CORE provides support services to formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students enrolling at Pasadena City College. CORE focuses on students’ reentry into their communities, enabling them to succeed through the development of job skills, attainment of an Associate's degree and/or certificate, and/or the ability to transfer to a four-year college or university.

The primary goal of CORE is to develop a holistic approach empowering students to succeed in higher education and beyond. The program focuses on building community, on and off campus, that will serve as social, emotional and academic support for our students.

Services Provided By CORE
  • Priority 1 Registration
  • Assistance with college enrollment and services
  • Guidance in applying for financial aid and scholarships
  • Academic tutoring
  • Student-peer mentorship
  • Transfer preparation
  • Expungement workshops
  • Access to community resources
  • Assistance with job readiness
Eligibility
  • Currently enrolled at PCC
  • Registered in either credit or non-credit coursework
  • Identify as a student who has been directly affected by incarceration
    • Any scholar who has been in custody
    • Any scholar who has spent time behind bars
    • Any scholar who has been convicted of a crime

If you have/have had a family member or loved one who has been or is currently incarcerated, we welcome you to build community in our space, connect with our Program & C.O.R.E. Radical Scholars Club
Get Started

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office awarded $5 million to 44 community colleges throughout the state to grow and establish on-campus community college programs for justice-impacted students. Pasadena City College (PCC) was one of the 44 community colleges allocated $113,636, enabling our campus to develop and launch our program known as CORE (Community Overcoming Recidivism through Education). CORE is a proud part of the Rising Scholars Network and is also known as PCC's Rising Scholars Program.

CORE was recently awarded a grant totaling $352,422 from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. The term of this grant is September 16, 2025 through December 31, 2028.

Financial donations to our program are always welcome and appreciated.

Giving page link is: give.pasadena.edu/CORE