CCRI included in initiative to provide Pell grants to people in state or federal prisons
June 22, 2020
The Community College of Rhode Island today announced it is included in the expansion
of the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative to provide need-based Pell
grants to people in state and federal prisons.
CCRI is one of 67 colleges awarded the grant, and one of only 130 colleges nationwide
selected to participate in the Second Chance Pell program.
The Second Chance Pell program at CCRI is a specialized initiative, different from
needs-based or merit scholarships offered in traditional education programs and universities.
This program will not tap into traditional scholarship funding sources, but, instead,
will build upon an existing partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
Under this program, eligible individuals can take courses toward a certificate or
an associate degree as part of their rehabilitation program. Last year, more than
250 individuals took courses, and, since the program started 15 years ago, 95 individuals
earned their associate degree.
The Second Chance Pell program will allow CCRI to expand the capacity of the existing
program by enabling an increased number of individuals to enroll in CCRI certificate
programs and expanding the offerings to new areas of the incarcerated population that
have not previously had access to courses. CCRI plans to serve 40 additional students
the first year through this Second Chance Pell program.
“We are eager to build upon our proven relationship with the Rhode Island Department
of Corrections that has enabled us to provide educational opportunities to hundreds
of incarcerated students each year,” said CCRI President Meghan Hughes. “Our college
prides itself on our successful track record in serving first-generation college students,
students from underrepresented groups, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
CCRI is well prepared to help our Second Chance Pell students achieve their educational
and career goals, while they complete their rehabilitation.”
“We know that for every dollar spent in education, the state saves $5 in incarceration
costs. We want to make sure individuals have the necessary tools to live as law-abiding
citizens once they complete their sentence,” said RIDOC Director Patricia A. Coyne-Fague,
Esq., regarding the initiative. “Education has proven to be very effective at breaking
the cycle of incarceration. The data shows that if a justice-involved parent gets
a postsecondary education, their children are more likely to go to college and graduate
with a degree as well. From a community safety perspective, it just makes sense to
invest in education as part of the rehabilitative process.”
The vast majority of incarcerated people will one day return home, and providing access
to postsecondary education in prison means that these individuals are far less likely
to recidivate; they are better equipped to play productive and positive roles within
their communities. Access to postsecondary education also improves prison safety for
both incarcerated people and corrections employees alike.
The Vera Institute of Justice has been providing technical assistance to the participating colleges and corrections
departments since the initiative’s inception, working to ensure that the programs provide quality higher education in prison and
post-release.
“This expansion of Second Chance Pell will improve lives and strengthen communities,”
said Nick Turner, president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice. “The expansion
is also a testament to the fact that broader access to college in prison is a strategy
that works – to improve safety and expand opportunity in our country.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting several Second Chance Pell institutions and have
seen firsthand the transformative impact this experiment has on the lives of individuals
who are incarcerated,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “By expanding
this experiment, we are providing a meaningful opportunity for more students to set
themselves up for future success in the workforce. The stories I’ve heard from students
and institutions engaged in the experiment are very encouraging, and we look forward
to seeing how this expansion will help even more students achieve a better future.”
To see a full list of sites selected in the second cohort of Second Chance Pell, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website here.
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