July 07 '23•Benjamin Demers•academics• social justice• community

College Program at Santa Clara County Main Jail is Launched

Jeff Cormier faces class of inmates in orange jumpsuits.
Jeff Cormier works with Rising Scholars.

For Immediate Release

Santa Clara County, CA - In a pioneering move aimed at empowering incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, Mission College has become the first educational institution to offer courses at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. This groundbreaking initiative is part of the college's newly established Rising Scholars program, which is dedicated to serving justice-impacted students.

Led by Department Chair of Social & Behavioral Science, Jeff Cormier, and Rising Scholars Program Specialist, Steve Duong, the Main Jail's first college program commenced earlier this month.

The flagship courses being offered at the Santa Clara County Main Jail is PSY 030: Psychology of Addiction and Substance Abuse. Led by Cormier, the course delves into the physiological and psychological processes of addiction, exploring their connection to the abuse of legal and illegal substances.  

Speaking about this milestone, Duong expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We firmly believe that education can be a transformative force in the lives of justice-impacted individuals. By bringing college courses to the Santa Clara County Main Jail, we are creating opportunities for personal growth, empowerment, and successful reintegration into society."

Mission College is expanding its reach to the Santa Clara County Main Jail by building on the success of its existing instructional program at Elmwood Jail in Milpitas. The college has been providing course offerings and certificate programs there aimed at promoting educational and employment opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.  

Inclusive and Transformative Education 

Mission College takes pride in its commitment to providing inclusive education and making a positive difference in the community. The college firmly believes in the transformative power of education for justice-impacted students and is actively exploring options to expand its course offerings and provide certificate programs that facilitate employment and path to completion. 

College President, Dr. Seher Awan, also shared her thoughts on the initiative, highlighting the institution's commitment to social impact.

President Awan stated, "At Mission College, we believe in the power of education to bring about positive change. By extending our educational  offerings to justice-impacted individuals, we are actively working towards building a more inclusive and equitable society. We are proud to pioneer this college program at the Santa Clara County Main Jail and remain dedicated to transforming lives through education." 

Rising Scholars Network

The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office provides funding for the Rising Scholars Network, a dedicated program aimed at serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students.

With a primary focus on reducing equity gaps among underrepresented student groups, Rising Scholars programs are currently providing support to approximately 20,000 justice-involved students statewide, both within campus environments and correctional facilities.

The program's objective is to enhance the involvement and success of justice-involved students in community colleges, aligning with the Vision for Success goals of degree completion, transfer opportunities, skill development, and equitable progress. 

Professor Arias Dennis instructs two students in chef white uniforms with hats on a recipe.
In addition to Cormier and Duong, Mission’s Rising Scholars program boasts an exceptional team of instructors, including Roy Brasil, Brian Miller, Daniel Arias, and Eve Little. Together, they offered five diverse courses at Elmwood Jail encompassing psychology, sociology, social justice, and food service & restaurant management.

They are committed to fostering positive change, promoting social justice, and transforming lives through education. Also, Mission will be expanding its offering and teaching more courses this Fall Semester at Elmwood, including a Communications course for the female population. 

The model collaboration at Elmwood is under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Marshall, the inmate rehabilitation manager of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Six South Bay community colleges are taking part and the program's participants total nearly 500 this year, working on various hands-on activities like fixing cars, welding, or baking.

Benjamin Demers
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected] 
About Mission College

Mission College is a leading institution of higher education dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education that empowers students to succeed.

With a commitment to student success, equity, and innovation, Mission College offers a diverse range of academic programs, exceptional faculty, and supportive services to foster a thriving educational community. 


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