. To ensure our Central Valley is afforded the same opportunities as the rest of California, the last mile of broadband infrastructure cannot wait.

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director – Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC)

 

SEE:

• Recovery with Equity Task Force report – Central Valley’s rate for bachelor degree attainment

•.California Student Aid Commission COVID-impact survey (December 2020) – graduating high school students and continuing college students

• RP Group COVID-impact survey (May 2020) — African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o/x and American Indian students access to computers and the internet

Full press release

You Tube version

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KCCD selects sixth chancellor: Dr. Sonya Christian

Dr. Sonya Christian

Dr. Sonya Christian, Bakersfield College president, has been selected as the sixth chancellor of the Kern Community College District succeeding Dr. Tom Burke who is retiring, the KCCD Board of Directors announced April 19.

Dr. Christian, a former Mathematics instructor who earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA, has served in a variety of roles in the community college setting for over thirty years. During that time, she’s served in academic positions, administrative and senior administrative positions. In 2013, she was named the 10th president of Bakersfield College.

Dr. Christian will oversee KCCD’s three campuses: Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College in eastern Kern County and Porterville College in Tulare County.

The chancellor-select will continue to serve on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium board of directors moving from her Bakersfield College president seat to the KCCD chancellor seat.

See Bakersfield.com story.

The Central Valley’s 2021 Commencement spur creative celebrations




 

A Mix Of Live, Virtual, Drive-By Parades And ‘Cut-Out Fans!’

 

Central Valley student success — and perseverance — is about to be on full display.

As commencement season unfolds and pandemic restrictions abate, university and college members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium are planning to celebrate their students’ degree attainment with either in-person events or variations of virtual celebrations that will honor the Classes of 2021 and 2020.

Some CVHEC colleges and universities have begun to announce their plans but true to pandemic-era planning, those celebrations continue to be modified – with changes possible right up to the event date: 15 will hold in-person events and six will hold virtual celebrations.  Some of the in-person will include virtual elements, live streams and another will air commencements on live TV.

“Planning committees are to be commended for their thoughtful consideration to meet public health guidelines and creativity to consider student’s desire to celebrate their accomplishments with family,” said Dr. Ben Duran, CVHEC executive director.

“But also to be commended, and rightfully celebrated, are the Class of 2020 and 2021 grads who have shown great determination, perseverance and adaptability in the face of many challenges during this pandemic. It’s great to see them being saluted,” he added.

Planning variations range from multiple date smaller-scales, in-person commencement ceremonies with live stream, virtual presentations, drive-thru vehicle parades, custom fan photo cut-outs to help provide crowd excitement and local television partnerships to air ceremonies for the public.

Here are links to CVHEC members for commencement details and information updates:

Brandman University – Visalia and Modesto campuses

California Health Sciences University

California State University, Bakersfield

California State University, Fresno

California State University, Stanislaus

Cerro Coso Comm. College 

Clovis Community College  

College of the Sequoias 

Columbia College

Fresno City College

Fresno Pacific University

Madera College

Merced College

Modesto Junior College

Porterville College

San Joaquin Delta College

Taft College

West Hills College Coalinga

West Hills College Lemoore

University of California, Merced

CVHEC members provide COVID-19 vaccine clinics on campus

Central Valley colleges and universities are serving California and their respective communities as key partners in the state’s plan to provide safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by lending their campuses as mass COVID-19 vaccination sites.

One of the first mass vaccination sites in the Central Valley was Reedley College. This opened the door for 10 fellow CVHEC members to follow suit and provide locations for local community residents to get the necessary treatment needed in the fight against the deadly virus.

“We are proud of our higher education member campuses who stepped up to the plate for their respective communities during the pandemic by providing vaccinations sites,” said Dr. Ben Duran, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, noting that many also provided testing sites.

“Academic institutions are a vital part of the communities they serve and this is one way to expand that service.”

Campus vaccination clinics were held at (see link for details):

Bakersfield College

College of the Sequoias

Fresno City College (UCSF COVID-19 Equity Project)

Merced College

Porterville College

Reedley College  

San Joaquin Delta College

West Hills College Lemoore

California State University, Bakersfield

California State University, Stanislaus

California State University, Fresno (for employees)

 (Also see: California’s Vaccination Plan)

Dr. Angel Reyna, president of Madera Community College and CVHEC Board member, gets his vaccine shot.

Dr. Kristin Clark is next WHCCD chancellor

Dr. Kristin Clark was named West Hills Community College District’s third chancellor April 20  by the WHCCD Board of Trustees, culminating a nationwide search begun last fall for a successor to Dr. Stuart Van Horn who retires June 30.

Dr. Clark, who has served the Central San Joaquin Valley’s Westside as president of West Hills College Lemoore (WHCL) since January 2016, will begin her new duties July 1.

Dr. Clark holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s in Educational Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

She was already serving on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium  board of directors representing WHCL but will now do so as KCCD chancellor.

See KCCCD announcement

CVHEC Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce established

 

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium has launched its Equity, Race, and Social Justice Taskforce which includes a three-pronged strategy to assess and recommend action for its member institutions – 29 colleges in a nine-county region.

Findings and recommendations will be presented as part of the CVHEC Higher Education Fall 2021 Summit Series that is now being planned, said Dr. Benjamin T.  Duran, CVHEC executive director, in announcing the roster and the need.

“The Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce was convened in response to the social unrest of the summer 2020 and the impacts of the pandemic,” Duran said. “For too many students, the pandemic exacerbated already existing problems. The taskforce is seeking to rebuild and improve higher education outcomes for the Central Valley region.”

CVHEC is mission-focused on improving certificate and degree completion rates for students and the Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce will strengthen that mission.

An intersegmental undertaking, the 17-member task force consists of representation from Clovis Community College; Fresno City College; Reedley College; Fresno Pacific University; Fresno State; California State University, Stanislaus; University of California Merced; Foundation of California Community Colleges (Guided Pathways); and K-16 Collaborative. Members also represent faculty, equity and institutional research leaders.

 The taskforce includes three workgroups: the Regional Scan Workgroup, the Equitable Recovery Workgroup and the Framework and Integration Workgroup.

“Integral to this work will be a collection of pertinent data to drive the findings,” Duran said.

As the regional convener, CVHEC convenes and manages the work of the taskforce and has tasked its strategies lead, Virginia Madrid-Salazar, to serve as its chair.

The charge of the three subgroups:

  • The Regional Scan Workgroup will identify best practices and barriers currently occurring in the Central Valley around equity, race and social justice in higher education. An expected outcome of this workgroup is to design and implement a regional scan tool (i.e., survey) for the region.
  • The Framework and Integration Workgroup will develop the Central Valley Equity Statement and Operational Definition of Equity in Higher Education and the pursuit of a regional framework for addressing equity, racial and social justice.
  • The Equitable Recovery Workgroup will explore the question, “Which students were pushed out during the pandemic and how do we bring them back?” This effort will focus on equity and equitable outcomes for Central Valley students and the implementation of new policies and practices for this purpose. An expected outcome will be to collect and disaggregate regional data to highlight current gaps and needs in our combined systems.

“Taskforce members represent the Central Valley’s expertise in education leadership and have spent a considerable number of years in leading equitable change in the Central Valley,” said Virginia Madrid-Salazar. “They bring thoughtful consideration to the issues facing Central Valley students as a result of the pandemic. They are committed to Central Valley students.”

The CVHEC Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce members include:

Alex Adams, Ph.D.
Director – Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness
Clovis Community College
Equitable Recovery Workgroup / Regional Scan Workgroup

Benjamin T. Duran, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
Framework and Integration Workgroup Lead

Laura Gonzalez, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Education
Liberal Arts Program Director
Fresno Pacific University
Equitable Recovery Workgroup

Karri Hammerstrom
Executive Director
The Fresno K-16 Collaborative
Regional Scan Workgroup

Virginia Madrid-Salazar, J.D.
Strategies Lead
Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
Taskforce Chair / Co-Lead Equitable Recovery Workgroup
 
Ricardo Marmolejo
Guided Pathways Regional Coordinator
California Community Colleges Foundation
Regional Scan Workgroup

Larissa Mercado-Lopez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Fresno State
Equitable Recovery Workgroup

Darlene Murray, Ed.D.
Student Equity Coordinator
Reedley College
Regional Scan Workgroup

Alex Nottbohm, M.A.
Research and Data Analyst – Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Fresno State
Equitable Recovery Workgroup

Francine L. Oputa, Ed.D.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant
Director (retired) – Cross Cultural and Gender Center (Fresno State)
Framework and Integration Workgroup

Robert Pimentel, Ed.D.
Vice President, Educational Services & Institutional Effectiveness
Fresno City College
Regional Scan Workgroup

Onar Primitivo, M.Ed.
Executive Director, Equity & Justice – Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
University of California Merced
Framework and Integration Workgroup

Raymond Ramírez, Ed.D.
Director, Student Equity and Success, Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness
Fresno City College
Lead – Regional Scan Workgroup

Neisha D. Rhodes
Director for Presidential Initiatives
California State University, Stanislaus
Framework and Integration Workgroup

Dmitri Rogulkin, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Executive Director, Research and Institutional Effectiveness
State Center Community College District
Equitable RecoveryWorkgroup

Michelle Stricker, M.S.
Guided Pathways Lead Regional Coordinator, Central/Far South
California Community Colleges Foundation
Co-Lead Equitable Recovery Workgroup

Soua Xiong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation
Coordinator, Student Affairs & College Counseling
Fresno State
Regional Scan Workgroup

CVHEC eyes recommendations by state equity taskforce for implementation

Post-secondary systems seeking to emerge from the pandemic stronger and better able to help all learners thrive can look to a new report by California’s Recovery with Equity Taskforce that provides recommendations the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium will explore during an upcoming Higher Education Fall 2021 Summit Series.

Recovery with Equity: A Roadmap for Higher Education After the Pandemic, submitted recently to Governor Gavin Newsom and the Governor’s Council for Post-Secondary Education, includes a series of interconnected, interdependent recommendations developed by the state taskforce to help post-secondary systems.

Dr. Lande Ajose, who chairs the Governor’s Council for Post-Secondary Education and created the taskforce, said, “Student success in higher education is critical to the health of our state and regional economies. We need to ensure that California’s systems of higher learning fully recover from the pandemic and thrive, while keeping students our number one priority. Their success is inextricably tied to the future of California.”

The report’s 11 recommendations are organized to advance four guiding principles:  Fostering Inclusive Institutions, Streamlining Pathways to Degrees, Facilitating Student Transitions and Simplifying Supports for Student Stability.

It concludes with actions that leaders in California can pursue to support California’s post-secondary institutions recover from the pandemic more equitable and resilient than before, and more aligned with the economic needs of the state.

Dr. Benjamin Duran, CVHEC executive director, said the consortium, which consists of the leaders of 29 colleges in the nine-county Central Valley region, will review the recommendations and begin collaborating for implementation.

“We look forward to sharing out the Central Valley’s equity, dual enrollment and transfer efforts and aligning them with the Recovery with Equity recommendations,” Duran said. (See the story in this issue about the CVHEC Equity, Race, and Social Justice Taskforce).

Read the full story and report recommendations.

 

 

 

 

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