Cornell Prison Education Program: A Path to Transformation and Redemption

The Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) stands as a testament to the transformative power of education within the correctional system. Rooted in the belief that "any person can find instruction in any study," CPEP provides college-level courses to incarcerated individuals in upstate New York, fostering intellectual development and preparing them for successful re-entry into civic life. This initiative not only benefits the students themselves but also contributes to safer communities and reduces the financial burden on taxpayers.

A History of Collaboration and Commitment

The seeds of CPEP were sown long before its official establishment. As early as 1996, Cornell instructors volunteered their time to teach in local prisons. However, it wasn't until 2008 that the program truly took shape, becoming a degree-granting initiative known as Cornell at Auburn. This early program laid the foundation for what would become CPEP, demonstrating the university's commitment to extending educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals.

In the mid-1990s, changes in federal and state legislation led to the collapse of taxpayer-funded college programs in most state prisons. Despite evidence that education significantly reduces recidivism, funding for these programs dwindled. However, a dedicated group of faculty members, led by Professor Pete Wetherbee, persevered, offering classes on a volunteer basis at Auburn Correctional Facility. Wetherbee's work in those early years is captured in his writing, "Cornell at Auburn: An Experiment in Teaching and Learning (2008)," which details the challenges and rewards of prison teaching in the absence of Pell Grants.

Mary Fainsod Katzenstein (Government) joined the group in 2005 and initiated a search for funding of additional courses and a formalization of the program. Support was found in Cornell family/alumni, the Provost’s office, two Kaplan fellowships, and eventually a major grant from the Sunshine Lady Foundation. In 2010, the greatly expanded Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) was born.

The Evolution of CPEP

In 2010, the program was formalized and expanded and the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) was born. Today, CPEP operates in three area prisons - two maximum-security and one medium-security - with 20-30 teaching assistants per semester. CPEP offers inmates classes in a range of subjects with the potential to earn an associate's degree from Cayuga Community College.

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Since its inception, CPEP has undergone significant growth and evolution. The program's success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of Cornell faculty, staff, and students, as well as the support of various foundations and individuals.

Key Milestones in CPEP History:

1996: Cornell instructors begin volunteering in local prisons.
2008: Cornell at Auburn program established.
1999: Cornell enables college classes to be given for credit.
2008: Partnership with Cayuga Community College to offer an Associate degree program.
2010: The greatly expanded Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP) was born.
2012: First commencement ceremony at Auburn Correctional Facility.
2013: Rob Scott becomes the program’s Executive Director.
Present: CPEP operates in three correctional facilities, offering a wide range of courses and credentials.

Curriculum and Instruction

CPEP's curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive liberal arts education to incarcerated students. Courses cover a wide range of subjects, including:

Genetics
Poetry
Economics
Medical Anthropology
Natural Sciences
Humanities
Social Sciences

Cornell faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate teaching assistants contribute their expertise to deliver high-quality instruction. In a typical semester, about a dozen Cornell faculty members and graduate students make the two hour round trip to teach the courses, aided by 40-50 undergraduate teaching assistants. Instructors and teaching assistants with CPEP complete an orientation program, including fingerprinting at the prison and what Chertok described as a “scared straight” program, before working in the prison classroom. Cornell graduate students, and undergrads in their sophomore year and above, can apply to be teaching assistants with the program. Doctoral students who have passed their ‘A' exam, faculty members and postdoctoral fellows can volunteer to teach their own classes with CPEP.

The Role of the Cornell University Library

The Cornell University Library plays a vital role in supporting CPEP's educational mission. The library provides access to a wide range of resources, including:

Print resources
Reference texts
Databases
Scholarly articles

Since August of 2022, Maddie Reynolds Ph.D. ’21 has been serving as the CPEP instructional and outreach librarian. “This would include print resources, various reference texts, databases and other types of resources that can help instructors with their classes,” Reynolds explained. Reynolds’s work complements ongoing initiatives involving other librarians, such as the Prison Education Practicum taught by law librarian and Cornell University Law School adjunct professor, Julia Mizutani. Reynolds also builds on past collaborations between Cornell University Library and CPEP, including a pilot course in 2019, which partnered students in prison and undergraduates on campus and which also installed an offline version of JSTOR-a popular database of scholarly articles-in the computer lab of Cayuga Correctional Facility.

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Maddie Reynolds, the CPEP instructional and outreach librarian, works closely with faculty and students to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. Reynolds also builds on past collaborations between Cornell University Library and CPEP, including a pilot course in 2019, which partnered students in prison and undergraduates on campus and which also installed an offline version of JSTOR-a popular database of scholarly articles-in the computer lab of Cayuga Correctional Facility. “When I was collecting for our classroom reference libraries, I had consultations with about ten to fifteen librarians working in Olin, Mann, and the Math Library on which reference texts to include for each discipline we teach,” she said.

The library's commitment to CPEP is further exemplified by the dedication of a librarian to work directly with the faculty as well as incarcerated students. Carl A. Kroch University Librarian Elaine L. Westbrooks notes the rarity of such a commitment, highlighting the library's exceptional support for the program.

Impact and Outcomes

The Cornell Prison Education Program has a profound impact on the lives of incarcerated individuals, as well as on the Cornell community.

Benefits for Incarcerated Students

Personal Transformation: CPEP provides incarcerated students with the opportunity to transform their lives through education. As Jodi Anderson Jr. noted, "The CPEP experience, quite literally changed my life."
Intellectual Development: The program fosters intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills, empowering students to engage with complex ideas and develop their own perspectives.
Preparation for Re-entry: CPEP equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed after their release from prison.
Reduced Recidivism: Studies have shown that participation in correctional education programs significantly reduces the likelihood of recidivism. According to a 2013 study by the RAND Corporation, inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of recidivating than inmates who did not.
Increased Employment Opportunities: Prison education increases the odds of obtaining employment post-release by 13 percent over those who had not participated.

Benefits for the Cornell Community

Engagement with Social Justice Issues: CPEP provides Cornell faculty and students with the opportunity to engage with the vital issue of mass incarceration and its impact on society.
Real-World Learning Experiences: Teaching and volunteering with CPEP offers valuable real-world learning experiences for Cornell students, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of social inequality.
Fulfillment of Ezra Cornell's Vision: CPEP embodies Ezra Cornell's commitment to creating an institution where "any person can find instruction in any study," extending educational opportunities to those who are often marginalized and excluded.

Alumni Success Stories

The success of CPEP is evident in the accomplishments of its alumni. Many graduates have gone on to achieve remarkable things, demonstrating the transformative power of education.

Jodi Anderson Jr.: With a bachelor’s degree in political science and government and a master’s in education from Stanford University, he founded an online platform to help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs.
Darnell Epps: Epps has a degree in government from Cornell and recently completed a J.D. at Yale University Law School.

These are just a few examples of the many CPEP alumni who are making a positive impact on their communities.

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Challenges and Future Directions

Despite its successes, CPEP faces a number of challenges. Funding is always a concern, as the program relies on grants and donations to sustain its operations. Additionally, the program must navigate the complexities of the correctional system, ensuring the safety and security of both students and instructors.

Looking ahead, CPEP is committed to expanding its reach and impact. Plans are in place to begin a full Cornell University bachelor program at Cayuga Correctional Facility in the Fall of 2026. The program also seeks to strengthen its partnerships with other colleges and organizations, creating a more robust network of support for incarcerated students.

The Role of Education in Prison Reform

The Cornell Prison Education Program is a model for how education can be used as a tool for prison reform. By providing incarcerated individuals with access to high-quality education, CPEP helps them to transform their lives, reduce recidivism, and become productive members of society.

As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other prison reform advocates have argued, education is a path away from the revolving door of incarceration. It has the added benefit of making communities safer and healthier, while decreasing the cost of operating the prison system as it currently exists.

The success of CPEP demonstrates that investing in education for incarcerated individuals is not only a moral imperative but also a sound economic strategy.

Supporting CPEP

The Cornell Prison Education Program relies on the generosity of donors to continue its vital work. By making a tax-free gift to CPEP, you can help to support incarcerated students' academic ambitions and preparation for successful re-entry.

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