Boston University's Prison Education Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary and hopes to expand.
Students at Massachusetts Correctional Facility Norfolk and MCI Framingham earn undergraduate certificates and Bachelor of Arts degrees in order to transform their lives and find ways to give back to their communities upon release.
Program director Mary Ellen Mastrolili said the program gives them hope for better selves and that her students are eager to learn.
“They're very motivated,” Mastrolli said. “They're not afraid to work hard. They do their homework well. In some ways, they're just ideal students.”
Mastrolli said there is a misconception that educating people in prison is tolerant of crime, but research shows these programs reduce misconduct and reduce the likelihood of recidivism by almost half. said.
This may be because previously incarcerated people with educational experience had better job prospects and higher wages.
It's also one of the reasons Mastrolli said he hopes to expand the program, with more universities including Tufts University and Emerson College expanding their own prison efforts and giving students a second chance. It's also the reason I'm giving you a chance.
“Prison education classrooms are a place where they can assert their humanity and dignity,” Mastroilli said. “And it's easy to see how personal growth can come from that.”
Students in Boston University's programs have earned more than 400 bachelor's degrees in the past few decades alone.
Mastrolli said undergraduate certificate programs are also becoming increasingly popular among people serving shorter sentences and those who aren't sure they can handle the workload of a degree program.
She said it's important to judge students not by their crimes, but as people with potential.
This report was supported by the Lumina Foundation.
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This summer, universities will have to comply with new federal rules to ensure they can no longer withhold student transcripts for unpaid tuition.
North Dakota officials hope the movement will encourage people to pursue new job skills. The U.S. Department of Education said that starting July 1, higher education institutions will no longer be able to refuse to submit transcripts related to courses paid for with federal student loans or grants. This may be due to late payments on books or other school debt.
Lisa Johnson, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the University System of North Dakota, said overcoming these obstacles can be huge for those considering re-admission or applying for a new job. Told.
“If we're going to attract returning adults, people who have 'quit', this really has to be part of the focus and part of the broader policies and procedures that we're considering. '' Johnson argued.
North Dakota's system is not designed to issue partial transcripts. Johnson expects the state to honor the release in all circumstances related to the unpaid balance. A formal vote is expected to take place this spring. He noted that campuses still have leeway to prevent students from exploring new courses at school for fear of taking on additional debt.
In these cases, students can work with the campus to come up with a repayment plan or explore opportunities at other schools, such as less expensive certificate programs, Johnson noted. He added that some schools in North Dakota are looking for other ways to ease their debt problems.
“The university is in preliminary discussions regarding the forgiveness of a low level of outstanding debt,” Johnson stressed. “It's like a parking ticket.”
In addition to writing off small balances, she pointed out that schools across North Dakota are actively working with former students looking to pay off their debts. She said it's better than relying on collection agencies to collect additional fees and put students in a more difficult position.
This report was supported by the Lumina Foundation.
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A new degree program could award a bachelor's degree in just three years to students across Utah's higher education system.
Utah System of Higher Education Commissioner of Higher Education Jeffrey Landward recently approved a new degree category called the Bachelor of Applied Studies. Students must complete a minimum of 90 credits, compared to the current standard of 120 credits.
“Not only does this save students a year of tuition, but it also allows them to get a job a year early. So it's a double benefit. You save money on your degree, but you also earn more. 'Now they have degrees and are in the workforce,' he said.
Fields of study within the new category will be narrower and tied to specific industry needs or occupations, Landward said, but will require national accreditation and approval from the state Higher Education Commission before being made available. added. He said Southern Utah University already has a three-year degree program that allows students to complete three semesters in one year instead of the traditional two.
Landward said he asked schools in the state to think about which industries they would like to offer more degrees in, which would allow the university to work with industry partners to offer three-year degrees. It added that creative opportunities will be provided to ensure that potential students complete their degrees. They are valuable and, as Randward calls them, “employable.”
To accomplish this, Landward said they will examine selection requirements to identify what he calls “core competencies.”
“Do we really need all these electives? And if we're not going to get into this particular profession, can we streamline that degree? And it's not just three years, but let's say three and a half years? “We're not going to do that. There's only one number, but the objective is, let's see if we can complete this degree within four years,” he said. explained.
He said there will likely be challenges, adding that while these programs are not yet available, he is looking forward to seeing what this means for students accessing higher education in the Beehive State.
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Discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion are growing as lawmakers propose bills that would limit or ban DEI in state-funded institutions.
The Black Voter Affairs Fund is joining forces with students and educators in North Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee to discuss the impact of anti-DEI efforts in higher education.
Kylie Rice, a student at a historically black college in North Carolina, voiced her concerns during a debate on higher education under siege. She believes DEI efforts are essential to combating discrimination and creating opportunities for marginalized people.
“Critics say, 'You're only hired for DEI.' I see DEI as an equity tool, otherwise I would have been ignored. . And I'm going to accept that,” Rice said. Nevertheless, I'm going to explain why I should have been hired. ”
Critics argue that DEI efforts ignore other students and that it is not the state's responsibility to fund social beliefs.
Nationwide, more than 30 states are working on legislation targeting DEI funding and implementation in public schools. North Carolina has not passed a similar bill, but last year the state legislature passed a bill that would prohibit institutions within the University of North Carolina system from asking questions about social or political beliefs.
DEI advocates argue that DEI bans have a significant impact on college programs, employment, and student organizations across the United States. Samson Cooke, a student at a college in Tennessee, said it's important to stay informed about what's happening on campus and the challenges students are facing.
“We have a student board committee,” Cook explained. “Their job is to inform students about issues happening in relation to the university. We use social media, post monthly newsletters and provide weekly updates with student trustees. .”
Ten states, including Alabama, have passed recent legislation opposing DEI efforts. Alabama specifically prohibits the use of state funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or offices of state agencies.
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