Education: Administration and Implementation

The Rise Up Conference seeks to liberate higher education during and after prison. It highlights the role of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in birthing this movement, the ways in which these spaces have been occupied by others, the assets we offer to these spaces, and the ways in which allies can help foster liberation. The conference also provides perspectives on higher education during and after prison that are unique to those with lived expertise.

A blog post about how indifference can show up in small technical moments in a formerly incarcerated student's education journey, and how those moments can contribute to continued systemic trauma.

In an effort to make visible the national landscape of access to educational technology in prison education programs, Ithaka S+R launched a first-of-its-kind national survey in the fall of 2022, with grant funding support from Ascendium Education Group. The survey asked respondents about student access to technology in their higher education in prison program, collecting demographic information before focusing on four thematic areas: technological devices, learning management systems and software, network connection and internet access, and future technology plans. In the wake of this survey, we also conducted follow-up interviews to gather more qualitative data about major thematic issues that surfaced in the survey analysis. The report presents findings and a discussion that highlights areas where tension is likely to develop in the partnership between correctional and higher education institutions, as well as areas for future research.

Financial aid advising is an essential component of prison education programs (PEPs). Many PEPs rely on the paper FAFSA when serving students who are incarcerated. During this webinar, we will walk through the FAFSA completion process with both financial aid administrators and prison program administrators, highlighting the form's questions that are more complex to address. We will also talk about the methods for processing paper FAFSAs. Both financial aid teams and prison program administrators will join the conversation and welcome your questions.

This is a letter from Federal Student Aid to correctional facilities. It asks for their help in assisting incarcerated borrowers. The letter focuses on reducing the barriers to communication and information.

Using data for a cohort of federal prison releasees, the hypothesis tested is that inmates who actively participate in education programs have a lower likelihood of recidivating, defined as a rearrest or parole revocation within 3 years after release, controlling for several background and post-release measures, including post-release employment. Results show that inmates who actively participate in education programs have a significantly lower likelihood of recidivating.

This FAQ document describes higher education in prison in Illinois.

This resource highlights existing higher education programs in Illinois state prisons and uplifts the need for additional programs and supportive policies across the state.

A sampling of academic studies and research articles about colleges and universities providing higher education for formerly incarcerated individuals and the range of considerations this work entails.

Volunteer handbook: The Florida Prison Education Project provides educational opportunities to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in Florida, researches the societal benefits of prison education, and integrates the study of justice into the University of Central Florida curriculum. This program serves adult men, with non-credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face, and remote.

Student handbook: 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. This program serves adult women, with college credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face.

Instructor handbook: The mission of the North Carolina Field Minister Program is to educate and equip men of faith to serve as cultural assets within the incarcerated population of North Carolina. This program serves adult men, with college credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face, and remote.

Curriculum overview: Tennessee Higher Education Initiative disrupts systems of harm, and 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.

Annual report presentation: The Florida Prison Education Project provides educational opportunities to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in Florida, researches the societal benefits of prison education, and integrates the study of justice into the University of Central Florida curriculum. This program serves adult men, with non-credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face, and remote.

Annual report: This program seeks to assist in reducing recidivism by 1) providing outcome and evidence-based Academic, Social Science, and Career and Technical Education programs; and 2) ensuring that students obtain marketable job skills prior to community reentry. This program serves adult men, with college credit and non-credit offerings. Instruction is on-site, face-to-face, and remote.