New CVHEC Video: ‘Blurring the Lines Between High School and College: Dual Enrollment in the Central Valley’
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium released its latest education video this week, “Blurring the Lines Between High School and College: Dual Enrollment in the Central Valley.”
The five-minute video, which premiered publicly at CVHEC’s Dual Enrollment Convening March 17, depicts three student success stories as well as three area educators advocating for dual enrollment. It highlights the need for intersegmental collaboration in providing dual enrollment opportunities for all students as a way not only to help students get a jumpstart on their college education – saving costs and time – but also to help close the equity gap.
The video presents Dr. Kristin Clark, chancellor of the West Hills Community College District and chair of the CVHEC board of directors; Dr. Chris Vitelli, president/superintendent of Merced College; and McKenna Salazar, college and career engagement specialist for the Tulare County Office of Education.
Three students featured included one, Nataly Frias, who earned an associate degree from Merced College last May at age 18 a few weeks before receiving her Turlock High School diploma and is now enrolled in upper-division courses for a degree in psychology at Fresno State. Nataly was also featured in the CVHEC e-newsletter in September.
The other two students are currently enrolled in high school and shared their experience with dual enrollment as they learn the challenges and benefits of college courses: Isaac Bates, a Corcoran High School senior taking dual enrollment courses from College of the Sequoias; and Alicia Bias, a Washington Union High School senior taking Fresno City College courses where she is completing clinical labs for a medical assisting certification.
The three also made a live appearance at last week’s CVDEEP convening serving on the student panel sharing their experiences, moderated by President Vitelli.
CVHEC Executive Director Benjamín Durán said this video articulates the value of dual enrollment for both the students and the campuses while helping close the equity gap.
“The video portrays the success story of three Central Valley students who have made the most of the dual enrollment opportunity afforded to them,” Duran said. “They represent why we do this sometimes overwhelming but satisfying educational work and it’s satisfying seeing that our efforts have the concrete results these students demonstrate.”
He said the CVHEC video is available for use by anyone who wishes to help promote the value of dual enrollment: https://bit.ly/CVHECeNewsMARCH22.
The video project was coordinated by Tom Uribes, CVHEC media and communications specialist and retired Fresno State public information officer, and produced by the Fenceline Media crew of Fresno area journalists Juanita Stephenson and Justin Davis.
