‘I want to make a big difference’: New SBCCD Student Trustee Sets Sight on Crafton’s Future

Publish Date: Aug. 18, 2022

Being elected as Crafton Hills College’s Student Trustee to the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees is a role Robert Alexander does not take lightly.

Elected to the post in May, the 43-year- old MorenoValley man has a very positive outlook to the issues he wishes to tackle during his term, from getting more students involved in service on campus to addressing classroom size at Crafton.

“This is definitely a rewarding situation,” said Alexander. “Obviously there is some kind of time commitment to (serving on the board), but a lot has to do with what you can put into it as well.”

Alexander’s term officially began on June 1, but prior to his start date, the multi-major was in full research mode collecting stats and figures to present to the Board on day one.
For example, Alexander wanted to speak to trustees about the discrepancies in student registration limits imposed on classrooms at Crafton compared to its sister college, San Bernardino Valley College.

Currently, he explained, Valley limits its registration from 30 to 35 students per course, while Crafton’s is set at 100. This, Alexander continues, leads to additional stress associated with student learning and classroom overcrowding.

“Our students are not able to get the same interactions as others,” he continued. “There’s some concern with that because it is not fairly balanced and it’s discouraging to our students. So, we are looking into that and how to resolve that.”

Another issue – getting more students involved in serving on the Board of Trustees, including disabled students who might shy away from serving because they could lose some of their financial aid and other related benefits.

Alexander explains, “A student trustee is recognized almost like an employee, so it becomes a conflict with many students, especially those with disabilities. Some decline the compensation you get as a student trustee because of this, but at the same time, it can become a financial hardship for some students.”

“We are trying to tackle some of that with the board currently,” he continued. “For example, Riverside Community College offers a scholarship, but we are looking to find other ways to help.”

In addition to his new role – one Alexander is familiar with having served in the same capacity when attending San Bernardino Valley College a decade ago – the former Army Veteran has a busy workload both on-and-off campus.

He currently works as a campus support aide for the Moreno Valley Unified School District and is taking courses for multiple associate degrees in political science,history and philosophy. He recently earned two other degrees from CHC in December of 2021 in sociology and anthropology. He also balances being a father, volunteering and aspires to run for public office in the future.

But right now, a lot of Alexander’s focus is on serving the Roadrunner population.

“A lot of the administration currently serving are years removed from college, so they enjoy and want to hear what is happening on campus from a student’s point of view,” he said. “I want to make a big difference.”