At a luncheon hosted by CVHEC in Fresno, some of the Master’s Upskilling Program math mentors swapped stories and reviewed survey results from program participants showing that a majority of participating high school teachers reported positive experiences with both their university coursework and the mentoring component. Attending the event: Jay Thomas, Lemoore College; Jeremy Brandl, Fresno City College; Kristen Rieg, Merced College; Simon Temmerman, Fresno City College; Caroline Dawson, Merced College; Travis McDonald, Fresno City College; and Nate Allen, Fresno City College.

Mentors helping teachers, teachers helping students

Master’s Upskilling Mentor Program using

human connections to transform opportunity in the Central Valley

When Jay Thomas, a math professor at Lemoore College, logs onto a Zoom call with his mentee — a high school teacher deep in the process of earning a master’s degree — he doesn’t see it as just another meeting on his calendar.

“I consider myself a safe space, someone they can talk to,” Thomas said. “We share ideas about curriculum, about pedagogy, but also about how to balance the challenges of graduate school with teaching full-time. It’s about making sure they don’t feel like they’re going through it alone.”

For Thomas and other community college professors across California’s Central Valley, that sense of connection is what makes the Master’s Upskilling Mentorship Program by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium more than just a professional development initiative. It’s personal. At a luncheon in Fresno Aug. 15, Thomas joined almost a dozen colleagues to reflect on their mentoring work through CVHEC and the impact it’s having on teachers, students and the future of education in the region …

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

A sense of tranquility in mourning

Hello CVHEC colleagues and friends,

Please excuse this long message here in our September e-newsletter that starts with presenting some personal thoughts about the loss of a great personal friend. 

On Aug. 25, I joined my higher education colleagues and friends across the Central Valley, the state and the nation in expressing my feelings of sadness, yet tranquility, at the loss of a great human being, friend and former CVHEC colleague Dr. Joseph I. Castro, former chancellor of the California State University system, former president of Fresno State and former chair of the CVHEC Board of Directors, who passed away the day before after battling cancer.

A sense of tranquility prevails in seeing the great outpouring of sentiment extended the past few weeks to Dr. Castro and his wife Mary and children Issac, Bella, Jess and daughter-in-law Marilyn by many friends, and most of his colleagues and students past and present..

On behalf of CVHEC, I joined those expressions with a statement memorializing a man we all knew -- to put it simply and directly -- as truly one of the good guys. Keeping it down to earth, Joe was a valley kid who, after conquering higher education earning his doctorate at Stanford, returned home to serve the Valley and make history as Fresno State president and CSU chancellor.

Along with CVHEC’s statement, we presented a Zoom clip from the Dec. 7, 2020 CVHEC Board of Directors meeting -- Joe’s last as a member representing Fresno State when he moved on to the CSU chancellorship – where his board colleagues at the time, fellow Valley higher ed CEOs, wished him well and saluted him for championing student success, social mobility and first-generation students. Fittingly in that video, upon hearing the admiration of his CEO colleagues from across the valley, Joe ends his closing comments with what had become his signature battle cry during his Fresno State tenure – one that will inspire us well into the years ahead as we face any challenge: “KEEP BEING BOLD ...”

The CVHEC Transfer Project and its “Program Pathways Mapper” software platform has been formally incorporated into the California Community Colleges plan "Vision2030" with state funding approved. It will be presented nationally at the Complete College America national conference later this fall along with the Central Valley Math Bridge Program.

CVHEC Transfer Project, PPM move from ‘demo’ to

CCC ‘Vision 2030’ status; national presentation set

The demonstration status that the Central Valley Transfer Project was conferred by California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian in 2023 has been elevated with the inclusion of the project into the CCC "Vision 2030” the system announced recently.

Simultaneously, the Transfer Project became formalized when the California State Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved state funding for all colleges to align with the “Program Pathways Mapper” software platform. Now, CVHEC announces that its team will present the Transfer Project at the Complete College America national conference later this fall along with the Central Valley Math Bridge Program presented by College Bridge ...

In the “What the CV-HEC is Happening” Blog for our September 2025,  Dr. John Spevak presents an adaptation of a column he wrote for the Aug. 6 issue of The Westside Express touting the effectiveness of higher education, its impact on students and the return on investment (ROI).  Dr. Spevak, who is a vice president-emeritus of Merced College and currently a CVHEC lead, coordinates the English and Math Task Forces for the consortium.

(We welcome feedback as well as ideas for future blog topics: Tom Uribes, cvheccommunications@mail.fresnostate.edu).

Please, no war on college education

… and check out your local community college for true return-on-investment

BY DR. JOHN SPEVAK
CVHEC Math & English Task Force Lead
Vice President-Emeritus – Merced College

It seems these days that there is a war on education, especially on college education.

One national commentator wrote that college is an “overpriced scam.” Another stated that “many college degrees are useless.” I could cite dozens more, but I think most of my readers have heard some pundit say or write something similar.

These commentators believe that college isn’t worthwhile and that it’s too expensive. That may be true in some cases, but community colleges in California, like the college campuses on the Westside of the Central Valley in Los Banos and Firebaugh, prove these statements wrong. Besides these two campuses, I have visited almost all of the other community colleges in California. They are friendly and welcoming to all students and accept 100% of all students who apply ...

From doubt to determination:

First Math Bridge cohort explodes

with success revealing an 88% pass rate

“For many high school students, especially those who struggle

with math, the idea of college can feel distant, even impossible.  

The Math Bridge Project was created to change that trajectory.”

In 2022, CVHEC partnered with College Bridge to expand its Math Bridge program into the Central Valley as a model strategy to align math pathways.  Using dual enrollment college courses as the delivery method, this effort is intended for high school students who have historically struggled with math and might feel they are not college-ready.  Leveraged by K-16 Collaborative state funding, this project has been implemented in two regions of CVHEC’s 10-county service area – Mid-Valley and North Valley – with our sights set on expanding this pioneering program to other regions in the next year. This story by Audra Burwell of College Bridge shares data demonstrating the initiative’s impact to date and how a targeted program like Math Bridge effectively helps rural high school students successfully complete gateway college level courses before graduating from their high school.  Research shows that programs like these with wrap-around services for targeted student populations serve as springboards towards college completion for these students ...

CVHEC SPOTLIGHT

Convening Aug. 15 at UC Merced for a hybrid strategic planning retreat with the CVHEC Board of Directors and team members: (FRONT): Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Fresno State; Flo Dunn, California Health Sciences University; Carla Tweed, Coalinga College; Lena Tran, Yosemite Community College District; Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson, San Joaquin Delta College; Ángel Reyna, Madera Community College; Kim Armstrong, Clovis Community College; Chris Vitelli, Merced College; Kristin Clark, CVHEC; Juan Sánchez Muñoz, University of California Merced. (MIDDLE): Priscilla Arellano, CVHEC; Denise Whisenhunt, Fresno City College; Stacy Pfluger, BakersfieldCollege; Leslie Minor, Taft College; Benjamín Durán, CVHEC; Jerry Buckley, Reedley College. (BACK): Angel Ramirez, CVHEC; Robert Pimentel, West Hills Community College District; James Preston, Lemoore College; Brian Sanders, Modesto Junior College; André Stephens, Fresno Pacific University; Brent Calvin, College of the Sequoias.

Central Valley higher education leaders
convene for strategic planning retreat

CVHEC board sets direction for next 3-5 years with collaborative focus on student success

Leaders from colleges and universities across California’s Central Valley gathered at the University of California, Merced for a one-day strategic planning retreat by the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) Board of Directors Aug. 20.

The session marked an important milestone in the consortium’s 25-year history, as presidents, chancellors and higher education CEOs from across the region came together to chart a bold course for the next three to five years, said Dr. Benjamín Durán, CVHEC executive director.

“This was a ‘roll up your sleeves’ kind of day,” Durán said, reflecting the spirit of the retreat. “It was about open discussion, candid collaboration and making decisions that will set the state and direction for CVHEC ...”

Forbes: UC is nation’s best public university – UC Merced in Top 10

When it comes to producing high-earning graduates with less student debt, the University of California is the best of the best, a new Forbes ranking finds, placing UC campuses in all 3 top spots among public universities in the country including CVHEC-member UC Merced, which observes its 20th anniversary.

CSUB enrollment returns to pre-pandemic levels for fall semester

The number of students enrolled at California State University, Bakersfield this fall is expected to exceed 11,000 — a number the local university hasn’t reached since the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary but significant dip in student enrollment.

“Right now, our total population is 10,987,” CSUB President Vernon B. Harper Jr. told The Californian on  the first day of the fall semester Aug. 19. “That’s a 9½ percent increase over last year. This is one of the highest fall enrollments in the last 10 years.”

King J. Richter gifts over $20 million to FPU for scholarships

A longtime friend and supporter of Fresno Pacific University has left the university a transformational legacy to benefit students. King J. Richter has given FPU $21.9 million to create endowed scholarships for FPU students. This largest-ever gift to FPU is believed to be the second largest public charitable contribution in Central Valley history, following a $29.4 million gift to the Fresno State College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in 2009.

Dolores Huerta icon to keynote Clovis CC National Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Sept. 15

Renowned labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta will highlight the Clovis Community College Hispanic Heritage Month opening celebration Sept.18. Under the theme “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” the celebration recognizes the vibrant culture, history and contributions of the Latino community through a series of engaging events and activities.

UC Merced students and families feeding into downtown economy

ABC30 Fresno takes a look at how one CVHEC member stimulates its local economy.

Stan State president talks budget concerns, reveals projects

Delivering her fall welcome address Aug. 20, the first day of instruction at Stanislaus State University,  President Britt Rios-Ellis discussed faculty and student achievements, upcoming projects and the state of higher education amid budget concerns. Though education budget cuts are being made across the nation, Rios-Ellis said, the university made “considerable progress” with its $13.65 million deficit.

Fresno State is one of the most affordable schools in the US

Fresno State is one of the most accessible schools in the country, according to Washington Monthly magazine.The magazine ranked the state university as No. 2 out of more than 1,400 institutions across the nation on its list of the Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars. The publication analyzed the schools based on how much they help low income students pursue degrees — and graduate without massive amounts of debt.

UC Merced to Host Inaugural Safety Conference Sept. 23-24

Registration is open for the UC Merced Safety Conference 2025 set for Sept. 23-24. Designed to enhance campus safety and foster a culture of preparedness., the event equips participants with the knowledge, skills and collaborative skills needed to strengthen safety across educational institutions. Attendees may gain new skills, explore best practices from industry leaders, learn real-world disaster experiences and build stronger networks through information sharing with colleagues from universities, colleges, K-12 schools, behavioral health experts and public safety organizations.

Vision 2030 Regional Convening

seeks presenters by Oct. 3

The Central Valley Mother Lode invites experienced practitioners, industry leaders and innovative educators to present at its upcoming Vision 2030 Regional Convening set for Nov. 5-6 in Bakersfield. The Request for Presenters seeks presenters to lead breakout sessions that advance CVML work with commitment to equity, student success and economic mobility. The deadline to submit session information is Oct. 3.

CVHEC members are encouraged to submit major news items for inclusion in Board/Member News: cvheccommunicatons@mail.fresnostate.edu

Please submit higher education events

for the CVHEC Calendar to: CVHECinfo@mail.fresnostate.edu

Higher education journalists are invited to use our Central Valley Higher Education Consortium PIO/Communicators Committee page featuring contact information for media relations professionals at our 28-member campuses across the Central Valley, from Stockton to Bakersfield, and links to their respective news websites.

Editorial content welcome — We encourage members and partners to submit editorial content for newsletter consideration.