SDSU’s Inaugural Cohort Graduates from VISTA

May 29, 2025

San Diego State University's Valuing Incarcerated Scholars through Academia (VISTA) program celebrated its first graduating class of 27 incarcerated students at Centinela State Prison in Imperial, California. Founded by Professor Annie Buckley and launched in August 2023, the program offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication, Journalism and Media Studies, and Art and Design to incarcerated individuals who have completed associate degrees and meet SDSU transfer requirements. The graduation ceremony on May 15 represented a transformative achievement for participants like Ruben Vargas, who gained renewed confidence and future opportunities through education.

Who is affected

27 incarcerated students who graduated from SDSU while still in prison
Current and future incarcerated individuals at Centinela State Prison
The families and children of graduates (as mentioned by graduate Ruben Vargas)
The broader community, as data shows lower recidivism rates for those completing college programming

What action is being taken

SDSU is currently operating the VISTA program offering Bachelor of Arts degrees to incarcerated individuals
Faculty and fellows are working on student learning assessments and developing specialized workshops
The university is planning to introduce a humanities degree in the future
SDSU is creating a toolkit to help other institutions implement similar prison education programs

Why it matters

The program provides second chances and transforms lives through education
It empowers incarcerated individuals through academic courses, mentorship, and support
Graduates gain confidence, self-worth, and improved future prospects
CDCR data indicates significantly lower recidivism rates for those who complete college programming
The program challenges traditional barriers to education for incarcerated individuals

What's next

SDSU faculty and fellows are developing specialized workshops in response to student assessments
Plans to introduce a humanities degree in the future are underway
The university is creating a toolkit to help other institutions implement similar prison education programs
The program will continue to expand using the $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint