CVHEC NEWS: Lumina Policy Retreat Presentation

CVHEC’s national role in transforming

transfer and college affordability, equity

Dr. Benjamín Durán, executive director of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), presented the CVHEC Transfer Project at the Lumina Foundation State Policy Retreat 2022 last month in Indianapolis.

In his session, Dr. Durán convened with national higher education equity leaders to examine how they are transforming transfer and college affordability.

With the theme “Better Together: Increasing Participation, Success, and Employment Alignment,” the policy retreat provided an opportunity for state teams – composed of cross-sector leaders working across higher education, workforce/talent development, public policy, advocacy, employers, etc. – to come together for learning, reflection, and action planning.

Throughout the retreat held Sept. 28-30, participants collaborated with their state teams and with peers across the country and participated in sessions that uplift state case studies and national best practices.

Joining Dr. Durán as part of his break out session, “Transformational Transfer Initiatives,” were Ellen Green, legislative director for California Assemblymember Marc Berman; and Jessie Ryan, executive vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity.

The session examined an overview of the strategic policy advocacy, development of a winning coalition, and shifting the narrative around student success that has been essential in these transformational student-centered transfer initiatives.

“California envisioned a higher education system accessible to all, with California community colleges acting as the lynchpin to higher education access through their role as open access institutions,” the session synopsis presented.

“That vision, catalyzed by the California Master Plan for Higher Education of 1960, was re-energized by historic transfer reform over ten years ago with the creation of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT). Students earning ADTs graduate with fewer excess credits, and ADT earners who transfer to the California State University system complete their bachelor’s degrees more quickly.”