In 2019, the Alliance launched a program to strengthen the network of higher education in prison programs. The Higher Education in Prison Cohort Program promotes meaningful co-learning and collaboration. We do this by supporting program leaders who are working to create, sustain and grow higher education in prison programs. The inaugural two-year cohort includes 12 programs from around the United States. Program participants are at different stages of their evolution, they offer many different types of programming, and have various leadership structures.
The cohort represents the diversity of the higher education in prison stakeholder community, including credit and non-credit bearing programs, degree and non-degree granting programs, various institutional types, geographic locations, and types of facilities; size of program; diversity of staff, leadership, and program participants; and existing program infrastructure. By bringing these programs together, we hope to foster a supportive environment where practitioners can collaborate and engage in collective problem solving. The outcomes of the cohort will help inform future projects of the Alliance.
Participating programs receive:
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Grant award for program participation (administered by the Alliance) to support the work of the higher education in prison program
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Financial support for attending meetings, including flight and accommodations (if travel applies)
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Support in compiling and submitting project-related data
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Support in using individual program data to communicate program metrics to funders, stakeholders (internal and external), and other supporters
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Shared resources, materials, networking and other opportunities that derive from participation in a professional cohort
Participating programs commit to:
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Designating a primary representative within program leadership who will be responsible for the program’s participation in this project, including interviews, report reviews, survey responses, participation in meetings, project related assignments, and generally will be responsible for ensuring that the program achieves the participation standards and expectations
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Participating in in-person cohort meeting(s) (if travel applies)
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Participating in quarterly facilitated cohort web discussions
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Sign-up for the cohort list-serve
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Assisting in setting up one site visit from the project leadership team, including inside the correctional institution and classroom, and including focus groups with students if possible (virtual or in-person, if possible)
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Participating in staff and program leadership interviews and/or focus groups
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Reviewing and commenting on data collection instruments (i.e., annual survey of higher education in prison programs) and draft reports and share program data
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Conducting annual reporting on cohort-related expenditures, project experience and impact of the cohort
Eligible programs must meet the following criteria:
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Courses provided to adult (18 years and older) students who have earned a high school diploma, GED or equivalent secondary credential
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Courses and programs provided in partnership with a post-secondary accredited institution
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Instruction provided by two-year and/or four-year colleges and universities with public, private or nonprofit status
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Credit or not for credit coursework
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Degree or non-degree granting pathways
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May include courses for college preparation
Please direct questions about the cohort to: cohort@higheredinprison.org
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