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History of San Bernardino Valley College
The College
Throughout 2016-2017, SBVC celebrated its 90
th
anniversary. San
Bernardino Valley College is a comprehensive Community College that
serves the residents of the Inland Empire. The college is one of 112 locally
governed California community colleges, and as such, is regulated by the
California Education Code and is subject to the directions of the California
Legislature and the California Community College Board of Governors. The
college is responsible to its local constituency through an elected Board of
Trustees, which is the principle policy-making body for the college.
Students of the college are drawn, for the most part, from the local
community. In addition, specific programs at the college attract students
from throughout the state and world. Students range in age from under 18
to over 80 years, and reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the region.
San Bernardino Valley College was established in 1926, and originally
served only the San Bernardino and Colton Unified School Districts. The
population served has now expanded to include communities throughout
the Inland Empire. Over the years, the original four-building campus has
grown to one of eighteen major buildings grouped conveniently around a
central quadrangle and mall, giving easy access to the numerous special
purpose classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, studios, shops and practice
rooms. A faculty of 16 has grown to a teaching staff of more than 128 full-
time and 321 hourly faculty, and student body of 140 has grown to over
13,000. San Bernardino Valley College is proud of its long tradition of
service to our community, and the faculty and staff is gratified to know they
have played an important part in improving the lives of so many.
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