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Partnering with the formerly incarcerated on their journey to receiving a world class education.
Thank you for your interest in STEP-UP. We are no longer processing interest forms for the Spring 2025 Semester. Interest forms for Fall 2025 Semester will be screened for eligibility in February 2025. If you have questions regarding the STEP-UP Program, please contact Crystal Burger at (530) 395-8618. If you would like to start the steps to enrollment, please contact the Student Success Center.
If you'd like to learn more about STEP-UP, please view our STEP-UP Program Handbook (PDF).
Program Overview
In 2014 Economic Workforce and Development Dean Eva Jimenez and Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko created the Shasta Technical Education Program-Unified Partnership (STEP-UP) as a way to assist justice impacted and formerly incarcerated students navigate the process of completing all of the tasks that need to be done in order to take classes at Shasta College. This includes completing financial aid forms, scheduling counseling appointments, etc. necessary for recently released from custody.
The mission of STEP-UP eventually changed to being an “Alternative to Custody through Education” which allowed students on probation, work release, and eventually parole to pursue degrees and certificates in a number of vocational and academic programs aimed at increasing students’ employability and reducing recidivism in our community.
STEP-UP is now operating in Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity counties and is part of the California Community College Chancellors Office Rising Scholars network. Since 2014 STEP-UP has supported dozens of formerly incarcerated students to receive Associate’s Degrees or Certificates in Technical Education.
Campus and Community Support
STEP-UP has developed partnerships with agencies both on campus and in the community to locate resources for food and housing insecurity, addiction treatment, and transportation resources. STEP-UP also acts as a liaison between various programs and departments both on and off campus to provide resources for students and improve the college experience for our students.
“STEP-UP: A Second Chance at a First Class Life.”