AB1705 udpate: Math Task Force Convening draws state higher ed officials
Oct. 25: “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond”
BY DR. JOHN SPEVAK Math and English Task Forces Coordinator - Central Valley Higher Education Consortium
With our Oct. 25 math gathering, “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond,” in Clovis a few weeks away, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium presents our agenda for the day that includes a few new developments for the dedicated and persevering math educators of our Math Task Force who have been engaged in hearty discussions regarding implementation of AB 1705 the past year-plus for the benefit of our region’s students.
First a reminder for those who haven’t already, please register as soon as you reasonably can for the free convening, which I again have the honor of co-facilitating with Tammi Perez-Rice of the Charles A. Dana Center (University of Texas at Austin). Thank you to the 61 participants who have registered for this free event which will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clovis Community College Herndon campus (390 W. Fir Ave. in Clovis) and includes breakfast (8 a.m.) and lunch.
The task force’s successful discourse has drawn great interest not only around our region but in the state and even nationally and we are pleased to announce that representatives of the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and University of California Presidents Office will participate. And, the task force has gained national math attention evidenced by the invitation for our three strand leaders to present about the “Central Valley Way to Math Success” collaboration at the annual conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) in Atlanta Nov. 14-17 though the Dana Center. Making the trip will be Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College.
So, what do we have in store for this fourth in-person convening in this mission of math educators from CVHEC’s member community colleges and K-12 partners -- in addition to great discussions along the way with significant time for sharing in the afternoon? ...
environments for successful collegiate experiences
Greetings CVHEC friends and colleagues ...
We are delighted to share the October CVHEC e-newsletter with you and welcome you to enjoy the content we have prepared as this fall 2024 semester moves into high gear.
In this edition, we congratulate and welcome Dr. Vernon Harper as the newly installed president of California State University, Bakersfield. Please join us in reaching out to him with well wishes.
We also congratulate and welcome Dr. Todd Hampton as the newly appointed interim superintendent/president of the West Kern Community College District/Taft College. Both Dr. Harper and Dr. Hampton bring strong leadership to the students in Kern County and to our CVHEC Board of Directors.
You will also see the continuing efforts in the Central Valley by our member institutions to create a rich learning environment to make our students successful as they strive to complete their post-secondary education. You will see references to two upcoming convenings that will highlight these efforts the “The Central Valley Way to AB 1705 Success and Beyond” later this month and the Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity (CVDEEP) Task Force Convening next month.
For the first convening Oct. 25, read about the CVHEC Math Task Force bringing together regional mathematics faculty to continue addressing challenges and barriers resulting from Assembly Bill 1705. These math professionals have worked through the summer and into the fall semester to develop strategies for delivering math solutions for many students and sharing them with their colleagues in the region for compliance with the state legislation.
We are especially proud that two of these faculty members have been invited to represent the Central Valley by delivering a session at a national mathematics convention in Atlanta, Georgia this November. It is so good to see our region receiving national attention for the good work of our faculty. Congratulations Jeremy Brandl of Fresno City College and Shelley Getty of Taft College.
For the CVDEEP Task Force convening Nov. 14, we will see college and university professionals highlighting their work around delivering college level courses to high school students from rural high schools using an online dual enrollment strategy as a vehicle to reach populations that do not typically have the opportunity to benefit from taking college level courses while still in high school. This is a great way to infuse equity and inclusion into our partner institutions for those students who will benefit from getting a jump-start on gateway college courses that are essential for the successful completion of their degrees and certificates.
We will also be participating in some conferences of our own. CVHEC representatives will be at the California Economic Summit Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento and the Complete College America National Conference Nov. 18-20 in Indianapolis where we hope to re-connect with many of our partners across the state and nation and meet new ones.
This month’s “What the CV-HEC is Happening Blog” is by guest blogger Marni Cahoon, a Taft College math professor, reflecting on the successful dual enrollment venture our consortium member in the West Kern Community College District has implemented
Lastly, enjoy highlights of CVHEC member institutions and other topics we thought would be of interest.
The event, presented by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree Inn in downtown Fresno, will focus on creating a strategic plan for dual enrollment in the Central Valley, policy changes and support, and student success and equity.
Through dual enrollment, high school students earn college credits while earning their high school diploma which increases their chances of earning credentials, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees as expeditiously as possible. Since 2019, the region has reported the highest share of community college students simultaneously enrolled in K-12 schools of any region in the state.
Dr. Benjamin Durán, CVHEC executive director, said the dual enrollment opportunity provides a timely gateway to meaningful careers with sufficient earnings to support a quality of life for themselves and their families.
“At this convening, we will see college and university professionals highlighting their work around delivering college level courses to high school students from rural high schools using an online dual enrollment strategy as a vehicle to reach populations that do not typically have the opportunity to benefit from taking college level courses while still in high school,” said Durán, who also is president-emeritus of Merced College. “This is a great way to infuse equity and inclusion into our partner institutions for those students who will benefit from getting a jump-start on gateway college courses that are essential for the successful completion of their degrees and certificates.” ...
This month, theCentral Valley Higher Education Consortiumannounces the return of our Central Valley Dual Enrollment for Equity and Prosperity (CVDEEP) Task Force Convening set for Nov. 14. So for our “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog this issue, we take a look at one member’s approach to dual enrollment at Taft College. Marni Cahoon, M.S., adjunct instructor of mathematics for the West Kern Community College District, recounts the road the Taft College faculty traveled to establish a program that helps its students face challenges on their academic journey with a renewed sense of hope and accomplishment. An alumna of University of Alaska, Southeast, Brigham Young University and the University of West Florida, Prof. Cahoon has been teaching at Taft since 2022.
The CVHEC blog features perspectives about the higher education community and issues. Submissions are welcome for consideration: send to Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Dual enrollment: overcoming higher ed obstacles ‘… a force for opening college opportunities to more of our students’
BY MARNI CAHOON, M.S. Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics - Taft College (West Kern Community College District)
During the 2022-2023 school year, I had the opportunity to teach the first dual enrollment mathematics course taught through Taft College on the campus of Taft Union High School in Taft, CA. Taft is a small tight-knit community on the southwest edge of the San Joaquin Valley, and about a 45-minute drive to Bakersfield. Historically, Taft exists because of the presence of oil fields; indeed, many are still employed in this industry. As with much of the San Joaquin Valley, there is also a strong agricultural presence here.
Before embarking on my adventures at Taft High, I sought to understand the population I would be working with. At that time the latest data available was from the 2021-2022 school year. I found that Taft High serves a predominantly minority population with over 82% of students considered socioeconomically disadvantaged. Unfortunately, the latest test scores also showed that only 9% of Taft High students tested met or exceeded state standards in mathematics. Economic disadvantages and low test scores combined with local industries not known for encouraging college education have perhaps left Taft High students less likely or seemingly unable to pursue higher education. I see dual enrollment as vital to overcoming obstacles to higher education within my community ....
The WE Will! K-16 Educational Collaborative held its "All Partner Collaboration Convening" at Stanislaus State Sept. 26 including partners in two CVHEC initiatives funded for the North Valley: the Masters Upskilling Project, which is now recruiting high school teachers (see below), and the Central Valley Math Bridge Program.
North Valley Masters Upskilling Program begins recruiting -- info sessions set
WE Will! funding helps North Valley high school teachers offset tuition for Masters Upskilling Program
Recruitment is now underway for a cohort of North Valley high school teachers interested in earning a master’s degree that will qualify them to teach college dual enrollment. Information sessions are available this month.
In partnership with two CVHEC-members — Fresno Pacific University and National University along with CVHEC member community colleges and their service-area high schools — the program recruits and helps fund tuition for existing high school math and English teachers to earn a master’s so they can teach dual enrollment courses in those subjects on their high school campuses.
The grant is one of two awarded to CVHEC that will serve northern CVHEC member counties over the next three years. It supports 12 high school English and 12 high school math teachers to offset much of the cost of this upskilling coursework and provide them with community college mentors to support them in their role as college instructors, said Tom Burke, CVHEC’s Master’s Upskilling Program coordinator.
CVHEC is now working with Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties Superintendent of Schools Offices to recruit high school teachers seeking this opportunity as well as with regional community colleges to identify mentors for the participating teachers.
The first cohorts are set to begin in spring 2025 and high school teachers may learn more about admission at upcoming online information sessions Oct. 8 and 22 for math (Fresno Pacific) and Oct. 8 and 23 for (English (National) ...
Two chief executive officer appointments for Central Valley Higher Education Consortium member institutions were announced in the past month beginning with California State University, Bakersfield where Dr. Vernon B. Harper (left) was appointed president effective Sept. 25 after serving as interim president since December. Dr. Todd Hampton (right) was named interim superintendent/president of West Kern Community College District/Taft College.
As CEOs of CVHEC member institutions of higher education, the pair serve on the consortium board of directors although President Harper has been serving since his interim appointment in December. [MORE]
• CHSU Welcomes Over 150 New Medical Students into the Osteopathic Medical Community[MORE]
• SJV-MedBridge, the Fresno Regional Hub of the California Medicine Scholars Program, recruiting community college students[MORE]
• Integrated Teacher Education Program for Visalia teacher ed with south valley community colleges[MORE]
• Fresno State's 9th annual Feria de Educación is Oct. 5[MORE]
• Merced College: Central Valley effort aims to train farmworkers to master the technology replacing fieldwork [MORE]
• UC Merced and LACCD Forge New Transfer Pathway to Boost Student Access, Success [MORE]
CVHEC SPOTLIGHT
A college degree in high school? More Valley students doing it
A news report by EdSource reporter Rachel Livinal reveals an increase in K-12 students in the San Joaquin Valley either taking college courses or earning an associate of arts degree. The number of students who obtained an associates degree while 19 years old or under skyrocketed from 2018 to 2020, she wrote, with the largest increases occurred in Tulare and Fresno Counties.
"Central Valley leads the state in dual high school-college enrollment, Since 2019, the region has reported the highest share of community college students simultaneously enrolled in K-12 schools of any region in the state. That’s particularly true at community colleges, and the Valley has led the shift. Last fall, 31% of students enrolled at community colleges in the Central Valley were simultaneously enrolled in grades K-12 — the highest of any region in the state."See EdSource. Also hear the podcast.
One of California’s top higher education advocacy groups, the Campaign for College Opportunity, has a new leader. Jessie Ryan, who took over as president of the organization on July 1, has worked at the campaign for 19 years, most recently as an executive vice president. - [EdSource]
• UC, Cal State, community colleges should work together to boost transfer rates, auditor says -[EdSource]
• Community colleges: Only 1 in 5 students transfer to a university - [CalMatters]
• Cal State campuses brace for 'severe consequences' as budget gap looms - [CalMatters]
• Big drop in enrollment of low-income undocumented students at California’s public universities - [EdSource]
MEDIA NOTE: Connect with CVHEC’s campus communicators/PIOs
Higher education journalists are invited to use our Central Valley Higher Education Consortium PIO/Communicators Commiteepage that features contact info for media relations professionals at our 28-member campuses across the Central Valley, from Stockton to Bakersfield including links to their respective news websites.
For CVHEC media inquiries: Tom Uribes, 559.348.3278 / cvheccommunicatons@mail.fresnostate.edu (or button below).
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) is a California non-profit
made up of 28-instutitions of higher education in the 10-county region from San Joaquin to Kern
that is the size of some states. Through CVHEC, higher education professionals and academicians in the Central Valley address difficult and complex initiatives, scaling them up across the region for
mutual effectivenessto serve our students and communities.
A college degree in high school? More Valley students doing it 
• CVHEC representatives will participate in two upcoming conferences: the 
Campaign for College Opportunity’s new president
