San Bernardino Community College District

Fall 2024 Convocation Week at SBVC concluded yesterday with Opening Day! Our campus faculty and classified professionals had the opportunity to reflect on the significance of arriving at the college's 99th year, celebrating the community, growth and transformation SBVC has experienced since its founding in 1926. President Contreras led the event, sharing what the SBVC community means to him, his leadership perspective, and the many exciting developments SBVC has to look forward to this academic year. Go Valley! 💙 #sbvc #openingday

Today, the Chancellor’s Office and our Board of Trustees came to show some love and support for San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College as we kick off another year! 🎓 Here’s to our amazing faculty and staff—let’s make this year one for the books, helping our students succeed. Can’t wait to see all the incredible work our community will achieve! 💪🏼

Some shots from Wolverine Welcome! 🐾 Yesterday, our newest students got to explore all of the programs and services available to them! Thank you to our SBVC programs and staff, along with our new president, Dr. Contreras, for welcoming everyone to campus. 💙 #WolverineWelcome #SBVC

👷♀️👷♂️ We’re celebrating the latest graduating class from the Building Industry Association Entry-Level Construction Labor Training Program. Twelve people have successfully completed it, and now they’re ready for jobs like carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and general construction. 🤝 This program, a collaboration between the BIA Baldy View Chapter and SBCCD’s Economic Development & Corporate Training Center, covers all the essential skills needed for the construction industry. It’s a great way to help address the skilled worker shortage in our state! 👉 To learn more about this program visit: https://lnkd.in/g5G2czSm

🎉 Today, we celebrated a $3 million investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to build a new job training center at the San Bernardino Community College District, right by the former Norton Air Force Base. 👩🔧👨💻 Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez called the future center an “oasis of opportunity” for unemployed adults, at-risk youth, and anyone needing to update their skills. Opening by 2028, it’ll be a game-changer, especially for formerly-incarcerated adults. ⚙️ The 17,620-square-foot space will offer indoor and outdoor training areas for hands-on, accelerated, industry-recognized training. 👏 Today, we kicked things off with a check presentation and a ceremonial groundbreaking, joined by special guests including U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Alejandra Castillo, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes, Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Councilmember Damon Alexander, and many more from our community and industry partners.

🌟 Exciting day at the California Air Resources Board! 🌿 We had the honor of touring the facilities with leaders from the San Bernardino Community College District, including Crafton Hills College President Dr. Kevin Horan, San Bernardino Valley College President Dr. Gilbert Contreras, and Board Chair Dr. Stephanie Houston. 🚀 We explored groundbreaking efforts to reduce air emissions and discussed how our partnerships can pave the way for clean and green jobs for our students. Together, we’re building a brighter, sustainable future! 🌱💼✨ #sbccdinthecommunity

In his first few weeks, Dr. Contreras has been settling into his new role and getting to know our vibrant campus community. Welcome to SBVC, Dr. Contreras! ☺️ 💙 #SBVC #Community

☀ This solar farm project is expected to make Crafton Hills College a net zero energy campus by producing 100% of its energy needs. Thank you to our local community for supporting Measure CC: This project is made possible by Measure CC, a $470 million bond initiative approved by local voters in 2018 to modernize and enhance facilities at Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College. The Board of Trustees approved the solar farm’s construction in October 2021, reflecting SBCCD’s commitment to a sustainable future.

𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 Crafton Hills College (CHC) has received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America to support its Training First Responders project and Crafton Roadrunners pursuing degrees or certificates in public safety and allied health programs. “The funding from Bank of America will help reduce financial burdens for many of our students so they can focus on their studies and achieve their academic and professional goals without the worry of how much the program will cost,” said CHC President Kevin Horan. “We are deeply grateful for Bank of America’s commitment to education and their investments in our community.” CHC’s Training First Responders project aims to provide financial support to students studying to become paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters and members of other emergency health professions. Every academic year, hundreds of students apply for admission to CHC’s first-responder programs. Many experience financial challenges that might prevent them from completing coursework requirements. Grants from the private sector help cover a myriad of expenses, such as the cost of course materials and fees for state testing, licensing, and certifications. “One of the biggest challenges to the economic future of the Inland Empire continues to be the education gap, as employers and the growing jobs sector struggle to hire workers with necessary skills and educational background,” said Bansree Parikh, Bank of America Inland Empire president. “Crafton Hills College is an important partner in providing specialized skills training to help prepare the next generation of specialists in high-demand careers.” Student scholarships are distributed through the Crafton Hills College Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the educational career and personal success of CHC’s diverse campus community. To learn more about the Foundation or contribute to student success, visit https://lnkd.in/gSz-as4N. 

📣 “Cherina Betters, Ed.D. brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to educational equity that aligns perfectly with our district’s goals. We are excited about the fresh perspectives she will bring to our efforts in enhancing educational opportunities and outcomes for all our students," says SBCCD Board Chair Stephanie Houston Ed.D.