The Unrealized Promise of College-in-Prison: Financial Hurdles to Reenrollment and Completion in the Era of Pell Reinstatement
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| Title: | The Unrealized Promise of College-in-Prison: Financial Hurdles to Reenrollment and Completion in the Era of Pell Reinstatement |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Julia Bowling, Pavithra Nagarajan, Kristen Parsons, Neal A. Palmer |
| Source: | Journal of Student Financial Aid. 2024 53(1). |
| Availability: | Center for Economic Education at the University of Louisville. Porter Building, 1905 South 1st Street, Louisville, Ky, 40292. e-mail: jsfa@louisville.edu; Web site: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jsfa/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 29 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Correctional Education, Institutionalized Persons, Educational Benefits, Financial Problems, Reentry Students, Financial Support, Nontraditional Students, College Students, Higher Education |
| Geographic Terms: | New York |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: | Pell Grant Program |
| ISSN: | 0884-9153 |
| Abstract: | College-in-prison programs are positioned to expand substantially under the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for people in prison. While this change will enable more students who have been systemically excluded from higher education to attend college, degree completion is rare during incarceration and post-release. Student perspectives can shed light on both the value of college-in-prison and the financial barriers to realizing its value. This study analyzes data from 12 focus groups with 105 total college-in-prison student participants, 114 student survey responses, and 45 stakeholder interviews. The data were collected between 2018-2022 during a process evaluation of the College-in-Prison Reentry Initiative, which provided funding to college-in-prison programs in New York State as part of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office Criminal Justice Investment Initiative. The findings demonstrate that students value college-in-prison, describing how it fostered self-reflection and personal growth and provided them with a skillset that may help them gain employment upon release. However, students also raised concerns about reenrolling and completing their degrees following release. Intentional, holistic reentry support could address the largely financial barriers to reenrollment. In so doing, students will be more likely to earn their college degrees after incarceration and experience the full value of a college education. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1424908 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | College-in-prison programs are positioned to expand substantially under the reinstatement of Pell Grant eligibility for people in prison. While this change will enable more students who have been systemically excluded from higher education to attend college, degree completion is rare during incarceration and post-release. Student perspectives can shed light on both the value of college-in-prison and the financial barriers to realizing its value. This study analyzes data from 12 focus groups with 105 total college-in-prison student participants, 114 student survey responses, and 45 stakeholder interviews. The data were collected between 2018-2022 during a process evaluation of the College-in-Prison Reentry Initiative, which provided funding to college-in-prison programs in New York State as part of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office Criminal Justice Investment Initiative. The findings demonstrate that students value college-in-prison, describing how it fostered self-reflection and personal growth and provided them with a skillset that may help them gain employment upon release. However, students also raised concerns about reenrolling and completing their degrees following release. Intentional, holistic reentry support could address the largely financial barriers to reenrollment. In so doing, students will be more likely to earn their college degrees after incarceration and experience the full value of a college education. |
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| ISSN: | 0884-9153 |
