Frequently Asked Questions

• How long does it take to be accepted into the program?

  • Anyone who is formerly incarcerated is eligible for pre-screening (assessment to see whether they are eligible to apply to SJSU) and for assistance with their SJSU application. Once someone is accepted to SJSU, they are officially part of the Project Rebound program.

• Does Project Rebound require a certain number of units or a minimum GPA?

  • Typically, Project Rebound students need to meet the minimum eligibility requirements to transfer into SJSU, which are 60 units and a GPA of 2.0 or higher.  If a student has completed 45 units, including the four GE requirements (the “Golden Four”), we can advocate for them to be accepted to SJSU. Our priority is ensuring that students are familiar with college level work and can meet that demand while also meeting the other demands in their life. We want to set students up for success.

• What if I don’t want to go to SJSU?

  • We can refer you to the Project Rebound chapters at another CSU. Almost every campus has one!

• What type of support/services does Project Rebound offer?

  • For enrolled students, the first step in support is stabilization, which is based on a Needs Assessment Intake. For example, if a PR student is unhoused PR will refer the student to either an on campus or community-based support because we know students will not be able to focus on school work if their basic needs are unmet. When merited, Project Rebound can provide support for textbooks, Smart Cards for public transportation, meal swipes in SJSU’s Dining Hall, etc.

• Does Project Rebound provide financial help?

  • In terms of tuition, FAFSA is still the main source of financial aid. Project Rebound provides direct support to students on a case-by-case basis based on assessment of an individual student’s need. We also offer work study and other student assistant positions to some students.

• Does Project Rebound help with record expungement?

  • While Project Rebound does not do expungement, we work very closely with SJSU’s own Record Clearance Project, which does! We are happy to connect you to them, or you can contact them yourself: https://www.sjsu.edu/rcp/. Individuals do not need to be SJSU students to have their record expunged. 

• What type of fields/careers do formerly incarcerated people go into?

  • We know formerly incarcerated students who have gone on to become attorneys, teachers, salespeople, social workers, program directors, entrepreneurs, and much more, including Project Rebound staff! The only limit is their imagination and intellectual ability. They are free to choose their education & career paths.

• How does Project Rebound encourage formerly incarcerated people to become scholars?

  • We use a peer mentorship model. When a formerly incarcerated student sees someone who was also formerly incarcerated successfully complete a college degree, it motivates them to believe in & discipline themselves to attain the same accomplishment. They see someone that was in a similar situation rise above that adversity they know it is possible for them to do the same. However, we cannot do the work for them. They need to bring their own motivation and determination. 

• How successful is Project Rebound? 

  • There are several criteria used to measure Project Rebound’s impact/success. The main statistic is the recidivism rate, which the average number of individuals who have been incarcerated who return to prison. Project Rebound students have a recidivism rate of .59% vs. the statewide average of 42% and the national average of 75%. In other words, out of 1000 individuals who have been released from prison, only 6 Project Rebound students would return to prison, compared to 420 in the state and 750 in the nation. 

• How do you determine who gets help? Does an individual’s sentence or crime play a role? 

  • We do not inquire into the length of a student’s sentence or their specific crime. The determination to support each individual is based on a needs assessment that is completed once they are accepted to SJSU. Every PR student will have different needs based on their current situation, independence, and self-sufficiency. For example, a student that has a car would likely not need a Smart Pass.

• How do individuals who are incarcerated learn about Project Rebound?

  • One of the main ways people learn about Project Rebound is through presentations we hold in jails and prisons. They might learn about it from a friend or family member because we also table at campus and community events. We also have flyers and brochures that we share with facilities with educational programs. Our best advertisement is probably word of mouth, when someone who has heard of us shares the news with other people inside. We have heard from people as far away as Georgia!

• Does someone who is incarcerated get to come home early if they are part of Project Rebound? 

  • In some cases, an individual can apply for early release if they are accepted into a university. Project Rebound can advocate for students in these cases, but there are many factors, one of which is stable housing. 

• Does Project Rebound also try to keep people off the street so they won’t land back in prison?

  • Project Rebound supports students in their effort to stay engaged and on an academic path. Because we see our students as adults, they are still responsible for the decisions they make. The goal, of course, is to increase the individual's knowledge and understanding with the underlying belief that when we know better, we can do better. That includes making better decisions.

• What is the difference between Project Rebound, Underground Scholars, and Rising Scholars? 

  • These three programs all share the goal of supporting system involved individuals achieve their educational goals. Project Rebound is a CSU program, Underground Scholars is a UC program, and Rising Scholars is the program for California’s community college system.  We work with Rising Scholars chapters in the area to assist students in transferring to SJSU once they have completed their lower division coursework.

• Does Project Rebound do any work in prisons and jails, or do you focus more on recently released individuals?

  • Some Project Rebound chapters offer in-custody classes. SJSU does not currently have a program like this, but we hope to in the future.

• Does Project Rebound provide therapy to those experiencing PTSD?

  • SJSU offers mental health support through our Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) program. PR can refer students to these resources based on their need

• Does your program have familial resources to help reconnect former incarcerated individuals with their families?

  • Parenting and family communication is one component of our soft skills training, which is designed to help participants gain literacy in emotional intelligence. This includes individuals learning how to manage their emotional triggers and develop strategies to cope and respond from a position of self-discipline and self-empowerment.

• Do you connect with high schoolers or any younger individuals who may be at risk and are not exactly set up for success?

  • At this time, we are not set up to do a lot of work with high school students. We are able to work with TAY (Transition Aged Youth 18+) leaving or close to leaving juvenile detention, especially if they have been taking college courses during their detention. If someone is not yet ready for a four-year university, we can connect them with local community colleges.

• What has been your favorite class you took in your educational career?

  • Rudy says: "I stumbled across philosophy just from general reading in search of understanding the situation I found myself in. Then I realized all the thoughts & ideas I connected with were directly related to philosophy. One of the first classes I enrolled in was an Introduction to Philosophy. Reflecting on these thoughts & ideas were psychologically healing because I felt they were empowering me to think critically and independently. I began developing a degree of determination and confidence that I felt put me back in control of my emotions and informed a possible future that brought me hope in a hopeless environment."

• How can I get involved?

  • If you are interested in becoming a Project Rebound scholar, please complete our Interest Form. You can also complete the form for a family member.

    If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form