We are delighted to present the June 2021 CVHEC Newsletter as we welcome a much anticipated culmination of the 2020/21 Academic Year. This is our 10th issue since we began publishing a year ago.
It was a delight to see commencement exercises in various forms on CVHEC member college and university campuses throughout the region where students and families once again celebrated degree attainments during this magical and life-changing time of the year.
And we are happy to report that due to the efforts of dedicated faculty, staff and administrators across the Central Valley, degree attainment numbers are on the rise.
In this issue we welcome some new members to the CVHEC Board of Directors and say goodbye to those who are leaving us for other opportunities.
We also are happy to announce that as the world strives to return to normalcy, we too will present our annual CVHEC Higher Education Legislative and Policy Summit live, in-person Dec. 2 and 3. Be on the lookout for a save--the-date notice for the event followed by additional communications with specifics for registration and other pertinent details.
Our newsletter will be on summer hiatus for July but watch for our next issue in August as we usher in the fall 2021 semester with a new hope and optimism for a more sane and open post-pandemic world.
Board News: Congratulations to our New Presidents
Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval is First
Immigrant to Head Fresno State
Saúl Jiménez- Sandoval, Ph.D., became Fresno State’s ninth president May 19 when the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees announced his selection to succeed Joseph I. Castro who was named Chancellor last fall.See full story.
Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay is
Modesto Junior College President
Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, named president of Modesto Junior College effective June 1, said growing enrollment and forging meaningful alliances with regional employers are among his immediate goals. See full story.
Interim Presidents Named at Bakersfield,
Columbia, West Hills-Lemoore Colleges
• Bakersfield College–Dr. Zav Dadabhoy was named to replace Dr. Sonya Christian who is now the chancellor of the Kern Community College District.
• Columbia College – Dr. G.H. Javaheripour, effective July 1, to replace Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, who is now president of Modesto Jr. College.
• West Hills College Lemoore – Dr. James Preston, effective July 1, following current President Kristin Clark's selection as West Hills Community College District Chancellor.
Mini-Grant Success Stories – Modesto Junior College
MJC’s Faculty Mentor
Plan Supports AB705
Modesto Junior College recently used its Central Valley Higher Education Consortium Mini-Grant to support compliance with California Assembly Bill 705 by funding a faculty mentor program that embedded adjunct faculty into accelerated/co-requisite English and math courses during the Spring 2021 semester, addressing the key elements of persistence; time to degree; and decreasing equity gap.
“Modesto Junior College’s use of the grant funds is the epitome of the benefits we seek when
distributing the mini-grants,” said Dr. Ben Durán, CVHEC executive director.
“The grants are intended to spur up creative approaches to institutionalizing equitable systems. Modesto College has done just that.”
CCA Podcast Features CVHEC Equity, Race and Social Justice Taskforce June 22
A new podcast series by Complete College America, “CCA On the Air,” will feature Virginia Madrid-Salazar, strategies lead for the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium, discussing “Committing to Systemic Equitable Change” June 22.
Streaming on all platforms since February, the podcast’s short episodes feature candid conversations with higher education leaders on a variety of topics related to student success, college completion and advancing CCA’s mission, said Brandon Protas, Ed. D., who is the strategy director for Complete College America.
