Department of Justice grant supports Penn College Initiative This sender is penncollegenews@pct.edu from outside your institution. Block the sender This sender is penncollegenews@pct.edu from outside your institution. Penn College News Photo Caption – Penn College of Technology’s Prison to College Program, an initiative focused on enhancing education and employment outcomes for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration, has been awarded a highly competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in the amount of $866,188. Image provided
A Pennsylvania College of Technology initiative focused on enhancing educational and employment outcomes for individuals returning to their communities after a period of incarceration has been awarded a highly competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in the amount of $866,188.
praised as “Wonderful and innovative” By Community Partners Penn College’s Lycoming County Prison-to-College Program received a grant through the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Assistance’s Second Chance Act to improve education and employment outcomes.
The Second Chance Act to Improve Education and Employment Outcomes promotes an evidence-based, data-informed approach that will provide meaningful opportunities, interrupt the cycle of unemployment, improve economic mobility and promote reentry success for formerly incarcerated adults.
The grant will support the formalization and expansion of the Prison to College program, which began in 2022. The next phase of the initiative will benefit both pre- and post-release residents at the Licking County Jail and the Muncie State Correctional Institution. .
“I am grateful for the support and vision of the Office of Justice and the many college, community and industry stakeholders who provided input and guidance on this project.” Craig A. said: Miller, professor of history/political science and director of the Prison to College program. “This program is an opportunity for justice-impacted individuals to be empowered in their personal and professional lives. Educational programs in prisons have been proven to significantly reduce recidivism and increase workforce participation.
Among the state and local organizations that submitted documents supporting the college’s grant proposal were Muncie State Correctional Institution, Licking County Jail, Licking County Commissioners, North Central YWCA and Transitional Living Centers Inc.
Partners praised the transformative change enabled by the program as it equips individuals with the workforce skills needed to lead a positive future that benefits themselves and their communities.
Penn College’s Prison to College program launched as a pilot project in August 2022, offering inmates at the Lycoming County Pre-Release Center the opportunity to take the college’s communications course (ENL 010) for free.
ENL 010 focuses on essential writing skills and competencies for the workplace and is required in the following Penn College degree programs: Automotive Restoration, Automotive Service Technician, Aviation Maintenance Technician, CNC Mechanic, Collision Repair Technician, Culinary Applications, Diesel Truck Maintenance Technician, Plumbing, Baking, and Professional Welding In addition to the concrete technician competency credentials.
Preliminary data reveals that the program has proven successful for 15 individuals, one of whom is enrolled in the college’s Human Services and Restorative Justice major.
In addition to providing an entry point to post-secondary education, the next phase of the Prison to College program will address needs such as intensive case management, academic remediation, tutoring, support services and employment.
The full-time Project Coordinator will serve as a liaison with correctional facilities and residents. A 10-member advisory committee will include a number of community supporters, including the West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee and PA CareerLink.
Various Penn College departments will support this initiative, such as Disability Resources and Access, the Center for Career Design, Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, and the College of Business, Arts and Sciences.
The initiative aligns with the mission, vision, and goals of the Human Services and Restorative Justice major at Penn College. Students in the major participate as volunteers in the “From Prison to College” program.
To show community support for the project, Prison to College previously received two grants totaling $93,750, from the Pennsylvania First Community Foundation Partnership.
Before joining the faculty at Penn College in 2011, Miller ran a nonprofit organization that offered college courses to inmates in the New York State prison system. Called the Niagara Frontier Consortium, it has partnered with three colleges to offer associate and bachelor’s degrees in business and accounting. The program included more than 100 students and 10 faculty and staff.
Miller is a member of the Licking County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Williamsport Civil Service Commission, and the YWCA’s Wise Choices Advisory Board.
We are thrilled to announce that Pennsylvania College has been awarded a grant from the Department of Justice. This grant will provide the college with the resources and support needed to enhance safety and security measures on campus, as well as to develop new programs aimed at preventing and addressing issues related to crime and violence. This significant investment from the Department of Justice is a testament to the college’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff. We are excited to see the positive impact this grant will have on our campus community and beyond.