Alliance for Higher Education in Prison: Mission and Impact

The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison (the Alliance) is dedicated to advancing equity and quality in higher education for incarcerated individuals. Through data collection, research publication, and community engagement, the Alliance strives to expand access to educational opportunities and promote successful reentry into society.

Strategic Planning and Data-Informed Approach

The Alliance's work is guided by a comprehensive strategic planning process, supported by Ascendium Education Group and the Mellon Foundation. This strategic approach emphasizes data-driven insights to inform policies and practices within correctional education. The Alliance believes in making information and research freely available to the public to support a greater global exchange of knowledge. The Journal of Higher Education in Prison supports the Creative Commons project of alternative copyright, which allows authors to retain copyright while inviting certain uses of their work. Authors maintain ownership of their work and allow the Journal of Higher Education in Prison to publish it. Readers are free to copy, display, distribute, and adapt content, as long as the work is attributed to the author and the Journal of Higher Education in Prison, the changes are identified, and the same license applies to the derivative work. The Journal of Higher Education in Prison is licensed by the designation Creative Commons Attribution: NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA). All Journal of Higher Education in Prison materials follow this license. All articles from the Journal of Higher Education in Prison will be archived with the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison.

National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (NCHEP)

The annual National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (NCHEP) serves as a catalyst for tangible change within the field. NCHEP is a nexus for policy, practice, and power sharing. Showcasing a justice-aligned, data-informed, community-centered convening, NCHEP brings together stakeholders to address critical issues and promote innovation in prison education. The intentional evaluation of NCHEP confirmed that NCHEP is a catalyst for tangible change.

Education in Action (EiA) Initiative

Recognizing the need for practical application of knowledge and skills gained through higher education in prison (HEP), the Alliance launched the Education in Action (EiA) initiative. EiA provides incarcerated students with meaningful professional or work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. This resource offers corrections officials, higher education administrators, potential employers, and aspiring incarcerated student-professionals with clear and concrete guidance for exploring and implementing Education in Action (EiA). Remote work positions are ideal for EiA, although in-person options can be successful in places where internet and technology access do not allow for remote employment. Although HEP programming already benefits both facility and community safety, there is a need for more professional avenues where students can apply their education in workplace settings. Remote work positions are particularly well-suited for EiA, although in-person options can also be successful, particularly in locations where internet and technology access limitations hinder remote employment. By bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world experience, EiA aims to enhance incarcerated students' employability and facilitate their successful reentry into the workforce.

Data Collection and Reporting

The Alliance emphasizes the importance of data collection and reporting to understand the impact of higher education in prison programs. This practice brief provides six recommendations for college and university staff to create or update data collection and reporting capacities for students with incarceration histories. These recommendations were derived from a national study that examined if and how colleges and universities collect and report information on students with incarceration histories. At present, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) does not require institutions to report student data with an incarceration indicator. This means that national enrollment, completion, time-to-credential, and related success metrics for incarcerated students are unknown in the aggregate. Consequently, the rapid growth of enrollment among students with incarceration histories is happening without a baseline understanding of who students are, where they are located, what programs of study they are pursuing, and how they are faring in those pathways. The absence of comprehensive data on incarcerated students hinders efforts to effectively support their educational journeys and measure program outcomes. To address this gap, the Alliance advocates for improved data collection and reporting practices at colleges and universities.

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College and University Presidents' Perspectives

To gain insights into the perspectives of higher education leaders, the Alliance conducted research on how college and university presidents talk about prison higher education. This research brief offers insight into how college and university presidents of institutions with prison higher education programs talk about and explain providing postsecondary education to incarcerated learners. Against the backdrop of recent federal policy changes alongside the magnitude in program growth, we seek to document and understand how college and university presidents talk about prison higher education. Understanding these perspectives is crucial for fostering institutional support and promoting the expansion of prison education programs.

Impact of Pell Restoration

The reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students represents a significant opportunity to expand access to higher education in prison. This brief report from the Higher Education in Prison Landscape Project outlines the potential impacts of Pell restoration on the field of higher education in prison. Using original qualitative data from interviews with 12 higher education in prison programs and quantitative data from the 2020 Understanding the Landscape of Higher Education in Prison national survey, the analysis focuses on persistent funding challenges that the Pell grant alone cannot address. While Pell Grants can provide crucial financial assistance, the Alliance recognizes that additional funding and resources are needed to address the persistent funding challenges faced by prison education programs.

Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on higher education in prison programs, disrupting instruction and limiting access to resources. This report offers information about the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on higher education in prison programs. The Alliance is committed to supporting programs in navigating these challenges and ensuring the continuity of educational opportunities for incarcerated students.

Personal Perspectives and Advocacy

The Alliance recognizes the transformative power of education for incarcerated individuals, their families, and their communities. Many incarcerated people share the aspiration of a better future, viewing higher education not merely as a privilege but as a vital conduit to redemption and breaking the cycle of incarceration. Advocates, researchers, and policymakers must confront systemic barriers hindering program expansion, from funding constraints to bureaucratic hurdles. Achieving transparency in approval processes and providing ongoing technical support are essential steps in this endeavor. Venturing into prison education demands more than just administrative approval; it necessitates a nuanced understanding of the unique dynamics within correctional facilities. However, education alone cannot ensure successful reentry into society. Employment opportunities remain scarce for individuals with criminal records, highlighting the need for systemic changes in hiring practices and societal attitudes. Transitioning from prison to the workforce presents its own set of challenges, underscoring the importance of bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills. Advocates within the Alliance work tirelessly to promote policies that expand access to higher education within correctional facilities and address the systemic barriers that hinder program expansion.

Collaboration and Inclusivity

Collaboration among stakeholders is paramount to the success of prison education initiatives. The Alliance fosters collaboration among educators, corrections officials, policymakers, and community organizations to create a supportive ecosystem for incarcerated students. In a famous quote often attributed to W.E.B. Du Bois, “as the South goes, so goes the nation.” Let us carry forward our shared vision of expanding access to education for incarcerated Texans and beyond, advocating for policies that foster collaboration and inclusivity. Trellis Foundation is committed to using language that acknowledges that individuals who have committed felonies are not defined solely by their actions or experiences; they are human beings with complex lives and experiences. The Alliance is committed to using language that acknowledges that individuals who have committed felonies are not defined solely by their actions or experiences; they are human beings with complex lives and experiences.

Trellis Foundation's Commitment

Trellis Foundation believes in making the promise of higher education a reality for all students. Higher ed in prison is a space that many folks come to with a deep passion. I have heard many a person, myself included, say that nothing is more inspiring than attending a commencement inside prison and celebrating the students’ accomplishments alongside their families. Trellis Foundation supports the Alliance's mission and works to bring together expertise from prison education professionals and traditional higher education policy experts. It is so easy within a complex system to create silos. For the success of students, faculty and communities, prison education must not be siloed as a topic merely for the corrections space. Those of us working in education and workforce development must also embrace our mission to serve the incarcerated population. Jenny Achilles joined Trellis Foundation in 2013 with nearly a decade of higher education service in various capacities, including student affairs and study abroad advising. She serves on local and national committees, such as the Steering Committee for Advance Together (an initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas); the Funders Collaborative for Higher Education in Prison & Reentry Support; and the Grantmakers for Education (GFE) Learning, Evaluation & Data (LEAD) Impact Group; and she co-chairs the GFE Postsecondary Access & Attainment Impact Group. She previously served on the Membership Committee for the National Scholarship Providers Association from 2015-2017 and the Texas Rural Funders Membership & Dues Task Force. She also serves as a Commissioner for the City of Austin Community Development Commission and is an alumna of Leadership Austin.

Recent Achievements

OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON EXPANDED ITS SUPPORT BY HOSTING WORKSHOPS, ADDING OVER 50 DOCUMENTS TO ITS LIBRARY, AND CREATING A JOBS BOARD. THEY STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS, INCLUDING PELL WEBINARS AND THE 13TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON (NCHEP). THE ALLIANCE WELCOMED FOUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS AND LAUNCHED EDUCATION IN ACTION (EIA) TO OFFER PAID INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. THEY ALSO PUBLISHED THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON AND WERE AWARDED A W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION GRANT FOR RESEARCH ON POLICIES AFFECTING INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. The Alliance has made significant strides in expanding its support for higher education in prison. These include hosting workshops, expanding its resource library, creating a jobs board, strengthening community relationships through events, launching the Education in Action initiative, publishing the Journal of Higher Education in Prison, and receiving a grant for research on policies affecting incarcerated individuals.

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