Crafton Hills College’s Fire Academy Receives $1.8 Million Boost from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

Publish Date: Oct. 25, 2022

Crafton Hills College has identified Public Safety training as a critical priority due to a severe shortage of trained professionals in the community. One reason for this shortage is the high-cost students must bear to qualify for positions in emergency medical services and firefighting. Each year Crafton Hills College’s Fire Academy cadets struggle to meet the out-of-pocket costs for uniforms, equipment, supplies, testing, licensing, and certifications.

The goal for Crafton Hills College (CHC) is to recruit a diverse cadet pool for its fire science and paramedic programs, but low-income students are often unable to afford the cost of participating and becoming certified and licensed.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will invest $1.8 million in the CHC Fire Academy. This contribution will help people facing financial barriers to higher education and training, including those from underserved populations, the unemployed or underemployed, and women. This way, San Manuel will substantially increase its support of programs that create pathways to a better future through education and training.

“One of the greatest assets we have as a college is the support of our community and partnerships with extraordinary organizations, such as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. We are humbled by their generosity and shared interest in building a talented and diverse first responder workforce,” said Crafton Hills College President Dr. Kevin Horan.

The grant will allow students to focus on their training and alleviate some financial hardships. This support will help CHC recruit more diverse students into these programs, which will ultimately help our communities by providing the trained personnel needed to fill open positions.

“We are grateful to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous support of our local students,” said San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Rodriguez. “The Crafton Hills College Fire Academy opens doors to good-paying jobs for our graduates. This gift will help build a diverse workforce of firefighters who will combat California’s wildfires and keep our communities safe.”

San Manuel’s $1.8 million Fire Academy grant will be the largest gift ever received by the CHC Foundation. It will directly support the CHC Fire Academy’s objective to create a more diversified cadet pool.

The donation comes at a time when updated industry standards have resulted in increased program costs to a point where cadets are expected to pay more out-of-pocket to complete the 18-week course.

“I have never seen in my entire time at Crafton a grant this large for a program like ours,” said Academy Chief Mike Alder. “It is a tremendous shot in the arm for the Academy and the cadets.”

“It has been an honor to partner with Crafton Hills on both financial support and recruitment,” says San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Vice-Chairman Johnny Hernandez Jr. “Every person should be able to follow their dreams regardless of their financial situation. The Tribe is excited to hear this may close the gap between diverse communities and access to following their dreams in firefighting.”

Crafton’s Fire Academy is one of the premier fire academies in the Southern California region designed to meet requirements for Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. Offered twice a year – once in the fall and again in the spring – the program tests cadets on leadership, communication, physical fitness and what to expect in the field of fire service through hands-on training. About 30 cadets participate in the program each term.

College officials applied for the grant in December 2021 with support from the Crafton Hills College Foundation, a nonprofit that looks to advance the educational, career, and personal successes of Roadrunners through engagement and learning.

“The grant from San Manuel will support the academy’s efforts over the next five years,” said Alder.

“This grant opens up doors for those who are currently at a financial disadvantage to go through the program,” he said. “It has always been our goal to increase diversity not just in our program, but the service industry as a whole.”

“I was getting real concerned about the program because costs were going up. I kept asking myself ‘What are we going to do?’ ‘How are going to fix this?’, and then San Manuel comes to the rescue,” he continued. “I feel a lot better about the program’s future now, and I couldn’t be happier.”