Advancing College Opportunity for Justice-Impacted Students

Advancing College Opportunity for Justice-Impacted Students

College Success | 0 comments

Building a strong prison-to-school pipeline is necessary as we continue fighting for equal access to higher education. As more institutions begin to diversify their student populations and highlight the several student identities that tend to overlap, there is still one group that is often left out of many significant conversations — those who have been negatively affected by the carceral system. Formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students are often left feeling unwelcome in spaces of higher education because of the many barriers present for them. Barriers to college access include background checks and inadequate student services, leading to a decrease in retention rates amongst this student population. A justice-impacted student includes someone at risk of being incarcerated or who has been formerly incarcerated, someone who has been legally, economically, or familially affected in a negative way by the incarceration of a close relative; this also includes people who have been arrested, and/or convicted without incarceration.

 

While it is important to note that higher-ed institutions still have a lot to learn when it comes to serving justice-impacted students, there are current programs already in place dedicated to helping such students succeed. These programs are essential and vital to increasing retention rates amongst formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students. 

 

Here is a list of current programs available: 

 

CC Level: 

CA Community Colleges: Rising Scholars Network

To find further information on a specific Community College 

use this program directory to learn more:  

Rising Scholars Network Program Directory 

 

CSU Level: 

Currently, 14 CSU campuses have Project Rebound programs working with formerly incarcerated students. To find information on a specific college campus, scroll down to the bottom page 

Cal State University: Project Rebound

 

UC Level: 

Currently, there are 9 UC campuses that have the Underground Scholars Initiative working with formerly incarcerated scholars throughout the state. We have listed the main page to learn more about the program’s mission and history along with links to each UC chapter available across CA. 

The Underground Scholars Initiative 

 

USI UC BERKELEY:

Link to Join: https://callink.berkeley.edu/organization/usi

Facebook: facebook.com/undergroundscholars

USI UCLA:

Bruin Underground Scholars Program Website: https://undergroundscholars.ucla.edu/

Bruin Underground Scholars Program Email: undergroundscholars@saonet.ucla.edu 

USI UCLA Student Org Email:  undergroundscholars@gmail.com

USI UC IRVINE:

Email: uciundergroundscholars@gmail.com

Facebook: USIatUCI

USI UC RIVERSIDE:

Website: https://highlanderlink.ucr.edu/organization/usi-ucr

Email: undergroundscholarsucr@gmail.com

Facebook: Underground Scholars Initiative, UCR

Twitter: @undergroundSch3

USI UC SANTA BARBARA:

Email: undergroundscholars.sb.ucsb@gmail.com 

Facebook: Underground Scholars Santa Barbara 

USI UC SAN DIEGO:

Website: https://usiucsd.org/ and https://oasis.ucsd.edu/programs/USI-folder/index.html

Email: usi.ucsd@gmail.com

USI UC SANTA CRUZ:

Website: https://undergroundscholars.ucsc.edu/

USI UC DAVIS:

Email: undergrounducd@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undergrounducd

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/undergrounducd

UC MERCED:

Intake Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pFqOamyMuhhFuHCLeOO855quhtJTypWIuQTNuuFs_a8/viewform?edit_requested=true

          Email: eramirez226@ucmerced.edu 

Edith Ramirez, Underground Scholars Program Coordinator

    Applying to Community College

    Applying to Community College

    HS & First Year Students | 0 comments

    By MONICA AGUILERA

    Boba-drinking, Zelda-playing, Horror-watching brown girl from Oaxacalifornia.

    Welcome to Community College! Community college is a great option for students who are looking to save money, want to explore different career options, hoping to raise their GPA to transfer, etc. In addition, community colleges offer affordable summer and winter courses that can help you speed up your GE requirements if you already attend a UC or CSU! In California, there are over 116 community colleges you can apply to. 

    According to the CCC Chancellor’s office: 

    • Nearly half of students earning a bachelor’s degree from a University of California campus in science, technology, engineering and mathematics transferred from a California community college.
    • Twenty-nine percent of University of California graduates and 51% of California State University graduates started at a community college.
    • Students earning a degree or certificate from a California community college nearly double their earnings within three years.

    If these stats are something that you want to be a part of, great, keep following along! 

     How to Apply

    1. The first thing you want to do when applying to community college is visit https://www.cccapply.org/en/apply. This helpful source lets you easily go down the list of 116 community colleges in California.
    2. After selecting the college that interests you the most, (visit our college list if you’re still searching for your just right college), you will be redirected to the college’s personal application.
    3. While every application is different, a majority of applications will consist of:
      • Your Full Name
      • Mailing Address
      • Social Security (SSN)
      • Driver’s License Number
      • High School Transcripts
      • Latest English and Math Classes Completed
    4. After the application is finished, you then complete your FAFSA or Dream Act Application and connect the school you are applying to using their school code.

      If you need support applying for FAFSA, find our guide here 

    5. After finishing your application, your college will most likely request for you to attend orientation, take a math/ english placement test (if you were not able to send in your high school transcripts), and meet with an academic counselor to plan out your courses.
    6. Finally, you start registering for classes and wait for the semester to begin. You are now a college student!

    Here are some important dates:  

    FAFSA: Opens October 1st- Closes June 30th, 2020

    Class Registration: Varies per Campus (check on their personal website)

    Other Important Sites to pay for Community College:

    CCC Money 

    CCC California Promise Grant

    Campus Resources for Undocumented Students

    Campus Resources for Undocumented Students

    College Success | 0 comments

    While California has established statewide programs so undocumented students can safely apply for financial aid, such as California Dream Act, there is a lack of coordination and consistency in how these and other resources are made available to students. The resources vary widely across campuses, and can even be different within the same segment of higher education. This can often confuse or misinform students about critical information. Colleges and universities need to ensure they provide consistent and adequate information and support services for undocumented students that are readily available on their campuses.

    The interactive map below serves as a guide to find information about campus centers for undocumented students, support programs, website address with relevant information, and contact information of undocumented allies/liaisons. This information is critical to improve access and success for undocumented students in higher education. 

    California Undocumented Student Resources Map

    Source: Campaign for College Opportunity and CA Undocumented HIgher-Ed Coalition