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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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…
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.
A compiled list of terms that replace oppressive institutional terminology with empowering and uplifting language.
The overall purpose of NCHEP is to provide an annual opportunity for the higher education in prison community to gather and mobilize the talent, resources, and energy needed to expand access to quality higher education and academic reentry support services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people.
This discussion guide is a useful tool for facilitators leading thoughtful conversations about the content in the report, and for notetakers seeking to capture important ideas and action items. You’ll find questions, materials, and guidelines, as well as instructions and tips for both facilitators and notetakers. The purpose of the discussion guide is to create a dialogue among people who care about improving equity, access, and excellence in higher education in prison programs. Staff and program administrators can use this discussion guide to:
• Discuss opportunities and talk with…
