This virtual conference will feature currently incarcerated scholars who will share their insights on the value, methods, and future of higher education in prison. This year’s theme, Vital Voices and Visions: Insights on Higher Education in Prison, reflects on the importance of centering incarcerated students in the shaping of our field.
Join us for this new annual event - free and open to all!
Have questions? Email us at isc@higheredinprison.org.
The Alliance believes that language is a powerful tool in shaping the culture and narrative in the field of higher education in prison, and in society as a whole. With this in mind, and drawing upon the rich history of work that has previously been engaged on this topic, we want to express our opposition to the usage of terms that are rooted in a history of violent and oppressive systems. Along with a vast majority of our community members, we share the view that terms such as “prisoner,” “inmate,” “offender,” “convict,” and “felon” are stigmatizing, dehumanizing, discriminatory, and continue to enact violence and do not acknowledge an individual’s full identity. We consider it standard practice to abstain from such language, unless you have experienced incarceration and choose to self-identify as such. Read the full statement
Showcase of creative works such as poems and visual arts
Join Live!Showcase of creative works such as poems and visual arts
Join Live!Each day of the conference, there will be two sets of scholarly presentations happening at the same time. These are talks where different presenters share their research and ideas. Some presentations will be done individually by one person, and some presentations will be done in groups.
There will also be an expressive arts plenary each day, where creative works such as poems and visual artworks will be presented. Creative works will not be presented by the artist at the conference, but will be displayed/presented/read by conference staff.