Identifying and Scaling Programmatic Technical Assistance Resources in Higher Education in Prison

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More than 85% of the U.S.'s incarcerated population of nearly 2 million adults will return to their communities once they’ve completed their sentence. Postsecondary education helps to mitigate some of the consequences of incarceration and improve a person’s chances of success after prison. 

Despite these facts, fewer than 5% of people who are currently incarcerated are enrolled in a higher education in prison program today. Higher Education in Prison (HEP) expands career choice and increases opportunities for economic mobility and advancement.

HEP programs provide access to important skills and knowledge, foster personal growth, instill a sense of purpose, and help develop critical thinking skills and self-discipline.

- Jasmin Borges, HEP TA Resource Initiative Team Member and HEP Alum

AIR has been funded by Ascendium Education Group for a three-year initiative to provide intensive technical assistance to a cohort of HEP program grantees in refining and scaling resources for the field. Through this initiative, AIR, together with partners Alliance for Higher Education in Prison and Jobs for the Future, will:

  • Lead a grantee community of practice;
  • Deliver customized grantee coaching; and
  • Support grantees in generating and using evidence in the continuous improvement of their resources.

Grantees were selected through a robust proposal process seeking resources that address the most pressing needs in the HEP field and the potential scalability of those resources to other HEP programs. Each grantee demonstrates a commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and field-building.
 

Cohort Grantees
  • Emerson Prison Initiative at Emerson College
  • Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison Inc.
  • Loyola University New Orleans
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley
  • Resilience Education
  • Saint Louis University
  • University of Baltimore
  • University of North Alabama
  • University of St. Mary
  • Unlocked Labs


These eleven projects are organized across four primary dimensions, representing the continuum of HEP design decisions and implementation processes.

  • Systems Alignment: Resources supporting Prison Education Program leadership (HEP program, academic institution, and corrections agency) in making strategic decisions and streamlining processes.​ ​
  • Student Preparation: Pre-program enrollment resources that ensure students are ​fully aware, informed, and prepared to succeed in their postsecondary education, within the ​carceral environment. 
  • Program Implementation: Resources that facilitate efficient program delivery, support educators to deliver higher education that reflects the specific needs of students, and ​intentionally integrate career exploration and planning opportunities into the program. 
  • Transfer, Completion, and Workforce Success: Resources that facilitate successful student transfer and degree completion, connect students to on-campus and community-based academic and professional supports and networks, and provide ​support ​for ​successful ​workforce ​​transitions​.
     


About the Funder

Ascendium Education Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of learners from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation learners, incarcerated adults, rural community members, learners of color and veterans. For more information, visit www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org.
 



About Our Partners

The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison (The Alliance) is a 501(c)(3) working to support the expansion of quality higher education in prison, empower students while in prison and after release, and shape public discussion about education and incarceration. The Alliance envisions a world in which all people, including those in prison, have access to quality higher education, creating a more just and equitable world.
    
Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a national nonprofit that drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. JFF does this by designing solutions, scaling best practices, influencing policy and action, and investing in innovation. They forge deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.

Contact
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Principal TA Consultant
TA Consultant