Project Rebound assists formerly incarcerated individuals seeking to enroll at Cal State LA with support. Project Rebound was started in 1967 by Professor John Irwin at San Francisco State University. The program is staffed by students who have had prior incarceration experiences. The program offers an alternative to the revolving door policy of the criminal justice system by offering a program, which encourages students to excel in a course of study. The program seeks to encourage full time students who are motivated to succeed in a field of a study which leads to a Baccalaureate Degree.

Project Rebound serves as a liaison and advocate with campus services and programs as well as with community organizations. By offering resources and connections with supportive entities, Project Rebound attempts to help students with their basic needs so that they can concentrate on their studies and achieve educational and personal empowerment

The mission of the CSU Project Rebound Consortium is to support the higher education and successful reintegration of the formerly incarcerated through the mentorship and living example of other formerly incarcerated students, graduates, faculty, and staff.

In 1967, Irwin created Project Rebound as a way to matriculate people into San Francisco State University directly from the criminal justice system. Since the program’s inception, hundreds of formerly incarcerated people have obtained bachelor’s degrees and beyond. In 2016, with the support of the Opportunity Institute and the CSU Chancellor’s Office, Project Rebound expanded into a consortium of nine CSU campus programs.

At CSUN, Project Rebound was preceded by Revolutionary Scholars, a grassroots student organization started by two formerly incarcerated students to create a campus support system as an alternative to criminalization and incarceration.