Greetings, Valley College!

I hope the Labor Day holiday weekend provided you with time to spend with loved ones.  We appreciate the contributions of all our teammates each and every day.  As we celebrated Labor Day, I want to extend another thank you for all you do transforming lives.  We are the people that help students come with a dream and leave with a future.

Here are some highlights for this week:

🏛  VALLEY COLLEGE IS GROWING

Institutional milestones, programs, enrollment, and strategic progress

1. SCHOLARSHIP UNVEILED AT FOOTBALL HOME OPENER — SEPTEMBER 5, 2026

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

The 2026 SBVC Alumni Classic last Saturday featured a special halftime presentation as Catholic Charities San Bernardino & Riverside Counties presented a $10,000 gift to establish the Catholic Charities Nicholas and Sophia Kosta Education Scholarship. Catholic Charities CEO Tim Ney and COO and proud SBVC alumnus Jesse Gonzalez, a member of the 1999 football team, presented the check to me and SBVC Foundation Executive Director Mike Layne and President Gilbert Contreras. The endowed scholarship was made possible through the generosity of a donor who entrusted funds to Catholic Charities specifically to support educational opportunities and will provide tuition assistance to SBVC students for generations to come. Thank you to the SBVC Foundation for its continued efforts to secure meaningful partnerships and philanthropic support that expand opportunities for Valley College students!

🎓  OUR STUDENTS ARE SUCCEEDING

Programs removing barriers, measurable outcomes, and high-impact student stories

2. EOPS WELCOME BACK BASH — SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1   |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, EOPS hosted its first Welcome Back Birthday Bash, celebrating the program’s 57th anniversary while highlighting its longstanding impact on student success at SBVC. The event also showcased the many resources available to students through EOPS and its campus partners. Representatives from several key support programs attended, including Financial Aid, SAS, NextUp/Guardian Scholars, Student Health Services, and the Dreamers Resource Center. The celebration featured food, cupcakes, music, and games, creating a welcoming and festive atmosphere for students. The event provided both new and continuing EOPS students with an opportunity to connect, build community, make new friends, and engage with peers who share similar goals and aspirations.

🤝  BUILDING COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Partnerships, K-12 pipeline, and civic leadership in the region

3. ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC — TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 | STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES/LOT 8 | 8:00 AM-3:00 PM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3  |   SBVC Priorities: Health & Safety, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s mobile medical clinic will be back on campus September 15, 2026, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM by Student Health Services. Services are available by appointment and open to all students and community members. Medical insurance is not required. This special partnership helps advance the health of our community. More information is available here or by calling (855) 422-8029.

4. VPI LETICIA HECTOR AND PRESIDENT CONTRERAS MEET WITH GATES FOUNDATION AND REGIONAL LEADERS

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3  |   SBVC Priorities: Career & Transfer, Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Last week, VPI Leticia Hector presented to the Gates Foundation along with regional community leaders. SBVC has become a model for a dual enrollment pilot project designed in collaboration with SBCUSD. The pilot showcases an AI Pathway with Arroyo Valley High School, a HMDT pathway with Pacific High School, and an intrusive case management pathway with San Andreas High School. Other regional partners that participated in the meeting were BLU Educational Foundation, COPE, GIA, IECT, OneFuture Coachella Valley, and SBCCD. Special thanks to Executive Dean, Dr. Stephanie Lewis, Counseling faculty co-chair, Jamie Salyer, Director Brian Thompson, Reggie Metu, Amairany Rivera, Vinh Chiem, and the dual enrollment team. We especially appreciate our entire team, including representation from faculty, research, grants, and management, who have remained actively engaged in weekly meetings and ongoing collaboration to move this important work forward. SBVC is receiving positive feedback for our intentional approach to “planning with” our K–12 partners, rather than planning for them, and for creating space for critical conversations and collaboration focused on improving the student experience and supporting student success.

📅  ON CAMPUS

Events, performances, and announcements from across the college

5. TANALOA SPACE — TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 | B-202

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2  |   SBVC Priorities: Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Pasefika Student Union hosted a potluck this afternoon to launch our first Tanaloa Space in B-202. All attendees were asked to bring food, and were welcome to share a meal, stories, and games. We are excited to begin the Tanaloa Space for students in the Pasefika Student Union (PSU) and the Tatayan Learning Community. Rooted in the Pasefika tradition of Talanoa, or talk story, this space is designed for Pasefika students from campus and the surrounding community to come together, build relationships, and share their academic progress, successes, and challenges. As we begin the first week of the Tatayan Learning Community, with more than 95% of the cohort identifying as Pacific Islander, we are intentionally creating spaces and programming that reflect and respond to the needs of our students. While this space is intentionally grounded in the experiences and needs of Pasefika students, all students are welcome and encouraged to participate. The Talanoa Space will also serve as a consistent study hall and academic support space, providing tutoring and peer support for students enrolled in ENGL C1000, COMM C1000, and ETHS 109, Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies, throughout the semester.

6. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KICKOFF — WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 2  |   SBVC Priorities: Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Beginning the week of September 14, 2026, SBVC will recognize Hispanic Serving Institution Week and kick off Hispanic Heritage Month through student-centered events and activities that celebrate Hispanic and Latinx cultures, histories, and contributions. Planning is underway with support from departments and programs across campus. Additional details, including the schedule of activities and opportunities to participate, will be shared soon, along with a campuswide call for volunteers. Please stay tuned.

7. ROCK THE VOTE EVENT — TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 | GREEK THEATRE | 2:00-5:00 PM

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: Boldly Student Centered, Opportunities for All   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

We are hosting a Rock the Vote event on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Greek Theatre. Rock the Vote encourages young people to be involved in the democratic process, and is being held on National Voter Registration Day. There will be live entertainment, a DJ, food, a photo booth, and voting resources.

8. OVERFLOW PARKING SHUTTLE SERVICE REMINDER

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1   |   SBVC Priorities: Health & Safety, Boldly Student Centered   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

A reminder that we are providing a convenient parking shuttle service to support students and employees utilizing the overflow parking lot located on I Street near the campus. Shuttles operate approximately every 15 minutes, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with designated pick-up and drop-off locations in lots 7 and 10 on campus. The overflow lot is currently serving approximately 75 to 100 vehicles each day, helping reduce parking congestion on campus while providing reliable transportation to and from the college. For added safety and security, the overflow parking lot is regularly patrolled by the San Bernardino Community College District Police Department.

9. BASIC ACADEMY GRADUATION — THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 

▶  SBCCD Goals: 1, 3   |   SBVC Priorities: All four priorities   |   Guiding Principle: Advancing Community

Class 244 of our Basic Extended Academy graduated September 3, 2026. Best wishes to each graduate as they enter law enforcement careers!

Valley Up!

Gil