In December 2017, Lumina Foundation provided support to the Prison University Project (PUP) and the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison (the Alliance) to reflect upon and document the key characteristics of high-quality prison higher education programs, and to inform other stakeholders in the field, including new and experienced practitioners seeking to achieve equity and excellence in their work, policy leaders, philanthropy, and others. The main practical goal of this report is to provide a summary of what the authors believe are the most essential components of a high-quality in-prison higher education program.

The Chillon Project at Life University provides credit-bearing classes and degrees to people in prison and formerly incarcerated people in Georgia; creates learning communities grounded in principles of compassion and conflict transformation; and shares resources and builds skills that enable people to thrive, benefit others, and build the world they wish to see, no matter where they are.

Admissions application: Tennessee Higher Education Initiative disrupts systems of harm, creates opportunities for autonomy and success through education, support, and advocacy with and for justice impacted individuals. This program serves adult men, with college credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face and remote.