New Higher Education in Prison Consortium Aims to Change Lives

Changing lives by expanding higher education opportunities in Mississippi prisons is the goal of a new cooperative effort led by the Mississippi Humanities Council (MHC).
Approximately 77 percent of people who leave prison return within five years. Four Mississippi institutions hope to dramatically improve that statistic through higher education in prison (HEP).
In 2021 The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the MHC a two-year grant to work with three community colleges to offer for-credit humanities courses in prisons. As interest in this work continues to grow, MHC has partnered with the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), Mississippi Public Universities/Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), and the Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF) to seek ways to offer even more classes to Mississippians who are incarcerated.

The MHC received a second grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation to work with the four partners to establish a statewide alliance of Mississippi organizations dedicated to expanding and promoting quality postsecondary education opportunities for students in prison. The two-year grant funds both a year of planning and a year of implementation. “We are so excited about the Laughing Gull Foundation’s support of this work, said Stuart Rockoff, executive director of the MHC. “Our ultimate goal is to help create a sustained statewide program of higher education in our state’s prisons.”

Casey Prestwood, associate commissioner for academic and student affairs at Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, stressed the importance of forming a consortium. “Ideally, the consortium will raise awareness for the need to have more Mississippi universities and colleges involved so that higher education programs can be offered at all prisons in Mississippi.

“Research shows us that higher education prison programs provide transformational opportunities for incarcerated men and women to gain self-worth and soft skills while earning college credit,” Prestwood added.
A Rand Corporation meta-analysis showed incarcerated adults enrolled in education programs are 43 percent less likely to recidivate. Those rates improve to 48 percent for post-secondary programs. Justice-impacted individuals who earn an associate degree have only 14 percent recidivism, and that rate falls to 5.6 percent for those with a bachelor’s degree. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, for every dollar spent on prison education, taxpayers can expect a return of $5 as justice-impacted individuals become stable, positive forces in their families and communities.

Stephanie Gaskill, a New Orleans-based consultant with several years of experience working with prison education programs, will lead a 14-member steering committee during the planning year.
“We are delighted to have someone with Stephanie’s experience and passion for this work to guide us in this coalition-building phase of our prison education work in Mississippi,” said Carol Andersen, assistant director of the MHC and lead HEP program manager for the Council.

Gaskill recognizes the value of a consortium in dealing with the challenges of conducting college classes inside a prison. “No one does this work in a vacuum,” she commented. “It is crucial to develop and share knowledge and resources in collaborative contexts.” Woodward Hines Education Foundation President and CEO Jim McHale emphasized, “We know that higher education for those impacted by the justice system can serve as a catalyst for improving the lives of individuals by increasing self-efficacy, reducing recidivism, increasing employment opportunities upon reentry, and by improving intergenerational benefits among the children of incarcerated individuals.”

The benefits of higher education in prison, McHale said, makes this initiative consistent with Woodward Hines’ vision of “a Mississippi where all people can secure the training and education beyond high school that will allow them to enhance their quality of life, strengthen their communities, and contribute to a vibrant and prosperous future for our state.” To make these opportunities available to all Mississippians, the partners set three overriding goals: create partnerships to provide more higher education in prison opportunities, support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, and provide data and evaluations to ensure quality education programs.

Since 1994 when Congress banned people in prison from receiving federal financial aid, higher education programs have been limited, primarily funded by nonprofit organizations or schools with a Second Chance Pell grant. Federal Pell Grants are the largest grant program offered to assist students from low-income households. Last December, Congress lifted the ban on Pell Grants for people in prison effective July 2023.
“With the restoration of Pell Grants, this work will grow,” concluded Carla Falkner, MHC prison education project coordinator. “The consortium partners want to make sure only quality higher education programs that put students first are offered in our state prisons. Our partners believe Mississippi colleges and universities are the entities best equipped to do that work.”

According to Andersen, the planning year will involve traveling the state, both physically and virtually to hear from various stakeholders. Gaskill and the Mississippi Consortium for Higher Education in Prison Steering Committee will also study other state consortiums to develop a plan that will meet the unique needs of men and women incarcerated in Mississippi prisons.