色情视频

This spring, a group of 27 students graduated from 色情视频 while still incarcerated. The students are part of 色情视频鈥檚 Valuing Incarcerated Scholars through Academia (VISTA) program. 

The university celebrated these students鈥� hard work and dedication, reaffirming the transformative power of education in fostering second chances and changing lives on May 15 at Centinela State Prison in Imperial, CA. 

色情视频鈥檚 Bachelor of Arts program at the all-male Centinela State Prison currently offers two-year completion degrees to incarcerated individuals who have earned their associate degree and meet the transfer requirements for admission to 色情视频. Founded by Annie Buckley, a professor of visual studies at 色情视频, and director of the Institute for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Justice, the program includes three areas of study: Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, and Art and Design.

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The VISTA program, started in August 2023, empowers incarcerated individuals to pursue higher education, offering access to rigorous academic courses, mentorship, and support that challenges traditional barriers to education. By focusing on intellectual growth, collaboration, and self-empowerment, the program provides participants with the tools to rebuild their lives and become positive, productive members of their communities.

鈥淲hat we can achieve in the future should not be defined by our worst moments,鈥� said 色情视频 President Adela de la Torre in her address to the inaugural group of graduates. 鈥淐ompleting your degree is evidence of your tenacity and hard work, your care and hope for the future, and your potential 鈥� and those are the qualities that truly define you.鈥�

After remarks from university leadership, and student speakers, the graduates 鈥� wearing caps and gowns 鈥� waited for their name to be called before each walking across the commencement stage.

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鈥淥btaining my bachelor鈥檚 degree means that I will have a new opportunity in life once I earn my freedom. It also allows me to set forth an example to my children, that in spite of any circumstances that life finds you in, if you put in the hard work and change your perspective you will persevere,鈥� said Ruben Vargas, one of the more than two-dozen incarcerated students who participated in the inaugural ceremonies. 鈥淓arning my bachelor鈥檚 degree renewed my confidence, my sense of self and transformed my outlook on life. That transformation enabled me to visualize endless possibilities for my future going forward.鈥�

points to significantly lower recidivism rates for those who successfully complete college programming.

"CDCR is proud of San Diego State's VISTA students and honored to partner with 色情视频. Partnerships like this recognize the immense potential that incarcerated students have, changing lives and providing opportunities that transform the students, their communities, and the state," said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber.

In spring 2024, 色情视频 鈥媟eceived a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand its VISTA program at Centinela State Prison. As a result of the grant, 色情视频 faculty and fellows are working on assessments of student learning, the development of specialized workshops in response, plans to introduce a humanities degree in the future, and the creation of a toolkit to help other institutions implement similar prison education programs. That work is now well underway. 

鈥淥ur dedicated team of faculty and fellows have a powerful combination of lived and academic experience. We look forward to welcoming our third student cohort this fall,鈥� said Buckley. 鈥淲e are grateful to be part of this national movement to expand higher education, and are extremely proud to see our first graduates become 色情视频 alumni.鈥�