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YOUR PAST DOESN’T LIMIT YOUR FUTURE

 

 

 

 

 

🔶 At Project Rebound CSUF, we support formerly incarcerated students in building brighter futures through education, resources, and a community that believes in your success.
We don’t just open doors — we walk with you through them.

Start Your Journey → ( Intake Form )

Welcome, Formerly Incarcerated

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and California has the largest prison and jail systems in the country. Mass incarceration drains state budgets, depleting public resources that might otherwise be allocated to strengthen social safety nets and improve educational access and quality; it is also a significant generator of social inequality, contributing to the creation of a class of people permanently locked out of the opportunities of mainstream society, even well after release. Formerly incarcerated people face momentous obstacles to successful reentry, including barriers related to access to affordable housing, transportation, and gainful employment. They also face tremendous roadblocks in accessing the transformative power of higher education, which for many is the pathway to a more purposeful and prosperous life. While possessing knowledge, experience, and skill that stand to enrich the university community, formerly incarcerated students (and aspiring students) have uniquely urgent needs in navigating academic institutions, accessing the academic and student supports, and acquiring the soft skills and social capital necessary for academic and postgraduate success.

 

Langsdorf Hall

In-House Tutoring

Project Rebound at CSUF offers free in-house tutoring to help you excel in your classes. Our tutors provide one-on-one or small-group support tailored to your courses, whether you need help with math, writing, or other subjects.

This on-campus resource not only builds your academic skills but also boosts your confidence. By strengthening study habits and filling knowledge gaps, you’ll be better prepared to succeed in coursework and progress toward graduation.

Langsdorf Hall

FAFSA Applications

Navigating financial aid forms can be overwhelming, so our team provides hands-on guidance with the FAFSA application process.

We walk you through each step of the process – from gathering documents to meeting deadlines – to ensure you apply correctly and on time. By securing grants, fee waivers, and other aid opportunities, you can reduce the financial stress of college. With your funding in place, you’re free to focus on classes and achieving your academic goals.

 

Langsdorf Hall

Admissions

From application to acceptance, Project Rebound at CSUF guides you every step of the way. We help prospective students understand Cal State Fullerton’s admission requirements, prerequisite courses, and degree program options, and we assist them with completing applications and writing personal statements. Our staff can evaluate transcripts and recommend transfer pathways or preparatory courses if needed. With this individualized support, you can navigate requirements confidently and start your university journey at CSUF on solid footing.

 

Langsdorf Hall

Funding

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Dept. of Rehab. Project Rebound connects you with additional funding sources beyond financial aid. We help identify and apply for scholarships – including some specifically for Project Rebound students – as well as fellowships that align with your academic interests. Our staff will also guide you through obtaining support from the California Department of Rehabilitation if you qualify. By tapping into these resources, you can cover tuition, books, and other expenses, reducing financial barriers and allowing you to focus on your success.

 

Project Rebound Community

Our Mission

Project Rebound constructs a life-affirming alternative to the revolving door policies of mass incarceration by making higher education more accessible and supportive of formerly incarcerated students so that they can acquire the knowledge and skills of a university education, enhance their capacity for civic engagement and community leadership, secure meaningful and gratifying employment, empower themselves and their families, and ultimately make stronger, safer communities.

 

Leadership

Our Vision

We envision a just and equitable world in which all people, including those with an incarceration experience, have access to high-quality higher education and comprehensive student support services that foster achievement, transformation, empowerment, social responsibility, and flourishing.

Value of People

The Intrinsic Value of Persons. We believe that every person has inherent value and holds the power of possibility and transformation within them.

Equitable Access to Education

High-quality, higher education is fundamental to breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty, abuse, addiction, unemployment, and confinement.

Proven Leadership

We believe that the integration, education, and leadership of formerly incarcerated people are essential to the work of creating solutions to the social crisis of mass incarceration.

Our Guiding Values

Education as Public Safety

We believe that meaningful, high-quality higher education ultimately makes stronger, safer communities; we believe that public resources are better invested in education and other opportunities for transformation than prisons and punishment.

Mission Aligned

We aim to support the higher education and successful reintegration of the formerly incarcerated through mentorship and living example of other formerly incarcerated students, graduates, faculty, and staff. 

Civic Engagement

We believe that community engagement is at once a right, a responsibility, and a means of empowerment; we aim to inspire all Rebound Scholars to be informed and engaged civic agents.

📘 One-on-One Academic Counseling

Every student’s journey is different, which is why Project Rebound offers individualized academic counseling. Our counselors help you create an education plan, choose courses that align with your goals, and understand graduation requirements. We check in regularly to make sure you’re on track and adjust your plan as needed. With a team that knows where you’re coming from and where you want to go, you’ll never walk this path alone.

📘 Career and Job Readiness Support

Project Rebound at CSUF prepares students for life after graduation through personalized career development. We provide résumé writing assistance, mock interviews, and job search strategies tailored to your goals and background. Whether you're exploring internships or applying for full-time positions, we’ll help you present your strengths and experiences confidently. Our career readiness support is designed to ensure you’re not only earning a degree—but building a future that’s stable and fulfilling.