Rising Scholars

Greetings!

Welcome to the Rising Scholars Program! We proudly serve currently and formerly incarcerated students, as well as individuals impacted by the juvenile justice system. Through strong partnerships with Valley State Prison (VSP), Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF), United States Penitentiary, Atwater (USP), and Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex (JJCC), we create meaningful opportunities and clear pathways from incarceration to higher education. Our mission is to eliminate barriers, empower students to achieve success, and provide support to help every student achieve their academic, and personal goals.

Your Rising Scholars team is here to guide you, support your goals, and celebrate your success every step of the way.

Get Started Today!

For questions or assistance, contact 209-384-6399

Complete the Interest/Referral Form

Eligibility & Who We Serve

Currently enrolled in a for-credit course or a noncredit course that is part of a certificated program.

Currently Incarcerated

As of today, our program offers over 20+ courses and serve 500+ students.

Currently Incarcerated
Justice Impacted Students

Those formerly incarcerated in a California correctional facility (e.g., prison or jail)

Justice Impacted Students
Juvenile Justice-Impacted

Those considered juvenile justice-impacted, such as individuals arrested, detained, or referred to probation as a youth and under the age of 26

Juvenile Justice-Impacted

Services for Rising Scholars Participants

Disabilities Served
- Deaf & hard of hearing
- Autism
- Learning disabilities
- Blind & low vision
- Mental health disabilities
- Acquired brain injury
- Physical disability
- Intellectual disability
- ADHD
Academic Accommodations
- Sign language interpreter
- Testing accommodations
- Note taker
- Audio/video record
- Preferential seating
- Reduced unit load
- Audio and braille books
- Large print
- Screen reader
Services
- Academic counseling
- Registration assistance
- Priority registration
- Monitoring/follow-up
- Accommodation letters
- Liaison with instructors
- On campus resources
- Community resources
- Learning disability testing