Project Rebound is a program that supports the higher education and successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals wishing to enroll and succeed at the California State University. By connecting students with critical resources, Project Rebound constructs an alternative to the revolving door policy of mass incarceration and increases community strength and safety.
Project Rebound is a program that supports the higher education and successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals wishing to enroll and succeed at the California State University. By connecting students with critical resources, Project Rebound constructs an alternative to the revolving door policy of mass incarceration and increases community strength and safety.
Policy Background: California currently leads the country in equitable access to higher education for currently and formerly incarcerated people. Senate Bill 1391 (Hancock, 2014), which permits California Community Colleges to collect state apportionment for classes provided to incarcerated students, and Proposition 57 (2016) which provides educational merit awards and sentence reductions to prisoners for educational and other rehabilitative achievements, have caused a momentous increase in the number of face-to-face, credit-bearing college programs in the state prison system (from 1 to 34) and the number of college students inside CDCR facilities (from 2,000 to 14,000). All of these 14,000 current students are on Associates Degree transfer pathways; for the majority, the CSU is the logical next step in their educational and rehabilitative journey.
Currently, 15 CSU campuses have Project Rebound programs working with formerly incarcerated students.
This Campus Programs page has a drop down box that takes you to each of the 15 campuses that participate.
Cohort 1 students congratulate each other after rehearsing an emotionally powerful class assignment. Photo credit: Patrick Record, CSU Chancellor’s Office
Cohorts 1 and 2 graduate with bachelor’s degrees in communication before friends and family on October 6, 2021. Photo credit: Robert Huskey, Cal State LA.
Higher Ed Rewired: Season 3, Episode 5 – Project Rebound: Redeeming Lives through Education
In this episode, we will speak with the executive director of Project Rebound at Cal State San Bernardino, Annika Anderson about how she advocated for office space and resources on their campus. We’ll hear from formerly incarcerated staff member, Paul Jones and matriculated students, Robert Sandoval and Marta Barreto about the unique obstacles they face and the unique benefits they offer communities. And how this model can expand beyond California to transform campuses and students nationwide.
Rising Scholars Network offers support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated community college students. Every state prison in CA has access to community college classes. There are more than 10,000 incarcerated Californians enrolled in Community College.
Project Rebound serves incarcerated and formerly incarcerated CSU students and applicants at 15 of the 23 CSU Campuses. They offer 3 BA programs in development.
Underground Scholars serves incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and carceral impacted UC students and CCC students at 9 of the 10 UC campuses. The UC offers 1 BA program for incarcerated adults with two other campuses working to develop similar programs. We are building pathways for incarcerated youth to earn a BA at UC Berkeley in the 2024-2025 academic year.
