This year the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium presents our first summer edition as we take a three-month hiatus from publishing the monthly newsletter by presenting this special issue. It recaps highlights of the first half of 2023 captured each month from January to May when we reached our 30th edition milestone in three years of publication. Some sample headlines:
As I was preparing to write the introduction for this special summer edition of our e-newsletter, the much anticipated, but still devastating, decision by the United States Supreme Court to strike down Affirmative Action burst into the national scene June 29 sending my phone into non-stop notifications from family and higher ed colleagues beset with disappointment and anger.
And, as the country was reeling from that monumental decision, SCOTUS took further action to declare unconstitutional President Biden’s efforts to bring some relief to those holding student loans.
In one week -- after decades of progress -- equity, diversity and access in higher education were simultaneously under attack.
However, I offer that this Supreme Court ruling is not the death of Affirmative Action but rather a challenge to renew and reinforce its spirit and outcomes.
Upon hearing the news and fielding those phone calls, I thought back to 1996 when California voters passed Proposition 209, effectively ending Affirmative Action in California; and even back to the University of California vs Bakke case in 1976. Having spent decades in higher education first as a student and mostly as a professional educator, I reflected on and contemplated how California dealt with those landmark decisions.
I recalled that, despite the initial impacts from those decisions that have cost countless students of color the chance to earn a higher education, advocates and colleagues here in California have nonetheless long embraced the quest for equity in pursuit of student populations that reflect the rich diversity of our state despite legislation and court action to the contrary.
Following that elimination of Affirmative Action in our state 27 years ago, educators in our four segments of higher education -- the University of California, the California State University System, the California Community College System and the Independent Colleges and Universities -- initiated new strategies and initiatives to attract and enroll students from underrepresented groups that had been targeted by Proposition 209 and the Bakke case.
Yes we made some gains in the face of anti-Affirmative Action adversity here in California but there is still more work to do, especially as evidenced by these new Supreme Court rulings ...
For this summer edition of our “What the CV-HEC is Happening” blog, we feature part two of California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian, Ph.D, with this podcast interview by Dr. Larry Galizio, president and CEO of the Community College League of California. With more than three decades of experience at all levels of community college leadership, Chancellor Christian was appointed in February becoming the first woman and the first person of South Asian heritage namedto the permanent role leading the 116-college system. Dr. Christian, who began her term July 1, served on the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Board of Directors when she was president of Bakersfield College and chancellor of the Kern Community College District. In this interview for CCLC’s podcast “Leading Community Colleges in California,” the new CCC chancellor talks about her family's commitment to education, the importance of equity for students and communities and dual enrollment opportunities as a seamless gateway to college.
Dr. Henry C. V. Yong, YCCD chancellor (left) and Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz, UC Merced Chancellor following the signing of the Merced Promise Pathway MOU July 11. Both are CVHEC board members.
'Merced Promise Pathway' streamlines path for
Modesto JC, Columbia College student transfer to UC Merced
Students at Modesto Junior College and Columbia College will have increased access to University of California, Merced thanks to an agreement between the university and Yosemite Community College District.
Known as the Merced Promise Pathway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the agreement between the three Central Valley Higher Education Consortium members provides a clear, streamlined pathway to UC Merced for MJC and Columbia students as well as a variety of supports to help them prepare for life at a four-year university.
YCCD Chancellor Henry C. V. Yong called the agreement “a great day for our students and residents in our district,” which covers all or parts of Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Santa Clara counties.
“With this agreement, our students’ futures are now brighter and more promising,” said Yong, who signed the MOU with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz at a ceremony on the university campus July 11.
The UC leader said the Merced Promise Pathway will help his campus achieve one of its key goals from its founding in 2005 ...
A collaboration that prepares at-risk students and low-income residents for careers in IT-cybersecurity is set to launch this fall by Fresno State, Fresno City College and the Fresno County Public Library system.
Fresno State, which with FCC is a member of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, was one of five minority-serving institutions to receive a portion of over $18.5 million in “Internet for All” funding meant to expand community technology hubs, upgrade classroom technology and increase digital literacy skills.
Participants can choose from a variety of on- and off-ramps from the program, such as basic digital literacy certificates at the Fresno County Library, an intermediate cyber technician certificate at Fresno City College, or an advanced cybersecurity certificate at Fresno State, according to Amith Belman, assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Fresno State and co-principal investigator on the grant ...
Also join us for the CVHEC Board of Directors Summit Reception on Thursday, Oct. 19 (5:30 – 7:30 p.m.) at Arte Americas following the board’s quarterly meeting that day.
Sponsored by the College Futures Foundation, the summit is expected to draw 150-200 higher education officials and educators, legislators and partner representatives for discussion and action regarding Dual Enrollment, our Central Valley Transfer Model, Math Pathways and more.
FCC Pres. Robert Pimentel
WHCCD Chancellor Kristin Clark (CVHEC board president) and WHCC President Carla Tweed
CSUB President Zelezny to retire President Lynnette Zelezny — who made history as the first woman to lead California State University, Bakersfield — announced last month that she will retire Dec. 31. (MORE)
Cerro Coso College begins sports complex renovations Cerro Coso Community College holds groundbreaking ceremony for its $18 million Outdoor Sports Complex Renovation. (MORE)
Fresno City College's new West Center open houses Aug. 4-5 Fresno City College’s West Fresno Center will open its doors to students for the start of classes Aug. 7 with staff moving into the facility beginning July 31 and two open housed planned for Aug. 4-5.(MORE)
Merced College plaza unveiled; historic commencements Merced College unveiled its Hermione Isakow Plaza on campus during President Chris Vitelli’s State of the College address after celebrating its 60th commencement and for the first time, a full commencement ceremony at its Los Baños Campus. (MORE)
Modesto JC President search will resume in the fall After careful deliberation and consultation, the Yosemite Community College District has extended its search for the next Modesto Junior College president into the fall. Dr. Chad Redwing will remain as interim president.(MORE)
West Hills College Coalinga wins Gold in Fresno Bee's People Choice Awards for Best College/University Congratulations to three Central Valley Higher Education Consortium members for earning the Fresno Bee's Best of Central California People Choice Awards forBest College/University including West Hills College Coalinga receiving the Gold Award. Fresno State won the Silver Award and West Hills College Lemoore earned the bronze. (MORE)
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a 28-member strong consortium. The Central Valley is leading the state as a region taking on difficult and complex initiatives and scaling them up in a region the size of some states.
CVHEC speaks in a single voice on higher education policy issues that affect our region. A goal of the consortium is to increase Central Valley’s certificate and degree attainment rates. CVHEC is best described as a regional convener on post-secondary equitable work.
