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CSUDH and CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Launch Master’s Degree Program

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Students using computer inside a prison facility
Image courtesy of CDCR

Starting this fall, incarcerated people across California will have the opportunity to earn a fully accredited Master of Arts in Humanities degree from CSUDH.

The groundbreaking program, called HUX, is a partnership between CSUDH and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). It will be the first time CDCR formally partners with California’s public higher education system to offer a graduate degree exclusively for incarcerated students.

CSUDH first established HUX as a correspondence program in the early 1970s. Its subject-matter breadth and affordability helped it become one of the most popular and accessible humanities-based graduate degrees in the country—for both incarcerated and non-incarcerated students—until it ended in 2016.

In 2020, the CSUDH College of Arts and Humanities and College of Continuing and Professional Education began the process of rebooting HUX with a mission to help incarcerated people pursue their academic goals with support from CDCR.

“We wanted to bring back a legacy program that had a proven track record in distance education and tied in with CSUDH’s commitment to social justice,” said Matthew Luckett, program director of HUX. “We recreated this program to be a beacon and a leader within incarcerated education.”

The first HUX cohort will begin in September and includes 33 students across multiple facilities. Students commit to two years of coursework, focusing on subjects within the field of humanities that reflect their own interests and goals. Students work independently, completing coursework through secure laptops and working with faculty through video call and/or written correspondence. Whenever possible, professors will bring together students in the program for discussions and collaborative work.

Under CSUDH and CDCR’s interagency agreement, any incarcerated person within CDCR can apply for HUX if they have already obtained a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have earned a grade point average of at least 2.5 in past coursework. Before the agreement, students pursuing a graduate degree would have to do so completely independently, via correspondence college, and through out-of-state institutions.

“CDCR is proud to partner with CSUDH to further the Department’s commitment in expanding ‘grade school to grad school’ opportunities and also strengthen collaborative efforts with California’s public higher education system,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber.

“These efforts are vital, as education serves as a powerful rehabilitative tool—studies show that incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who didn’t take advantage of these opportunities.”

CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham echoed the importance of providing advanced learning opportunities in correctional settings.

“Transforming lives is what we do at CSUDH,” Parham said. “Our mission is firmly anchored in social justice, and HUX reaffirms our commitment to providing accessible, transformative education.

“This historic partnership between California State University and CDCR benefits students—and ultimately their families and communities—by distinguishing between what people did and who they are at the core of their being, and recognizing their potential, cultivating their talents, and preparing them to thrive in their paths moving forward.”

Tuition for HUX is approximately $10,500, with opportunity for scholarships and grants via the CSUDH financial aid office. In some instances, CDCR may provide assistance not covered by comparable benefits. CSUDH also accepts donations to support the program’s greatest needs to help ensure student success.

“Few programs, academic or otherwise, have as high of a return on investment as prison education programs,” said Luckett. “Our students don’t just stay out of jail—they become leaders in their communities.”

To learn more about HUX and how to apply, contact Matthew Luckett.

CDCR’s ‘grade school to grad school’ commitment

CDCR partners with California’s public higher education system to offer associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the California community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. About 13.5% of the entire incarcerated population are enrolled in college courses. HUX expands the partnership to include the master’s degree, providing increased opportunity for incarcerated students to continue their education.

Toro Women’s Soccer Looks for Turnaround

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Toro women's soccer players
Toros (L-R) Kylie Yuzon, Alicia Covarrubias, and Katie McDermott are eager to kick off the 2023 season.

The 2022 season didn’t go as planned for the CSUDH women’s soccer team, but Interim Head Coach Danielle Jones is ready to turn the page.

“We had a good group of young women last year, but we just didn’t click as a team like we had hoped,” says Jones, who is in her first year in charge of the squad. “We’re looking forward to changing that this year.”

Despite starting last season with high hopes, the losses quickly began to add up. The team ended the season with a disappointing 1-13-4 record. “It was a rough, rough go,” admits Jones. “But we have a good opportunity now to rebuild the program. The assistant coaches and I have had a lot of time to think about all the things that we want to do in the future. I think we’ve put together a really good culture and a solid plan for what we plan to do this year.”

When Jones brought the team together for spring practice, the emphasis was on recapturing the joy of playing soccer. “We wanted the players to start having fun again,” says Jones. “We just let them play—they did small-side games, worked on fitness and technical things, and just let them be college athletes.

“I think that really helped. I saw a lot of growth from so many of them being able to find their voice or their playing style.”

The squad returns only ten players from last season’s team, but Jones and her staff have bolstered their ranks through a whirlwind recruiting process. Overall, the team is bringing in 21 new players from the junior college and high school ranks. “We did a lot of work to bring this squad together, and our roster is pretty stacked now,” says Jones.

Jones has spent the off-season meticulously planning for this year. “I feel like we’re starting from the ground up, in a very positive and methodical way,” she says. “I have all my practice sessions planned for months!”

This season will be one of transition, as the team adapts to new coaching and looks to get the program headed back in the right direction. “I’ll measure success as how we change the culture,” says Jones. “Is everyone bought into what we’re doing? Is everyone competing? As long as we’re competing every day and everyone comes in with intensity, that’s going to be a positive step.”

Jones knows that wins will be hard to come by in the ultra-competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), but wants her team to embrace the challenge. “There are never easy games in our conference,” says Jones. “It’s high-level competition, and that’s what we’re trying to build here. This year, I just want our players to enjoy their experience, have fun, and be competitive. I think it’s going to be a turnaround season for us.”

She encourages Toro students to come out and support the squad as they rebuild a winning culture. “We’re going to be fast, aggressive, brave in the air—I’m very attack-minded and the team will always be looking to go forward. We’re definitely going to give you a show. We’re building something new and can use all the support we can get from the students!”

The CSUDH women’s soccer team plays their home opener against Concordia University Irvine on Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:00 p.m., at Toro Stadium. Their complete schedule is available at https://gotoros.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule.

Toro Men’s Soccer Aims to Build on Success

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Toro men's soccer players Zane Baumgardt, Sebastian Ascensio, and Ndifor Ginyui.
Toros (L-R) Zane Baumgardt, Sebastian Ascensio, and Ndifor Ginyui are ready to make their mark.

The 2022 CSUDH men’s soccer team may have won the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title and reached the third round of the NCAA Division II Championships, but head coach Eddie Soto can’t help but think about what might have been.

“There was a lot to be very, very proud of last season,” says Soto. “But in the end, we came up short. We missed our expectations, to be honest. We had a team that could have gone further. We all felt that way.”

The team’s dreams of reaching the Elite Eight were dashed with a third-round tournament loss to Northwest Nazarene University. Despite dominating most of the match and scoring a go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute, the Toros were beaten by a pair of very late goals. The 3-2 loss sent the Toros crashing out of the tournament earlier than expected.

“We were six minutes from the Elite Eight, and here we are ready to start a new season and that bad taste is still in my mouth,” says Soto, who heads the United Soccer Coaches (USC) 2022 West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. “I think it’s the same with the guys. I’m not taking anything away from what our players and our team did. It was great, we had a fantastic year, and we’re back on the national map, which is great.”

“But they had two goals in 58 seconds! You tip your hat to the other team. They were very resilient, they came back and beat us, but I think at the end of the day, we beat ourselves. I think everybody feels that way.”

Soto is determined that the squad learn from its mistakes last season. One of his favorite catchphrases is “Complacency Hinders Progress,” and the coach believes that was part of the Toros’ undoing in the tournament loss.

“I think our guys were thinking that the game was over,” says Soto. “They were already thinking of the Elite Eight, and then in one minute we lose the game. It was a tough lesson to learn, but I’m a big believer that you learn a lot from losing. Hopefully, we’ve learned that we can never feel complacent or comfortable with where we are.”

The Toros start the 2023 season with renewed expectations, and were voted tenth nationally in the annual USC preseason poll—the highest-ranked team in the CCAA. Soto doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, though. He knows that the CCAA is a minefield to traverse over the course of the season.

“It’s always tough,” he says. “We’re the ACC of Division II. It’s the toughest conference in the country. I don’t see it being any different from last year. Every game is going to be a battle. That’s why recruiting is so important. You can’t rely on what you’ve done in the past, it’s always about here and now. On any given day, any team can win in our conference. You can’t underestimate anyone.”

The Toros lost several key contributors from last season’s squad, including CCAA Male Athlete of the Year Sulaiman Bah, who transferred to Cal State Fullerton along with fellow Sierra Leone native Alpha Sowe. Replacing them won’t be easy, but Soto and his staff have had a great recruiting year and expect many of the new Toros to make a big impact.

“Depth is going to be very important, especially in the CCAA, where the season takes a toll on guys—physically, mentally, and emotionally,” says Soto. “Our number one goal when we were recruiting was to improve our depth. I feel that we’ve done that in every position. We have a lot of talent on the team. Now it’s about who’s going to adapt, to compete, to be consistent, and at the end of the day, who’s going to produce?”

Soto has big expectations for the squad this season, but stresses that the Toros can’t get ahead of themselves. “For us, it’s about who are we playing on that given day, and all our concentration and focus is on that. That needs to start with me and my staff, we’re not going to look ahead. We can’t. We’ve got to focus on the moment.”

The team and coaching staff are excited to get the season started and see how far they can go. “We have some really dynamic and athletic guys who are also technically skilled,” says Soto. “I’m really excited to see if we can put all the pieces together. That’s the hard part.”

The CSUDH men’s soccer team plays their home opener against Azusa Pacific University on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6:00 p.m., at Toro Stadium. Their complete schedule is available at https://gotoros.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule.

CSUDH Receives $1 Million STEM Grant from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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CSUDH sign on Victoria, Innovation and Instruction building in background

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) has been awarded a portion of an $8.9 million Scientific Leadership Award (SLA) grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. CSUDH was one of eight Minority Serving Institutions nationally to be included in the grant, and joined CSU Northridge as one of only two in California.

CSUDH will receive $1 million over the five-year length of the grant for their program Securing the Future of Los Angeles: CSUDH Homeland Security Initiative, which will launch the Homeland Security Initiative at CSUDH. The initiative aims to build the university’s capacity in interdisciplinary research, education, and workforce development for Homeland Security Enterprises (HSE).

The initiative has three major goals: to recruit and support students towards completing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or Homeland Security-related degrees through improved, relevant curricula, experiential learning, and integrated research; to build research capacity in HSE topics at CSUDH through supporting innovative, interdisciplinary research projects and funding development; and to develop a diverse and qualified workforce that is ready for future security challenges, especially in the Los Angeles region.

Qiyuan Jin, assistant professor of public administration and the principal investigator for the grant said, “HSE requires a diverse, competent workforce that specializes in areas such as counterterrorism, border security, cyber security, supply chain management, and disaster management. This challenge is particularly salient in the L.A. and Southern California region, where we have critical security challenges in areas such as international trade, immigration, and transportation.”

“As a Minority Serving Institution, our university can play a critical role in training a qualified and more diverse homeland security workforce by creating evidence-based education and career pathways from community college to our campus, and also potentially to advanced degrees and then on to successful careers.”

The grant will help CSUDH create new courses and adapt existing coursework to focus on the STEM-related goals of the project. The university will also partner with local community institutions on the project, including working with community colleges to recruit interested students.

The grant team proposed numerous impactful interdisciplinary research projects, which cover topics including cybersecurity, maritime security, supply chain disruption, systems engineering, disaster management, counterterrorism, and social media analytics. CSUDH will also work with the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Threats and Emergencies (CREATE) at the University of Southern California on collaborative research projects and joint research events to support experiential learning.

The SLA grant will provide Toro students with a wide range of additional education, research, and career development opportunities such as SLA Scholarships, research assistants, internship programs, and mentorship programs. In addition, the university will team with local partners such as the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Los Angeles International Airport, Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County to create internships and professional development and networking events, providing career pathways for Toro students.

“The Department of Homeland Security firmly believes that STEM innovation allows us to solve the complex challenges of today and make a difference in how we secure and protect our country into the future,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We are proud to partner with minority serving academic institutions to conduct Homeland Security research and find innovative ways to execute the DHS mission.”

“The Scientific Leadership Award grants are critical investments in protecting the nation from future threats, and we are proud to support the work of these outstanding institutions,” said Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “We believe that by partnering with these institutions, we can bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the field, and ultimately make our country safer and more secure.”

“The DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate offers very well-regarded research opportunities to institutions of higher learning, often centering on collaborations and partnerships with DHS-sponsored Centers of Excellence,” said Gus Martin, professor of criminal justice administration and Director of the CSUDH School of Public Service and Justice. “Within this context, the grant represents the recognition by the directorate of the professional excellence of CSUDH faculty. The contribution to regional policy will be significant.”

For Jin, the grant aligns perfectly with CSUDH’s mission of student success. “This program will help our students better prepare for future challenges in homeland security and related fields,” he said. “Our university is all about providing opportunities and social mobility for students from traditionally underserved communities. This grant is a perfect opportunity to further our mission and also deepen our impact in the community.”

CSUDH Hosts Next Generation of Black Leaders

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Participants of the AALT leadership conference on the campus of CSUDH.
CSUDH hosted 50 junior and senior high school students during the four-day AALT leadership conference. (Kerry James Photography)

The intersection of public policy and individual liberty provided the substance of this year’s African American Leaders for Tomorrow (AALT) program as 50 high school students from across the state joined educators, business leaders, and elected officials for a four-day leadership conference on the CSUDH campus.

AALT students experiment with Snapchat filters at the Santa Monica campus of Snap, Inc.
AALT students experiment with Snapchat filters during a workshop at Snap, Inc. headquarters. (Kerry James Photography)

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) created the program to equip young men and women of color with the tools and experience necessary to excel in higher education and to become leaders within their communities and beyond. Sen. Steven Bradford, Vice Chair of the CLBC, welcomed the AALT scholars at the event’s kick-off dinner.

“This program is about preparing the next generation of leaders, but many of you are already leaders in your own communities,” Bradford said. “It’s a privilege to help support your growth and enrichment with the AALT program, our premier youth civic engagement initiative.”

In partnership with CSUDH and the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute, the CLBC offers qualifying students an immersive college experience that includes residency and meals on campus, workshops, a mock legislative session, and off-campus activities, including a visit this year to the Santa Monica campus of Snap, Inc., the company that owns Snapchat.

High school senior Kyle Sebbern speaks during the mock assembly hearing.
Kyle Sebbern speaks during the mock committee hearing. (Kerry James Photography)

“It is only with a well-educated and compassionate workforce that our communities, specifically our underserved communities, can advance to meet the critical needs of our society,” said CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham in his introductory remarks delivered via video on the opening night of the program.

Kyle Sebbern, a senior at Independence High School in Bakersfield, Calif., said his mother convinced him to apply for the AALT program. “I want to be a leader in my community, so this program will help me understand what real leadership looks like,” Sebbern said.

The Dymally Institute was founded in part to help the Black community better discern the impact of public policy on their lives, said Anthony Samad, director of the institute. “We need to study public policy, and we need to disrupt public policy that works against the progress of our communities.”

Students in the AALT program got an up-close look at how bills in Sacramento become the laws that will govern their lives at the state and local level. Groups were assigned to serve as the authors of a bill, lobbyists, and committee members for the relevant committee to which the bill was being presented.

Students and CLBC volunteers listen to debate during the mock committee hearing.
Students and CLBC volunteers listen to debate during the mock committee hearing. (Kerry James Photography)

Guided by members of the CLBC, students evaluated, argued for or against, and then publicly voted on a real assembly bill—in this year’s program, it was AB 252, or the College Athlete Protection Act, which, if enacted, would set the stage for student-athletes in California to receive money from their schools based on the revenue generated by their teams.

The mock hearings are a regular fixture of the AALT program and provide a dynamic and collaborative context for students to become familiar with the legislative process, said Marvin Richardson, a political consultant for California’s Senate Democratic Caucus and an AALT program volunteer.

“Laws are what govern the world we live in. Too many young people don’t understand the law or how it affects them until it affects them,” Richardson said.

Rachel Mitchell receives her AALT certificate from Sen. Steve Sanford and
Rachel Mitchell with Assemblymember Corey Jackson, left, and Senator Steven Bradford. (Kerry James Photography)

Cedric Hicks, Jr., a Carson city councilmember, graduated from CSUDH, as did his parents, wife, and three children. “Without CSUDH, so many people in this region would lack access to higher education.” He added that the AALT program not only gives participating students an inside look at what university life looks like, but affords them access to elected officials.

“Young people—particularly those from the underserved communities that CSUDH caters to—rarely have access to the local officials elected to serve them. This event brings everyone together and allows students to explore different futures by directing questions to the officials that help shape the policies and laws that affect their lives.”

Rachel Mitchell is a junior at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale. She said the debate over AB 252 during the mock hearing really opened her eyes to how complicated the legislative process can be and the impact it can have. “There is so much more nuance to the process than I expected. During lobbying and debate, I realized that there’s never just one right or wrong answer. You have to consider so many different factors.”

Taking civic responsibilities seriously is a chief aim of the AALT program, said Samad, adding that it isn’t always easy to convince young people of the importance of engagement. “The biggest obstacle is helping them understand that they have a role to play in determining what their quality of life, and the quality of life in their communities, will be.”

Dr. Anthony Samad, director of the Dymally Institute, speaks with AALT students during a workshop.
Dr. Anthony Samad speaks during an AALT workshop. (Kerry James Photography)

That quality of life is always under threat, said Samad. “Racism and racial inequalities cannot be an abstract conversation. Racism is structural. These structures have been set up to capture African Americans from a deficit model, whether you’re talking about inadequate school resources, discrimination in housing, or economic subjugation.”

Samad added that equipping young people with the knowledge to confront these issues effectively is an essential part of the AALT program.

“The California Legislative Black Caucus recognizes that it needs a training bench, so to speak, so the next generation can make up for historical inequalities. The hope is to train enough people to understand how democracies work and not to be reactive to the laws and structures that control their lives, but to transform them in a way that is fair and equitable for everyone.”

See more of the AALT leadership conference in the gallery below. All images by Kerry James Photography.