Public Survey Will Inform Long-Range Strategic Plan and Future Workforce Training

San Bernardino, CA — As the San Bernardino Community College District marks its centennial year, the District is inviting residents, students, employers, and community leaders to help inform the future of local, affordable higher education by participating in a new community priorities survey at sbccd.edu/AffordableCollege.

The survey is part of the District’s long-term strategic planning process and will help guide how the San Bernardino Community College District delivers education and workforce training over the next 10 to 20 years.

“As we mark 100 years of service through San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College, it’s important that we look ahead by listening,” said Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez, Ed.D. “This survey gives our community a direct voice in how we continue providing affordable education and career training that support students, employers, and the region we serve.”

Community Feedback So Far

Recent feedback shows strong public support for the District’s role as an affordable alternative to the rising cost of four-year universities. Today, attending a CSU or UC can cost six to sixteen times more than attending a California community college.

“For generations, our colleges have been a pathway to opportunity, especially for students pursuing careers in nursing, firefighting, emergency medical response, and the skilled trades,” Rodriguez said. “As costs rise elsewhere, keeping high-quality education and job training accessible locally remains a responsibility we take seriously.”

Early survey responses show that community members value maintaining affordable higher education, preparing students and veterans for good-paying careers, expanding workforce and skilled trades training, improving campus safety and infrastructure, and preparing students for 21st-century jobs that support essential services in both urban and mountain communities.

“Community colleges are strongest when they reflect the needs and priorities of the people they serve,” Rodriguez said. “Public participation in this survey helps ensure our colleges continue to align with the region’s educational and workforce needs.”

Established in 1926, the San Bernardino Community College District today serves nearly 30,000 students at San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College. Over generations, the District’s colleges have played a central role in the region, with community feedback indicating that a strong majority of local residents have taken classes at one of the colleges or have a close family member who has.

“Our centennial reflects a long-standing commitment to this region,” Rodriguez said. “The input we receive will help guide how we serve students and communities well into the future.”

We'd like to hear from you. Visit sbccd.edu/AffordableCollege