Eastern Michigan University gives female inmates a second chance in education

Twelve graduates in total received their diplomas for bachelor's degrees through Eastern Michigan University, led by Director Meghan Lechner. She says the curriculum here is the same as it would be on EMU’s campus. Morgan Rowley has been an inmate at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility for nine years, and on Thursday, she added a college graduate to her title.

Over 250 Michigan inmates graduate from college while behind bars

Over 250 Michiganders have graduated from college or a post-secondary school while behind bars this year. It’s the most inmates graduating in one year. On Thursday, Sept. 18, the Michigan Department of Corrections held its largest graduation ceremony to date. The event was at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, with 70 women graduating with associates or bachelor’s degrees from Jackson College and Eastern Michigan University.

Federal law restoring Pell Grants is changing lives of incarcerated individuals in Michigan

Because of a 2023 change in federal law allowing incarcerated individuals to access Pell Grants, Wayne State University is one of the first in Michigan to launch a four-year bachelor's degree program at Macomb Correctional Facility. They’ve enrolled a cohort of 24 incarcerated students to get a degree in sociology with a minor in entrepreneurship. Patrick Brown, director of adult student achievement at the Michigan College Access Network, explains the significance of the policy change.

How I Went From Prison to Tenure

Stanley Andrisse discusses his journey from being incarcerated for ten years to earning tenure at the Howard University College of Medicine. "People like me are often seen as redemption stories, not as faculty material. But what if lived experience with injustice is not a liability, but a credential? What if the strength it takes to rebuild a life is the very evidence of excellence that tenure is meant to recognize?"

Capped, Gowned, and Transformed

The Hope-Western Prison Education Program celebrates eleven graduates with anecdotes, student profiles, and stories of success and pride.

From the Inside Out

Alec Piper tells his story about finding hope and purpose through the Calvin Prison Initiative, while program staff discuss how program graduates parole successfully, find roles in leadership, and rediscover life.

Four takeaways from our survey on college and career after prison

Takeaways are shared from the Open Campus survey on college and career after incarceration. They partnered with Jobs for the Future’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to gather insights from nearly 100 formerly incarcerated people about their experiences with higher education and the job market.

Wayne State launches prison education program at Macomb state prison

Wayne State University's new Prison Education Program launches this fall at the Macomb Correctional Facility, making the Detroit university the newest member of the Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison. Wayne State’s addition to the program strengthens the statewide network of institutions working to ensure that incarcerated students can pursue a post-secondary education that prepares them for reentry into society and furthers their workforce goals.

The Data is Clear: College Still Matters

Post-secondary education remains one of the most reliable paths to economic mobility, civic engagement, and community stability. Students of color and those with disabilities are among the populations most at risk of being left behind in college access and success. Barriers include affordability concerns, lack of representation on campus, and systemic inequities in K-12 education.

Why I Teach in Prison

For more than a decade, I have facilitated prison programs and worked with individuals who have been impacted by the justice system. People assume I enter the prison, share knowledge and transform incarcerated students. That’s not the story I’m telling. The real transformation isn’t theirs. It’s mine.