Dear friends and colleagues,
This year, we graduated 2,000 students and conferred almost 3,000 associates degrees and career education certificates. They are the strivers.
They are our future workforce.
On average, 60 percent of the Class of 2018 is the first in their families to go to college. Women make up about the same 60 percent of the class. They all have made their families and friends proud, and sometimes even surprised themselves that they made it through.
As we deliver our community bright and talented graduates, our college district has reached a critical juncture in our 90-year history where we must upgrade our colleges for a new generation of students.
The majority of them are from low- and middle-income backgrounds who cannot afford to go directly to UC, Cal State or private trade colleges, but are eager to achieve their college dreams and compete in the 21st century economy. And while more than 500 of our
current students have honorably served our country in military service, there are nearly 100,000 military veterans in San Bernardino County, many of whom need higher education, job training and career counseling to successfully transition home. We are proud to offer these services right here in the local community, but our facilities are falling behind.
From leaky roofs and old rusty pipes to faulty electrical systems and outdated campus security systems, there is no question that our students of today and tomorrow deserve a better learning environment.
Soon, I will be recommending to the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees that they put a
bond measure on the November ballot
. If we are successful, we will be able to make much-needed repairs.
Now is the time to renovate our older classrooms, job training facilities and STEM labs to keep supporting our local economy with a pipeline of workers who are job-ready and armed with in-demand skills.
If the Board agrees, it will be a community-wide endeavor that could lead to victory for our students and set the stage for a brighter future for our region. I invite you to join me in this mission.
As always, please feel free to send me a note at
bbaron@sbccd.edu
and let's continue this conversation.
Onward,
Bruce
Bruce R. Baron, Chancellor
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SBCCD LEADING IN CALIFORNIA
In Sacramento, Chancellor Baron talks best practices to protect Dreamers
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Chancellor Baron recently participated in a higher education roundtable hosted by the California Attorney General's Office in Sacramento to discuss SBCCD's best practices to ensure all students, regardless of immigration status, are provided a safe and welcoming learning environment at Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. The only community college chancellor to attend the convening, Baron was joined by University of California and Cal State University officials.
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AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS
Three SBVC students, alumni among 30 most influential people under 30
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Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes has named two San Bernardino Valley College students and one alumnus among her annual list of 30 most influential people under 30 in California's 47th Assembly District. The honorees include SBCCD Student Trustee Autumn Blackburn, political science student Juan Villa, and environmental justice advocate Anthony Victoria.
“It is an honor to recognize such service-driven young adults who work hard every day to give back to their community, whether it is through the arts, entrepreneurship or community activism," said Assemblymember Reyes.
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INVESTING IN STUDENTS
Governor signs budget, brings $1 million for SBVC training programs
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With the signing of the 2018–19 state budget by Governor Brown, career education programs in the San Bernardino Community College District received $1 million to help launch the Advanced Manufacturing Futures Initiative. The partnership between Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D- San Bernardino) and the San Bernardino Community College District will help expand hands-on job training at San Bernardino Valley College to prepare students for the Inland Empire’s growing demand of qualified manufacturing and production sector workers.
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TRANSFORMATIVE TIME
Crafton Hills College interim president Audre Levy to start August 10
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“As the first in her family to achieve a college degree, Dr. Audre Levy brings to Crafton Hills College a strong commitment to student success and distinctive expertise,” said SBCCD Board of Trustees President Joseph Williams. “With her serving in this interim role, I am confident that Crafton Hills College will keep moving forward expanding educational and career training opportunities for students in Inland Southern California.”
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GIFT FOR GOOD
Crafton Hills College receives $10,000 gift from Bank of America
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Crafton Hills College will be able to provide increased opportunities to veterans and students in the first responder programs thanks to a recent $10,000 grant from Bank of America. "Access to basic needs and career development resources can make a major difference in easing the civilian transition for veterans," said Al Arguello, Inland Empire market president for Bank of America during the check presentation on June 19.
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MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE
Helping students save on textbooks at Crafton Hills and Valley College
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For students and families looking to save on college texbooks, they will like learning about Open Education Resource programs. Known simply as "OER," these are educational materials that are open to the public with an open license. That means that students can openly download, copy, use and share these resources legally and freely. In other words, professors will not ask students to purchase or rent textbooks if that course participates in OER. Find out which courses at Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College are leading the way in the zero-cost textbook movement.
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ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
SBCCD teams up with CSUSB to dispatch campus police officers
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In an effort to improve the overall level of service and improve response time of campus police officers at San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College, SBCCD is now partnering with Cal State San Bernardino Regional Communications Center to manage calls for service throughout SBCCD.
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WATCH THIS
"State of the Empire" spotlights the best of the Inland Empire
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Get a closer look into the people, places and happenings that make the Inland Empire a vibrant region. "State of the Empire" is produced locally by SBCCD's Empire Network-KVCR.
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WE REMEMBER
KVCR's RF engineer Jim Walker
Our friend and
KVCR colleague Jim Walker
passed away on July 23 after a two-year battle with AML, acute myeloid lukemia. He is survived by his three children Robert, Shana, Chelsey, and his two sisters Shirley and Nancy. If anyone wishes to send condolences or help his family with the final expenses, visit the family-created
Go Fund Me
page. The Empire Network/KVCR family invites those who knew Jim to a commemoration at the
KVCR studio
on Tuesday July 31 at noon.
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Calendar Updates
Aug. 2: Board of Trustees Study Session
San Bernardino Community College District
Aug 2: Summer classes end
San Bernardino Valley College
Aug 8: Summer classes end
Crafton Hills College
Aug 13: Fall classes start
Crafton Hills College
Aug 13: Fall classes start
San Bernardino Valley College
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About San Bernardino Community College District
We serve 20 cities in the heart of Inland Southern California and create new opportunities for 21,000 students each year through our two fully-accredited campuses: Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. We cultivate minds and transform our community through our Economic Development & Corporate Training division and KVCR, the region’s National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting System (PBS) television affiliate station. Through our day-to-day educational enterprise, SBCCD generates $621 million in local economic activity each year.
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Board of Trustees
Joseph Williams, President
Gloria Macias Harrison, Vice President
Dr. Anne L. Viricel, Clerk
Donna Ferracone, Member
John Longville, Member
Frank Reyes, Member
Dr. Donald L. Singer, Member
Autumn Blackburn, Student Trustee (SBVC)
Elijah Gerard, Student Trustee (CHC)
Chancellor
Bruce R. Baron
President
Diana Z. Rodriguez, San Bernardino Valley College
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