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All site visits require advance application and confirmation. Space is limited, and transportation and lunch will be provided for approved participants.
Continuing a longstanding NCHEP tradition, NCHEP 15 will offer attendees the opportunity to participate in off-site site visits that bring conference themes to life. These visits will provide a closer look at higher education in prison, workforce partnerships, and training models in practice.
Apply by Monday, March 16th!
NCHEP 15 will offer two distinct site visit experiences at correctional facilities near Cleveland. Transportation and lunch will be provided.
An arts-focused visit at Grafton Correctional Institution will showcase the role of creative practice in correctional settings, while a second visit will focus more broadly on higher education in prison — providing participants the opportunity to learn from program leadership and engage in dialogue about implementation, partnerships, and emerging practices.
An education-focused visit to Lorain Correctional Institution will showcase an educational ecosystem that integrates higher education, workforce credentials, and apprenticeship pathways through partnerships with Lorain County Community College and Ashland University. Participants will explore innovative offerings including robotics training alongside other programs that connect learning with employment outcomes.
Participants will depart from the Downtown Hilton at 10:30am and will not return until approximately 4 / 4:30pm. They will not be able to attend Wednesday afternoon special sessions at the convention center.
This visit will highlight a nationally recognized model dedicated to preparing formerly incarcerated individuals for careers in the hospitality industry. Participants will gain insight into how industry-driven training, structured learning environments, and employer partnerships support long-term employment outcomes and successful community reintegration.
The tour will offer a comprehensive look at the EDWINS campus, including onsite housing, the program library, butcher shop (which will provide lunch for attendees), bakery (with baked goods available for purchase), community garden, and additional training spaces. Together, these elements reflect a holistic approach that supports both professional development and personal stability.
Tour will depart from the Downtown Hilton at 11am and return in time for afternoon special sessions at the convention center (2pm).
Join this off-site visit to Tooling U-SME, a national nonprofit partnering supporting manufacturing workforce development, including correctional education programs. This experience is well-suited for educators, workforce leaders, reentry practitioners, and corrections partners interested in how industry collaborations take shape in practice. Participants will explore the latest in manufacturing education, experience instructional technologies (including VR), and learn about concrete partnership strategies, including collaborations with departments of correction, apprenticeships, and other efforts designed to strengthen pathways from training to employment after release. Transportation and lunch will be provided.
Tour will depart from the Downtown Hilton at 11am and return in time for afternoon special sessions at the convention center (2pm).
