SUU Partnership Helps Incarcerated Individuals Earn College Credits

Southern Utah University is thrilled to announce its partnership with Hustle 2.0, a second-chance rehabilitation curriculum for incarcerated individuals. Hustle 2.0 is currently used in more than 500 jails and prisons across the US. Individuals need to complete the three Hustle 2.0 program modules, and following their release, would then be eligible to receive three SUU credits for having completed the program through SUU’s School of Business and Community and Workforce Development.

“This partnership is possible because Hustle 2.0 and the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business have overlapping goals,” said Professor Tyler Stillman, Director of Entrepreneurship and Associate professor of Marketing at SUU. “Specifically, Hustle 2.0 aspires to help incarcerated individuals to live happy and productive lives that are free from additional involvement in the justice system, while it is the mission of the business school to 'provide the knowledge and direction that forms a foundation for lifelong student success.' Both organizations  provide guidance on ways to make a living in an ethical and socially constructive way.”

The H2.0 program has three modules: The Preseason, The Hustle Guide: Book One and The Hustle Guide: Book Two. These three modules make up the entirety of the Hustle 2.0 curriculum, totaling over 1,266 pages in homework assignments, workbooks, case studies, journaling prompts and exercises. The curriculum addresses the needs of incarcerated individuals by providing evidence-based, trauma-informed concepts through real-life experiences, case studies, art and testimonials of people with experience in incarceration. Topics in the curriculum include employment readiness, well-being, trauma and healing, criminal thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset and recovering from addictive behaviors. Once these individuals achieve an 80% on The Preseason, and 1800+ points across both The Hustle Guide: Book One and The Hustle Guide: Book Two, they are eligible to receive a certificate in Leadership and Management from Southern Utah University upon their qualified release from an institutional penal facility.

Along with the certificate, Mavericks–or those participants who graduate from the program– will receive three Continuing Education Units which can be used in any SUU bachelor's degree program as elective credit upon admission. The CEU’s act the same as any other college credit–they are transferable between institutions, and apply to any SUU bachelor program–not just SUU’s Speedway/BGS Program. The further good news for Mavericks is cost; should the Hustle 2.0 participants decide to seek a degree at SUU following their release, the university offers them a discounted price for their credit hours–only $150 for all three. The university is committed to maintaining this price through 2027.

Hustle 2.0’s mission is to maximize the potential of individuals whose lives are affected by incarceration. SUU is proud to partner with the Hustle 2.0 program to offer these individuals the opportunity to start anew after completing the rigorous program. Learn more about the program or contact Tyler Stillman, at tylerstillman@suu.edu