Rising Scholars Network
Higher Aspirations at Gavilan College is part of the Rising Scholars Network that has been established across the California Community Colleges. Rising Scholars Network is committed to serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students by providing degree-granting programs in correctional facilities and on-campus support for students who have experienced the criminal justice system.
The network is rooted in the following guiding principles:
- Program Structure: Build a sustainable student-centered program that relies on student feedback to identify needs and priorities.
- Clarify the Path: Seek new students through outreach to reentry programs, community organizations, transitional housing facilities, probation, parole, juvenile detention centers, court schools, adult schools, and county jails.
- Enter the Path: Walk students through the admissions and enrollment process. Connect students via a warm hand-off with trusted contacts in campus departments including financial aid, admissions and records, and academic and career counseling.
- Stay on the Path: Be proactive about student engagement and support; keep students on track to degree or certificate completion; create structured opportunities for peer connections and mentoring.
- Ensure Learning: Amplify student voices on campus using a resiliency framework to empower students to share their knowledge as experts, leaders, and change agents.