BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Lead

(NOV. 10, 2026) — The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) expanded its regional membership Oct. 14, welcoming Teachers College of San Joaquin as its 29th member institution during a board meeting hosted by Modesto Junior College.

The board voted unanimously to accept the TCSJ into the consortium, further strengthening CVHEC’s regional network of higher education institutions working collaboratively to improve college access, student success and educational attainment throughout the Central Valley.

Dr. Girlie Hale, president of Teachers College of San Joaquin, will join the CVHEC Board of Directors as the institution’s representative.

Founded in 2009 by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), Teachers College is a regionally accredited institution and a division of the county office. It prepares and supports education professionals through teacher and administrator credential programs, induction services and graduate-level offerings, including several Master of Education concentrations. The college serves more than 1,000 students working across school districts throughout a 14-county region. 

Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director, said the addition of Teachers College of San Joaquin brings another important education-sector partner into CVHEC’s growing regional collaboration.  

“With the addition of Teachers College of San Joaquin and continued progress on our four strategic priorities, CVHEC is strengthening its regional reach and reinforcing the importance of collaboration among the Central Valley’s higher education leaders,” Duran said.

“We are especially pleased with this union that started when TCSJ signed on as one of the first sponsors for our CVHEC summit last year.”

Chaired by Dr. Robert Pimentel, chancellor of West Hills Community College District, the CVHEC board meeting brought together representatives from 25 of the consortium’s 28 existing member institutions, with 12 participating in person and 13 joining virtually.

The gathering marked CVHEC’s first regional board meeting hosted at Modesto Junior College. The hybrid format is part of a broader effort to bring consortium leadership together at member campuses throughout the 10-county region with the next meeting planned for February in Porterville.

Following the October meeting, participants also had an opportunity to tour Modesto Junior College’s science buildings and learn more about the campus and its facilities.

A major portion of the meeting was devoted to progress reports on CVHEC’s four strategic priorities, established by the board following its August 2025 strategic planning retreat. The initiatives address challenges and opportunities that benefit from regional cooperation.

The updates highlighted several developments:

• Enrollment Reconnect: Led by Tom Burke, the initiative is developing a regional student survey for spring 2027 to better understand why students leave college before completing a degree or certificate, what prevents their return and what services could help them re-enroll. The task force also is mapping existing completion and re-engagement programs.
• Data Sharing and Regional Dashboards: Led by Dr. Kristin Clark, the initiative is working to streamline data collection and reporting across member institutions, laying the groundwork for a potential regional dashboard to help colleges and universities identify enrollment, persistence, completion and student-mobility trends.
• Talent and Workforce Alignment: Led by Stan Carrizosa, the work group has completed an inventory of regional college programs and curriculum and is analyzing 10 major studies projecting Central Valley workforce needs through 2035. The next phase will focus on translating that research into opportunities for greater regional alignment.
• AI and Innovation: Led by Dr. Lori Bennett, the task force has organized participants into four areas of focus: policy framework, higher education AI professional development, teaching and research, and operational efficiencies. The groups are exploring ways institutions across the region can share knowledge, identify promising practices, and leverage expertise as they respond to emerging opportunities and challenges related to artificial intelligence.

“Together, the initiatives represent CVHEC’s commitment to addressing challenges that extend beyond individual campuses through coordinated regional strategies,” Duran said, adding that the board’s decision to expand its meeting locations throughout the Valley will continue in 2027. 

The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19 at Porterville College, bringing the consortium’s leadership to the South Valley.

The Oct. 14 meeting also welcomed several new higher education leaders, including Dr. Andy Dunn, recently appointed interim chancellor of State Center Community College District following the retirement of Dr. Carole Goldsmith.

Dunn previously served as the district’s interim deputy chancellor and brings more than 20 years of California community college leadership experience, including chief business officer positions in single- and multicampus districts.