Wheelhouse: The Center for Community College Leadership and Research

In collaboration with the California Education Lab and Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), Wheelhouse at UC Davis has just released an updated report on dual enrollment (Link here: https://lnkd.in/gu75rzaS) participation among public high school graduates in California. Extending findings from 2020, this new analysis includes students who graduated since the COVID-19 pandemic and reveals important trends: ?? Key Findings: - Dual enrollment participation remains significantly higher than it was six years ago across all racial/ethnic subgroups, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and youth in foster care. - Despite early progress, participation has plateaued in recent years, and equity gaps have widened since the pandemic. Link here: https://lnkd.in/gu75rzaS In addition, Wheelhouse, the California Education Lab, and PACE have also released an appendix to A Strong Start for College and Career, published in February 2024. This appendix provides county-level data on dual enrollment participation for 9th-12th graders in 2021-22 and may offer invaluable insights for education leaders, policymakers, and advocates across the state.? We aim to empower California’s educational community with research that fosters equitable college and career pathways for all students. Link to appendix here: https://lnkd.in/gF-W7PBn #HigherEd #CaliforniaCommunityColleges #EquityInEducation #DualEnrollment #PolicyInnovation #EducationalLeadership #UCDavis #Wheelhouse

The energy and exchange of ideas at our first 2024 Advancing Leaders and CEO Institutes at UCLA were electric, thanks to our incredible Wheelhouse faculty. Heartfelt gratitude to these exceptional teachers, facilitators, scholars, and friends: Eddie R. Cole, Professor of Education and History at UCLA and author of The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom,? underscored the pivotal, powerful place college presidents hold – as much now as in the past. Rondy Isaac, founder of Barbershop Yoga guided our California Community Colleges CEOs and ALI participants through simple chair yoga that can be used at any time to reduce stress and enhance resilience. Elaine Lin Hering, author of Unlearning Silence, unlocked deep insights on constructive feedback and the importance of using voice. Buy the book! Dr. Pamela Luster, Co-Founder of Equity Avengers and President Emerita of San Diego Mesa College, and Constance Carroll, CEO of the California Community College Baccalaureate Association and Chancellor Emerita of the San Diego Community College District, brought invaluable wisdom and experience to candid dialogues with our vice presidents and CEOs. Matthew Miller, senior lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education, led CEOs through a rigorous examination of decisions, teams, and leadership through a case study on climbing Mount Everest. Pedro A. Noguera, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education School of Education, delivered a sober and inspirational keynote on educational equity and the impact of social and economic conditions on colleges and students. Francisco Rodriguez, Wheelhouse Chancellor in Residence, extracted the life journeys of our participants during his hallmark “Rivers of Life” session. Special thanks to Wheelhouse senior fellows Samia Yaqub and Edward Bush for their masterful facilitation of cohort discussions. If you are an aspiring community college president and want to learn from and with these extraordinary presenters/facilitators in 2025, follow us here and look for our Advancing Leaders Institute application to open this fall. Stay tuned!

Take a good look at this announcement and consider joining Chancellor Lee Lampert's leadership team as the President at De Anza College. The final filing date is October 4, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gRqykfgr

From the Los Angeles Community College District on the forthcoming retirement of Francisco Rodriguez: "Chancellor Rodriguez is credited for raising the profile, stature, and effectiveness of the nation’s largest community college district through strategic and long-range academic planning, fiscal stewardship, facilities and capital outlay, and enrollment management." To this we would add: Deep commitment to equity, student success and belonging, and true devotion to supporting and developing the next generation of leaders of the California Community Colleges, a system he has loved and served with passion for almost four decades. Thank you to our colleague and friend, Chancellor Rodriguez. ?? ?? ?? See the LACCD announcement: https://lnkd.in/g4PvYHdX

If we listen to #communitycollege #students, they'll tell us how we can do better. Don't miss "Portraits of Resilience" from the Accelerating Recovery in Community Colleges Network (#ARCC), authored by Wheelhouse Research Fellow Mayra Nu?ez Martinez and featuring the voices of 5 remarkable students who found ways to stay connected to college despite the pandemic. Get the brief: https://lnkd.in/g8uh8QaH Gratitude to these students from Mira Costa College, Santa Monica College, Southwestern College and West Los Angeles College for sharing lessons drawn from their experience. Two now study at UCLA, a third at California State University, Northridge. Community College Research Center National Student Clearinghouse University of California, Davis

Important new resource from Rowena Tomaneng & the Campaign for College Opportunity: “To meet the demands of our growing multiracial democracy and economy, we must understand and dismantle the barriers faced by Asian American and NHPI communities related to their ability to prepare for, access, enroll, and succeed in college with the culturally sensitive supports and services to ensure their belonging.”??

Looking back on last week's Advancing Leaders (ALI) and CEO Institutes at UCLA, we are inspired, moved, and filled with optimism for the California Community Colleges and the more than two million students they serve. Forty-six senior CCC leaders came together, united in their commitment to student success and equity, for four days of learning, listening, strategizing, networking, and reflection. Our expert Wheelhouse faculty facilitated case study sessions, modeled the management of difficult conversations, and engaged in joint consultation about real-time student success and equity challenges that need immediate solutions. Leaders also had the opportunity for deep dialogue with respected, experienced CEOs. Participants consistently showed up to invest in their growth and support their colleagues. We cannot wait to reconvene these committed, rockstar sitting and aspiring CCC CEOs in October at our home base at the University of California, Davis - School of Education!?

One of the most gratifying aspects of our work is when our #communitycollege CEO Fellows return for reunion. This week, CEOs from Cohort 6 of our Institute on Leadership reunited for a focused session on presidential challenges and opportunities. They are investing in the bonds they built in 2024, demonstrating the power of peer networks for those who lead community colleges. Thank you to Wheelhouse Chancellor in Residence Francisco C. Rodriguez and Senior Fellow Samia Yaqub for leading these discussions, and to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and College Futures Foundation for supporting these important and sustained connections among California Community Colleges CEOs. Marilyn Flores Sean Hancock P. Wesley Lundburg, Ph.D. Daren Otten Star Rivera-Lacey, PhD @Lena Tran

Yesterday evening we welcomed 50+ CA sitting and aspiring community college CEOs at a reception for new cohorts of our Advancing Leaders Institute and CEO Institute on Leadership. Over four days at UCLA, these dynamic groups of equity-minded leaders will undertake leadership journeys that build insight, skill, and networks to support the transformation they are driving for their students, colleges and communities. Deep gratitude to California Community Colleges and ECMC Foundation for support that makes these institutes possible, and to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and College Futures Foundation for supporting Wheelhouse operations and research.

? Join us in welcoming our?7th annual cohort of California Community Colleges #CEOs as fellows in our Institute on Leadership. This accomplished group of Presidents, Superintendent/Presidents and Chancellors represents 19 colleges and districts that collectively serve 400,000+ students statewide. ? We look forward to bringing these leaders together for 3 convenings of case study sessions, student-centered leadership dialogues, active peer learning, networking, reflection, and renewal at UC Davis and UCLA in 2024 and early 2025. ?? A BIG Wheelhouse welcome to: Dr. Pedro Avila, Superintendent/President, Gavilan College Rudy Besikof, President, Laney College Jamal A. Cooks, President, Chabot College Dr. Anthony Culpepper, Ed.D, JD, MBA, President, Los Angeles Southwest College Albert Garcia, President, Sacramento City College Virginia Guleff, Superintendent/President, Butte College Ashanti Hands, Ed.D., President, San Diego Mesa College Lennor M. Johnson, Ed.D, Superintendent/President, Imperial Valley College Tina Maria King, Ed.D., President, San Diego College of Continuing Education Lopez Kim, President, Ca?ada College Rick MacLennan, Chancellor, Ventura County Community College District Martinez Marvin, Chancellor, Rancho Santiago Community College District Dr. Cynthia Olivo, President, Fullerton College Robert Pimentel, Ed.D, President, Fresno City College Torence Powell, Ed.D., Superintendent/President, Napa Valley College Vince Rodriguez, Ed. D., President, Coastline College Carla Tweed, Ed.D, President, Coalinga College Kristina Whalen, President, Foothill College Jennifer Zellet, Superintendent/President, Antelope Valley College More about the Institute: https://lnkd.in/gEJ2Jy8W #WheelhouseCEOInstitute #Cohort7 #CommunityColleges #HigherEducation #HigherEdLeadership #EquityMindedness #EducationEquity