About

Origins of Project Rebound

In 1952, John Irwin (1929-2010) robbed a gas station and served a five-year sentence for armed robbery in Soledad Prison. During his time in prison, he earned 24 college credits through a university extension program, eventually earning his B.A. from UCLA and a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley post-release. As a Professor of Sociology and Criminology at San Francisco State University, where he taught for 27 years, Dr. Irwin became known internationally as an expert on the U.S. prison system and a staunch advocate for the rights of the currently and formerly incarcerated. 

Understanding the vital role that education played in his own life, Dr. Irwin created Project Rebound to provide a pathway to matriculation and support system for formerly incarcerated students at San Francisco State. His vision was revolutionary, as there was no other program across the country that provided such support on a college campus. SF State’s program enjoyed great success but remained the only Project Rebound campus in the CSU system for nearly 40 years. This all changed in the late 2010s as students, including the formerly incarcerated, and other community advocates began to demand increased educational access and opportunity for both currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. 

Project Rebound Today

In 2016, with the support of the Opportunity Institute and the CSU Chancellor Timothy White, Project Rebound expanded beyond San Francisco State into a consortium of nine CSU campus programs. Thanks to the incredible success of our students and the tireless work of staff, the California legislature moved to permanently fund Project Rebound in 2019. The California Community College system and UC system have also implemented similar programs through Rising Scholars and Underground Scholars, both of which are supported with ongoing state funding as well, further cementing California a national leader in post-secondary access for formerly incarcerated individuals.

As of 2023, fifteen CSU campuses have Project Rebound programs, including: Bakersfield, East Bay, Fresno, Fullerton, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Francisco, San Marcos, Stanislaus. Since 2016, Project Rebound students system-wide, enrollments have increased by more than 400%; 87% of graduates have secured full-time employment or admission to post- graduate programs; and less than one percent have recidivated.