January 23, 2019
Dear friends and colleagues,
I must confess that every January I find myself transported to that sense of fresh beginnings and infinite possibility that I experienced from my very first days of school as a small child.
Whether it was the excitement of getting to use my new notebooks or carrying a new backpack, going back to school was always an opportunity to begin again.
I consider all of us fortunate because in higher education we all get a clean slate every year, every semester. There is renewed hope and possibility.
And there are hundreds of reasons why we should be excited about the future, but I'll limit my comments to two reasons.
Enhancing our learning and teaching environment
This year, we will start putting in motion the classroom and facility upgrades approved by our community through
Measure CC
.
The renovations won't happen overnight, in fact, it will take a couple of years before we have any ribbon cuttings or grand openings. But that's our work; we are the builders of tomorrow.
San Bernardino Community College District Promise
I am also optimistic about our future because we're about to make history.
It's no secret to any of us that we have more work to do to build a stronger college-going culture here in our region.
The reality is that only 32 percent of local high school graduates are eligible for UC or Cal State admission.
So what happens to the remaining 68 percent of local high school graduates who don't go to a UC or Cal State?
Very soon, for many of them, Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College will be their first choice.
This year, your college district will be among the first in California -- and the very first in the Inland Empire -- to offer zero tuition for two years to first-time full-time college students, starting with the high school graduating class of 2019.
Our goal is to motivate students early in their academic careers to prepare for college and allow low- and middle-income families to plan for an affordable college option.
I applaud the Board of Trustees for
investing towards this district-wide effort
, and I look forward to working with President Rodriguez, President Horan and each of you to launch the San Bernardino Community College District Promise in the weeks and months ahead.
2019 is primed to be a transformational year for our colleges, but let's not forget that the future we shape is up to us.
We must meet our challenges and opportunities with creativity and openness to new ways of thinking. And we must do this together as a community for the benefit of our students.
Onward,
Bruce
Bruce R. Baron
Chancellor
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NEW BEGINNINGS
Meet Dr. Kevin Horan, ninth president of Crafton Hills College, Feb. 1
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Crafton Hills College will welcome its ninth president at an investiture ceremony and reception on Friday, Feb. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. Regional educational leaders will be on hand to deliver special remarks including Cal State San Bernardino President Tomás D. Morales, UC Riverside Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox, and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District Superintendent Cali Binks. Admission is free and open to the public.
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EMPIRE NETWORK-KVCR TV/FM
Inside KVCR TV/FM: Setting the stage to train a new generation
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“Educating and uplifting our community is at the heart of what we do every day at our colleges and at KVCR. With our new media academy, we will grow a new generation of students to participate in California’s creative economy," said Chancellor Bruce Baron.
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CHANGING LIVES
How SBCCD helps get people from prison to work
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For the past six years, the San Bernardino Community College District has been part of an initiative to restore the hopes and dreams of individuals who have had a rough past. In collaboration with the
Urban Conservation Corps, California State Reentry Initiative, the California Department of Transportation and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, SBCCD is helping to give the reentry population the necessary tools and education to become successful individuals of the workforce.
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NEW OPPORTUNITIES
SBCCD to host job fair to give reentry population a second chance, Jan. 25
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The San Bernardino Community College District will be hosting a job and resource fair designed to give the reentry population a second chance of entering the workforce. More than 20 organizations and employers will provide information on full-time and part-time career opportunities in environmental conservation, customer service, hospitality, logistics, machining, manufacturing, military, and retail. Attendees will also learn about community resources to find housing, health care, food, and legal assistance. The event is taking place Friday, January 25 from 10 to 3 p.m. at the Applied Technology Training Center.
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SPOTLIGHT
Crafton Hills, Valley College alumnus appointed Chief Technology Officer
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Luke Bixler is showing you can give back to your alma mater. The Crafton Hills and Valley College alumnus has been hired as SBCCD's first Chief Technology Officer. In his role, Bixler will collaborate with the faculty, staff, students and leadership to set the direction for district-wide technology, strategic planning, and implementing new technologies. He brings with him 30 years of experience in the IT world and 14 years of experience in leadership.
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WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER
SBVC Wolverines make history in cross country
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SBVC's women's cross-country sets the bar when the team scored its highest team finish in its 35-year existence at the State Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno. SBVC Cross country coach, Eric Abrams says that this team which includes the first SBVC woman to reach ALL-American, Alyssa Benavides, might be the most impressive group of runners he's ever seen.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Crafton Hills College to offer free job readiness certificates
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Crafton Hills College is offering a job readiness certificate targeting job skills and employability. The series of tuition-free noncredit courses provide training necessary to become competitive in the job market or to advance in a career, and are being offered as evening courses in Yucaipa and on campus.
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OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Autistic student hopes to inspire with lead role in theatre production
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Aaron Saenz, a San Bernardino Valley College student living with autism, has been participating in theatre productions since he was 10 years old. For Aaron, being autistic isn't a setback, it's a tool at his disposal that he uses to memorize and recite hundreds of words that would challenge the best of actors and actresses. In his upcoming lead role of theatre production, Usnavi de la Vega, Saenz must be able to act, sing, dance, and rapid-fire hundreds of rap lines.
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WORKPLACE WELLNESS
Alleviate pain and stress with good office, body ergonomics
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Experiencing back problems? Do you have pain in your wrists or feel like some of your joints are inflamed or irritated? The reason behind this discomfort may be because of bad posture or bad office ergonomics while on the job. It is important to practice good office and body ergonomics to prevent bodily injuries that may occur over a long period of time.
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Calendar Updates
Feb 1: Dr. Kevin Horan's Investiture Ceremony & Reception
3 to 5 p.m. / Crafton Hills College, Performing Arts Center
Feb 6: Each One Teach One Black History Month Luncheon
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. / SBVC, B-100
Feb 15: Lincoln's Day
Campus closed
Feb 18: President's Day
Campus closed
Feb 27: Guest Speaker Dr. Mualana Karenga, creator of Kwanzaa
6 to 8 p.m. / SBVC Auditorium
March 30: Crafton Hills College Foundation Gala and Auction
5:30 to 9:30 p.m. / Crafton Hall
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About SBCCD
San Bernardino Community College District serves 18,000 students through Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. For nearly 100 years, our colleges have provided access to affordable, award-winning education and career training programs for the residents of Big Bear, Bloomington, Calimesa, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Highland, Lake Arrowhead, Loma Linda, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino and Yucaipa. We educate the health care professionals that serve our medical needs, veterans who have served our country, police and firefighters who keep us safe, and skilled workers who fuel our economy. Learn more at
www.sbccd.edu
or
watch our video.
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Board of Trustees
John Longville, President
Dr. Anne L. Viricel, Vice President
Joseph Williams, Clerk
Gloria Macias Harrison, Member
Dr. Stephanie Houston, Member
Frank Reyes, Member
Dr. Donald L. Singer, Member
Autumn Blackburn, Student Trustee
Elijah Gerard, Student Trustee
Chancellor
Bruce R. Baron
Presidents
Diana Z. Rodriguez, San Bernardino Valley College
Dr. Kevin Horan, Crafton Hills College
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