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.
An FAQ on Pell Grants put together with common questions crowdsourced from people inside.
The Beyond Walls compilation shares stories of individuals resisting the PIC and demonstrating the importance of relationships inside and out. The films also show the generational harm of the PIC, as well as next steps to build a world without police and prisons. The films add up to about 70 minutes, intentionally short to leave ample time for panelists and discussion. The panel will consist of previously incarcerated people and people involved in abolition and work to decrease suffering, including exoneree and legal assistant Steven Lazar, reproductive justice organizer Alejandra Pablos,…
In this descriptive research study, Caisa Elizabeth Royer, Erin L. Castro, and Estefanie Aguilar Padilla explore the experiences of prison stakeholders in higher education with prison disciplinary power. Based on interviews with 19 prison education stakeholders, including program directors, instructors, family members of incarcerated students, and program alumni, the authors’ findings indicate that officer-initiated discipline interferes with the aims of college in prison programs and incarcerated students’ ability to be successful. The analysis provides rich insight into the ordinary ways…
This blog post discusses a descriptive research study by Caisa Elizabeth Royer, Erin L. Castro, and Estefanie Aguilar Padilla that explores the experiences of prison stakeholders in higher education with prison disciplinary power. Based on interviews with 19 prison education stakeholders, including program directors, instructors, family members of incarcerated students, and program alumni, the authors’ findings indicate that officer-initiated discipline interferes with the aims of college in prison programs and incarcerated students’ ability to be successful. The analysis provides rich…
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.
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…
Federal Student Aid has published this fact sheet with instructions on how incarcerated borrowers can get out of default through the Fresh Start initiative. It also briefly addresses other relief options, including contact information for the office that handles complaints—the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman.
The first webinar in the Pipeline to Pell series will be held on Thursday, November 2, at 11:00 am ET. The webinar will focus on the FAFSA Simplification Act, Pell Grants, and prison education programs.
