Complete College America shines national spotlight on CVHEC

(FEB. 11, 2026) — In its January newsletter, Complete College America highlighted a story published in the CVHEC January newsletter covering the two workshops the consortium presented at CCA’s national conference last fall:  the Central Valley Transfer Project and the Central Valley Math Bridge Project.

CCA is a national non-profit organization founded in 2009 that works with states, systems and institutions to significantly increase college completion rates and close attainment gaps for underrepresented students.

At CCA’s “NEXT: The 2025 Complete College America (CCA) Annual Convening,” held Nov. 17–19 in Baltimore, CVHEC Executive Director Benjamín Durán led the CVHEC delegation of Ángel Ramírez, associate director; Tom Burke, transfer co-lead and chancellor-emeritus of the Kern Community College District; and Dr. Kristin Clark, CVHEC dual enrollment lead.

Joining them were Jennifer Johnson of the Foundation for California Community Colleges who presented on the Transfer Project session with Burke and Durán; and Owynn Lancaster, College Bridge vice president who presented on the Math Bridge session with Durán.

“It is a tribute to the great work going on in Central Valley colleges and universities to be acknowledged at the national level especially by Complete College America,” Duran said. “Our newsletter story by our comms lead Tom Uribes that was highlighted by CCA also touts the great work CVHEC member institutions’ faculty and staff are doing in the region.”

The CCA newsletter mention:

Alliance Member Spotlight: Central Valley Innovation Takes Center Stage Want a preview of what you’ll experience at the 2026 CCA Annual Convening in San Diego? Learn more from a CCA Alliance member, Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC), with two groundbreaking initiatives showcased at NEXT 2025 in Baltimore this past November. Led by Executive Director Dr. Benjamín Durán, who also serves as a CCA Alliance lead, the CVHEC team presented sessions on the Central Valley Transfer Project and the Central Valley Math Bridge Program—both demonstrating how regional collaboration can produce scalable, statewide impact. The Central Valley Transfer Project has been so successful in breaking down barriers between California’s community colleges and four-year institutions that it was adopted as a statewide demonstration model and fully incorporated into the California Community Colleges’ Vision 2030. The Math Bridge Program is achieving an impressive 88 percent pass rate while closing learning gaps and smoothing transitions from high school to community college. This is exactly the kind of innovative, actionable work you’ll discover at our Annual Convening—where education leaders from across the country share proven strategies, forge new partnerships, and take home concrete solutions to scale student success. Join us in San Diego this December to be part of these transformative conversations. Read the full story about CVHEC’s impact at the national convening.