Valley higher education leaders discuss ‘COVID-19’ plans for fall semester
Valley higher education leaders discuss ‘COVID-19’ plans for fall semester
(JUNE 26, 2020) – The Central Valley’s 27 college and university presidents and chancellors reported today that
most of them will resume the remote education environment they implemented in the spring semester when the
coronavirus pandemic swept the world.
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) board of directors met Friday morning via Zoom to share
their respective fall 2020 campus plans.
Overall, remote instruction will continue as a necessity to keep students, faculty and staff safe until a COVID-19
vaccine is available, said Dr. Benjamin T. Duran, executive director of CVHEC, a non-profit organization
representing a 27-member strong consortium of accredited public and private colleges, universities, and
community college district members from San Joaquin to Kern counties.
“Some campuses will use a hybrid of remote and in-person courses for certain cases such as required labs,” said
Duran, who also is President Emeritus of Merced College. “All campuses will continue to practice COVID-19 safety
protocols as recommended by local health departments, California Department of Public Health and Centers for
Disease Control for on-campus instruction and for those working on campuses.”
Today’s call was similar to other calls the presidents and chancellors have shared throughout the COVID-19 crisis,
and have helped to stabilize educational delivery in the Central Valley during this academic upheaval. The CVHEC
Board COVID-19 meetings have given the presidents and chancellors an opportunity to reflect and confer on the
decisions being made throughout this crisis.
“As they have done on many issues in the past, these CEOs are pulling together to make sure their current
students’ academic needs and general well-being, as well as faculty and staff, are not compromised,” Duran said.
See the CVHEC COVID-19 resources page with links to each campus update.
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a 501(c)3 incorporated non-profit organization comprised of all 27 accredited public and private colleges, universities, and community college district members in California’s Central Valley nine-county region (San Joaquin to Kern counties). CVHEC serves as the convener and executes the policy objectives of the CVHEC Board that is made up of the presidents, chancellors and other administrators of these institutions of higher education. A key CVHEC objective is to increase the Central Valley’s degree attainment rate. The organization also works closely with legislative leaders as an advocate for the higher education policy positions of the CVHEC board).
Dr. Duran was invited to participate in “Línea Abierta” to discuss the local impact. Hear a Radio Bilingue interview with Dr. Ben Duran (Spanish) : Starts at 46:10
