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
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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
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):
Fresno City College (UCSF COVID-19 Equity Project)
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.
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.
COS student featured in Lumina photojournalist project
Miguel Contreras, a 22-year old student majoring in nursing at College of the Sequoias (COS), was featured in a special year-long project by photojournalist Rachel Bujalski for The Lumina Foundation (Lumina), a partner of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium.
For the past year, Bujalski has followed and documented the lives of a handful of California students whose lives reflect that of many of today’s students. Her work, including compelling photos and narrative that depict a candid, close up look at the lives of five low-income students and the immense college challenge they face during the COVID-19 pandemic, was recently published on Lumina’s website.
“Rachel is an accomplished photojournalist that has worked with Time, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, National Geographic and more,” said Dakota Pawlicki, Lumina’s strategy officer for Community College and Workforce Education. “She recently was part of a team that earned an Emmy for their undercover reporting.”
CVHEC, a Lumina-designated Talent Hub, and other California Talent Hubs hosted Bujalski and connected her to the students she featured including Miguel, a cancer survivor and an amputee who grew up in foster care.
He works full time as a hospital aide at Kaweah Delta Medical Center while attending CVHEC-member institution COS in Visalia full-time in search of a nursing career — all while preparing for fatherhood.
Miguel’s right leg was amputated below the knee after a cancer diagnosis at age 18 and the care he received from his nurses inspired him to become a nurse himself. But his classes have moved online because of COVID-19 and he says the work has become much harder without in-person help.
View his and the other photo stories here: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/photo-essay-the-college-climb-steepens/ )
See Guardian.com story: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/07/college-students-coronavirus-pandemic-california
CVHEC Pedagogy and Continuous Improvement Workshops
The Charles A. Dana Center of the University of Texas at Austin will offer two virtual workshops series to CVHEC member institution faculty and staff. Participants are welcome to participate in all six workshops or the workshop that best fits their schedule.
Registration deadline for the workshops is Jan. 27 at 1 p.m.
• Pedagogy Workshops (support faculty in implementing student success strategies)
Helping Students Transition to Learners
February 23, 2-4 p.m. REGISTER
This session will explore several structural and psychosocial course design principles that can help students develop from passive receivers of knowledge to independent learners in an online setting.
Introduction to Psychosocial Factors: Belonging
February 24, 2-4 p.m. REGISTER
Psychosocial factors and their importance in supporting students in a heterogeneous virtual classroom will be introduced. The Belonging Mindset will be explored, including tools to help students develop a Belonging Mindset that can be incorporated into any course, whether face-to-face or virtual.
Differentiated Instruction Online
February 25, 2-4 p.m. REGISTER
Participants will actively experience instructional techniques that, by their design, meet individual needs within a diverse online student classroom while providing instructors with immediate formative assessment. These “low-floor, high-ceiling” strategies include all students, giving them the opportunity to understanding through discourse. The purpose, construction, and recommended facilitation strategies for each technique will be discussed and examples and templates will be provided.
• Continuous Improvement of Corequisite Models
This series of workshops will focus on the continuous improvement of corequisite models and is appropriate for both English and math instructors and department chairs. Participants will explore a continuous improvement framework for identifying, implementing and evaluating incremental changes to increase the efficacy of the corequisite models at their institution. Participants who are unable to attend all three workshops are advised that the “Continuous Improvement Planning” workshop (March 11) makes more sense if the “Introduction to Quality Improvement” is attended.
Promoting Continuous Improvement
Tuesday, March 9, 2-4 p.m. REGISTER
Participants will explore the characteristics of a department culture that supports Continuous Improvement.
Introduction to Quality Improvement
Wednesday, March 10, 1-4 p.m. REGISTER
Participants will receive an overview of the Quality Improvement continuous improvement process that can be used in their departments to support implementation of corequisite courses.
Continuous Improvement Planning
Thursday, March 11, 2-4 p.m. REGISTER
Participants will model the process of continuous improvement and how it could be used to address a current challenge they are dealing with at their institution.