Watch the video, review the links and the Project Rebound Annual Report. Then create an original discussion post (minimum 3 paragraphs) addressing the following:
What theory is the foundation of programs like Project Rebound? Does the information in the report support the expense of Project Rebound or other programs like it? Identify three things that you didn’t know, or found critically important in the Annual Report and explain why you feel those are important. Make at least one suggestion as to how the program could be improved, basing your suggestion in theory.
Project Rebound was originally established in the late 1960s at San Francisco State University by the late Dr. John Irwin. He realized personally how education could change the trajectories of those involved in the Criminal Justice System. Education would help them establish lasting pro-social pathways back into their communities as productive members of society and essential components to reducing recidivism and victimization. The program at San Francisco State has expanded to 15* other CSU campuses, including Fresno State (https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/projectrebound/index.html). We are state-funded, as a line item on the CSU Budget, with the expectation of expanding to all 23 CSU campuses. Considering that 1 in 3 people in the United States have been impacted by the Criminal Justice System, re-entry is an issue that impacts all of us, directly or indirectly.
*At the time of this report, it was 14 campuses, however, since then we have brought CSU East Bay on board. So we now have 15 of 23 CSU campuses with a Project Rebound program and as of the 2022/2023 fiscal year, we have been given state funding to expand to another 5 campuses that have expressed interest in having the program.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=dZZF0yHiylo&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ffresnostate.instructure.com%2Fcourses%2F82813%2Fpages%2Fproject-rebound-2%3Fmodule_item_id%3D3644281&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo
The CSU Project Rebound Consortium 2022 Annual Report submitted to the State Government is attached below. Some highlights from the report:
While the 23-campus CSU system has experienced a drop in enrollment to the lowest levels since Fall 2015, the CSU Project Rebound Consortium has doubled enrollment from 306 students to 566 students.
Despite pandemic conditions and the rapid shifts to virtual learning modalities, 86% of Project Rebound students have remained in good academic standing and two-thirds have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Project Rebound increased student employment by 350% and program interns/volunteers by 150% since 2019.
Project Rebound has increased the number of annual graduates by 151% (from 61 graduates in the Class of 2019 to 151 graduates in the Class of 2022).
By the end of the 2021-22 academic year, the CSU Project Rebound Consortium will have conferred nearly 500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees to formerly incarcerated students since originally forming in 2016.
The number of Project Rebound students going on to pursue graduate studies in the CSU has increased by 280% (from 25 students to 95 students) since 2018.
Number of Project Rebound staff and students who received Certificates of Rehabilitation or Pardons in 2021: 12
Number of Project Rebound staff and students who completed criminal record expungements in 2021: 49
Hard copies of this report have been sent to the Governor, the leadership of both chambers of the State Legislature, the White House, the U.S. Department of Education, the CSU Chancellor, the CSU Council of Presidents, the President of the University of California, and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
