CVHEC Website Feature: English Task Force Page

CVHEC English Task Force examines
various topics including AB 705, AB1705

The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium launches a new web page this month featuring its two intersegmental task forces consisting of math and English educators representing CVHEC community college member institutions.

First formed in 2019, the mission of the English and Math Task Forces is to streamline math and English pathways for students by examining topics and issues of those disciplines and recent legislation as part of CVHEC’s mission: improve certificate and degree completion rates in the nine-county region from San Joaquin to Kern.

Coordinated by Dr. John Spevak, one of CVHEC’s coordinators and a former Merced College vice president, the task forces consist of representatives from each of the 15 community college members in the region that are part of the 28-member consortium.

They meet periodically via Zoom with the next Math Task Force meeting planned for early fall and the English Task Force set for mid-fall.

Lately, the English Task Force with 18 representatives and the Math Task Force with 20 representatives “collaborate by sharing ideas, concerns and suggestions surrounding this legislation (AB1705) for our students’ progress,” Dr. Spevak said.

Pre-pandemic the task forces hosted workshops to provide technical assistance directly to CVHEC members supporting faculty professional development.

Current conversations in the English Task Force include:

• the continuing implementation of AB 705, AB1705 including through-put results;
• comparing the success of online, in-person, hybrid and hyflex modes;
• the student mindset after COVID;
• artificial intelligence within English classes;
• ensuring course outlines equitably represent the desired outcomes of the course;
• collecting and analyzing data to improve student success; and
• media literacy within English courses among many other topics.

In the Math Task Force, discussions have centered around:

• preparing for implementation of AB 1705 on July 1, 2024;
• continued implementation of AB 705 and challenges math professors face;
• working with the University of Texas, Auston’s Dana Center on best current national practices in teaching college math;
• pursuing CVHEC’s Math Bridge project that will align high school and college math course outlines and includes new approaches to dual enrollment in math courses; and
• collecting and analyzing data to improve student success among many other topics.

“CVHEC believes that when these professional educators convene to share updates, concerns and ideas with their colleagues across the valley, it is helpful to all concerned and helps the Central Valley be a leader in best practices,” Spevak said.  “Each member is bright, congenial and above all dedicated to student success.”

For more info see the web page or email centralvalleyhec@gmail.com. [web page link to come]

CVHEC Media Contact: Tom Uribes (559.348.3278) cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu

 CVHEC English Task Force

The 20 members of the CVHEC English Task Force are English professors except where noted otherwise:

Jennifer Jett
Bakersfield College

Gary Enns
Cerro Coso Community College

Teresa Mendes
Clovis Community College

Erik Armstrong
College of the Sequoias

Craig Johnson
Columbia College

Jacqueline Williams
Fresno City College

Tina  Ramsey
Madera Community College

Michael  Barba
Merced College

Jeremy T. Mumford, MA, MFA
Merced_College

Chandra Howard
Modesto Junior College

Jillian Daly
Modesto Junior College

Melissa  Long
Porterville College

Carey Karle
Reedley College

Eileen Apperson
Reedley College

John Clanton
San Joaquin Delta College

See also: Math Task Force