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The Alliance is committed to providing a space where people can discuss relevant issues, share resources, and support one another during this difficult time. Yet, given the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty around the safety of traveling and gathering in large groups, we concluded that we have no choice but to postpone the event until a date when it is safe to gather in large groups. As time passed and the pandemic has not subsided, the Alliance team (with input from the community) has decided to host “A Virtual NCHEP” under the theme “Amplifying Access” (the original 2020 theme). This virtual presentation will take place between March 1 - 5, 2021. All submitters to the 2020 NCHEP have been invited to present.
To stay updated about A Virtual NCHEP, check in with us here or on Facebook @OfficialNCHEP and Twitter @OfficialNCHEP.
We will continue to add information to this page as it becomes available.
Example section contents
The Incarcerated Scholars Conference is a chance to unite voices from across the country, fostering collaboration and solidarity.
This conference offers a meaningful opportunity for students to participate in a national (and global) academic community. For many incarcerated people, this is a rare chance to share their work, connect with peers across institutions, and see themselves as part of something larger than their immediate environment.
ISC fosters connection, reflection, and growth. It helps students understand that higher education in prison is not happening in isolation. It is part of a broader and ongoing effort across the country to support learning, creativity, and academic achievement.
The impact doesn’t end with the conference; it offers students a way to build confidence, expand their thinking, and stay engaged in their academic journey.
The impact of ISC also extends far beyond academic and correctional institutions. It reaches families, loved ones, children, and communities, offering connection, pride, and a sense of possibility that carries into every part of life beyond the classroom or facility. It also plays a vital role in shifting public narratives and perceptions about who incarcerated scholars are and what they contribute.
Track 1: Reentry Planning and Lifelong Learning
Focus: Educational transitions and post-release opportunities
Presentations may cover:
Track 2: Interdisciplinary Scholarship
Focus: Scholarly work that expands or intersects with but is not limited to carceral education
Presentations may cover:
Track 3: Education as Resistance
Focus: Pedagogy, identity, and systemic change
Presentations may cover:
Track 4: Collaboration and Innovation
Focus: Cross-sector collaboration, digital solutions, and reimagining education delivery
Presentations may cover:
Track 5: Education in Action
Focus: Work-based learning for incarcerated scholars
Presentation may cover:
The conference agenda, which outlines the basic schedule of both days of the conference, is now available.
We are offering a limited number of financial aid packages for NCHEP 15. We value our community’s attendance at our biggest event of the year and we encourage anyone who needs financial support to apply for full or partial aid.
Financial aid applications are due October 19th.
Be a part of what makes this conference a success! While our volunteer interest form is now closed, you can still learn more about available volunteer opportunities by emailing the conference planning team at nchep@higheredinprison.org.
**Please note: volunteers must already be registered for the event.
We are currently accepting presentation proposals for NCHEP 15 that address our conference theme and presentation topics and also provide practical, actionable solutions.
Presentation proposal submissions are due October 19th.
ISC presentations will be webinars. Most presenters will be presenting live, though some presentations will be pre-recorded. The webinar Q&A feature will be moderated by Alliance staff.
We're offering a limited number of tables for organizations to share about their work, provide resources, and/or offer swag.
Tables will be located in the area just outside the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton New Orleans, right in the heart of the conference!
Our interest form is now closed, but you can email the planning team at nchep@higheredinprison.org with any questions.
**Please note: To table, organizations must have at least one representative already registered for the event.
ISC presentations will be webinars, and all presenters will be presenting live via Zoom. The webinar Q&A session will be moderated by Alliance staff. Incarcerated presenters will need to be able to use the Zoom platform to join the conference. Unfortunately, the Alliance is unable to accommodate other virtual meeting platforms or arrangements for presenting outside of Zoom.
Note about Zoom access: Scholars do not need individual device access to participate. Zoom sessions can be joined using a shared computer in a prison library, education department, or facility office, depending on what’s available at the site.
Our Call for Reviewers is now open! Help us review presentation proposals for NCHEP 15 by serving as a Reviewer.
All selected reviewers will receive up to 15 proposal submissions and review them based on a rubric provided by the Alliance. Please note that reviewers must be available to complete their reviews between October 20-31, 2025. All selected reviewers will also receive a $100 gift card as a token of appreciation upon the completion of assigned reviews.
While we welcome reviewers who are currently incarcerated, all reviews must be submitted through the Oxford Abstracts platform by the reviewer themselves or a proxy. For any additional questions about the review process, please contact the Planning Team at nchep@higheredinprison.org.
To apply to be an NCHEP 15 Reviewer, please complete the application by Friday, October 10th.
NCHEP is made possible by the generosity and engagement of individuals and organizations. Here’s how you or your organization can help us make this event a success:
This virtual event is free and open to the public. This conference uses Zoom as its videoconferencing platform. Incarcerated presenters will need to be able to use Zoom to present.
Note about Zoom access: Scholars do not need individual device access to participate. Zoom sessions can be joined using a shared computer in a prison library, education department, or facility office, depending on what’s available at the site.
NCHEP 15 will be an in-person conference in Cleveland, Ohio, except for those who are currently incarcerated. Virtual attendance via Zoom will only be possible for currently incarcerated participants during selected events.
We know that travel isn’t possible for everyone, and we do our best to make our events as accessible and accommodating as we can. At this time, however, the audiovisual and staffing requirements for a hybrid conference make it cost-prohibitive. By focusing our resources on the in-person experience, we can keep the conference more affordable, provide some financial aid opportunities, and ensure high-quality programming for all attendees.
Yes, this virtual event is free and open to everyone! Please share this page with your network.
** Registration is now completely SOLD OUT **
All conference attendees (except presenters who are currently incarcerated) must register.
If you’d like to be notified if additional spots do become available, please join our Notification List using the link below.
The NCHEP Planning Team will make every effort to support accommodation requests and the full participation of all attendees. You will be able to request accommodations during the registration process.
Registration for NCHEP 15 will open in late November 2025.
This year, we are working to accommodate many more attendees and hope that registration will not sell out as it has in previous years. That said, we encourage all those interested in attending to keep an eye on our updates and register as soon as possible.
Yes. Please register using the link above.
Registration for NCHEP 14 will be $375 ($225 for students).
NCHEP 14 will take place in the heart of New Orleans at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel on Canal St.
For more information on reserving a hotel room using our discounted room block as well as information about additional hotels within walking distance of the conference venue, please visit the logistics page.
Registration fees for NCHEP 15:
Over the past several years, the Alliance has worked hard to keep NCHEP registration fee rates stable, even during times of inflation. As this convening has grown to welcome nearly 1,000 attendees in 2023 and 2025, the event has also become more complex to plan and host. In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of this now-annual event, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to increase registration fees this year. This adjustment will help us cover the true costs of hosting a conference at this scale, offer financial aid awards, and ensure the continuation of this gathering that supports and strengthens the field for years to come.
NCHEP 14 will be an in-person conference in New Orleans, Louisiana for everyone except those who are currently incarcerated. Virtual attendance via Zoom will only be possible for currently incarcerated participants during selected events.
We advise attendees to arrive in New Orleans on Wednesday, April 9th and depart on Saturday, April 12th.
The conference will begin the morning of Thursday, April 10th and end the evening of Friday, April 11th. In order to get the full conference experience, we recommend that you not travel on conference days.
We are encouraging attendees to consider arriving in Cleveland on April 7th to be able to attend pre-conference events and departing from Cleveland on April 11th.
In order to get the full conference experience, we recommend that you not travel on conference days.
We will also be partnering with nearby hotels to offer NCHEP attendees discounted rates in conference room blocks. We highly recommend waiting to book your hotel room until registration opens so that you will have access to these discounted rates.
NCHEP will make every effort to support accommodation requests and the full participation of all attendees. You will be able to request accommodations during the registration process.
Please send us an email at nchep@higheredinprison.org.
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.
Join live through Zoom.
We strongly encourage all registrants to register and attend live via Zoom. Not all sessions or presentations will be available as recordings afterward, and joining live allows you to engage directly with presenters by asking questions and sharing reactions.
Watching with a large group?
If you’ll be viewing as part of a classroom or larger gathering, you can access our livestream from our YouTube channel.
The livestream is ideal for shared viewing, but please note that those watching the stream won't be able to ask questions and only one presentation per session block will be shown.
Each presentation is part of a specific topic or track, which presenters selected when submitting their proposals. These tracks give attendees some more insight into the content of the presentation.
Plan ahead.
The final event schedule, including presenter and presentation details, is now available above.
Connect and network.
Some Zoom Events networking features will be available during the event. These interactions are a great way to connect with others doing this work across the country.
Explore the art and expression.
Be sure to check out the Expressive Plenaries on both days, where creative works by incarcerated artists will take center stage. You can also visit the Virtual Exhibit, available through Zoom Events, to explore additional artwork and creative projects.
Have additional questions? Our events page has more information about upcoming ISC Q&A sessions. Don't see any more on our events calendar? You can always email us your questions at isc@higheredinprison.org
Zoom access might not be possible - is participation as a presenter still feasible?
People who are currently incarcerated and want to present but have no access to technology on site should consider submitting a creative work instead. Artists selected for ISC do not need to have Zoom access because creative works will not be presented by the artist live during the conference. Additionally, ISC defines creative works very broadly, so there is room to creatively interpret scholarship.
Students, proxies, and corrections contacts should work closely with leadership at the facility to discuss opportunities for Zoom access in cases where technology exists, but may/may not be available for students. Please be honest the submission form about Zoom access, and use the space provided to discuss work in-progress to obtain permissions. Ultimately, selected presentations will need to provide confirmation of facility approval (including Zoom access) to the Alliance by September 1, 2024.
Note about Zoom access: Scholars do not need individual device access to participate. Zoom sessions can be joined using a shared computer in a prison library, education department, or facility office, depending on what’s available at the site.
