Contact

Central Valley Higher Education Consortium

Dr. Benjamin Duran
Acting Executive Director

UC Merced Center – Fresno
550 E Shaw Avenue Suite 100
Fresno CA 93710

 

collegenext.org

Challenge

The San Joaquin Valley’s economic success depends on a skilled workforce prepared for knowledge-based jobs. However, the education gap of Valley residents is significant – U.S. Census shows that only 15 percent of adults (during 25 years) have a bachelor’s degree compared to 28 percent statewide. The need for meaningful collaboration between higher education institutions and industry has never been more critical to develop a skilled workforce.

Focus

The Higher Education Work Group focuses on aligning workforce development resources to the needs of target industries that are thriving in the San Joaquin Valley – agribusiness, manufacturing, supply chain management and logistics, health and medical care, and renewable energy. The work group recognizes the need for an educated workforce in the Valley and is working to create a college-going culture that prepares students for success in the workplace.

Priority 3 | Higher Education

Two-year and four-year institution collaboration to increase student transfer rate; Establish Central Valley higher education policy and advocacy; Encourage Valley higher education to provide programs that meet workforce needs of employers; Support collaborative initiatives including professional development and data collection analysis.

Focus

Enhancing cooperation between two-year and four-year institutions to increase student transfer rate

Establishing an effective policy voice and effective advocacy for higher education in the Central Valley

Encouraging Valley higher education institutions to provide programs that meet the workforce preparation needs of Valley employers

Supporting effectiveness of member institutions through appropriate collaborative initiatives including professional development and data collection analysis

2017 3rd Quarter Report

Central Valley Higher Education Capacity Building
The Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) wrote a grant proposal to the College Futures Foundation for capacity building. The grant was submitted May 2017 and was awarded July 2017. The grant has allowed CVHEC to strengthen the reach of its regional footprint by expanding staff to include Regional Coordinators that will facilitate CVHEC strategies throughout the Central Valley region from Stockton to Bakersfield.

CVHEC Regional Coordinator Visits
CVHEC on-boarded two Regional Coordinators to facilitate CVHEC strategies in the Northern and Southern Region in September 2017. The College Futures Foundation also allowed the capacity expansion of CVHEC’s Strategies Lead to serve the central region.

See the Full 2017 3rd Quarter Report