Invisible Students: Challenges to Evaluation in Prison Higher Education
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| Title: | Invisible Students: Challenges to Evaluation in Prison Higher Education |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Erin L. Castro, Amy Lerman |
| Source: | Metropolitan Universities. 2025 36(1):48-66. |
| Availability: | Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252. Tel: 410-704-3700; Fax: 410-704-2152; e-mail: cumu@towson.edu; Web site: http://www.cumuonline.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Correctional Education, Higher Education, Student Evaluation, Barriers, Data Collection, Outcomes of Education, Institutionalized Persons, College Students |
| ISSN: | 1047-8485 |
| Abstract: | The challenge: This paper examines the state of knowledge and evaluation in prison higher education. Little is known about its efforts, outcomes, and impact or about the students enrolled in such efforts. Potential consequences: Incarcerated college students are a disenfranchised population with restricted autonomy. Without understanding prison higher education efforts and outcomes, colleges and universities run the risk of further marginalizing this group of students. Description/analysis/methods: Using the first comprehensive national survey of prison higher education programs, we assess whether and how data are collected on incarcerated college students and whether these data are used for student tracking and/or outcomes evaluation. We then elucidate a variety of challenges that help explain the current lack of quality data. Rationale/reflection/replication: We find that current data collection among prison higher education programs is extremely limited; most programs are unable to provide basic information about their students, instructors, or key student success metrics such as persistence and completion. We conclude with recommendations for program administrators, colleges and universities, and policymakers involved in the work of prison higher education, equity, and access to higher education. [Note: The volume and issue (35, 4) shown in the citation on the PDF are incorrect. The correct volume and issue are 36, 1.] |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1470172 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1470172 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Invisible Students: Challenges to Evaluation in Prison Higher Education – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erin+L%2E+Castro%22">Erin L. Castro</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amy+Lerman%22">Amy Lerman</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Metropolitan+Universities%22"><i>Metropolitan Universities</i></searchLink>. 2025 36(1):48-66. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252. Tel: 410-704-3700; Fax: 410-704-2152; e-mail: cumu@towson.edu; Web site: http://www.cumuonline.org – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: N – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 19 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correctional+Education%22">Correctional Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Evaluation%22">Student Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Collection%22">Data Collection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutionalized+Persons%22">Institutionalized Persons</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 1047-8485 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The challenge: This paper examines the state of knowledge and evaluation in prison higher education. Little is known about its efforts, outcomes, and impact or about the students enrolled in such efforts. Potential consequences: Incarcerated college students are a disenfranchised population with restricted autonomy. Without understanding prison higher education efforts and outcomes, colleges and universities run the risk of further marginalizing this group of students. Description/analysis/methods: Using the first comprehensive national survey of prison higher education programs, we assess whether and how data are collected on incarcerated college students and whether these data are used for student tracking and/or outcomes evaluation. We then elucidate a variety of challenges that help explain the current lack of quality data. Rationale/reflection/replication: We find that current data collection among prison higher education programs is extremely limited; most programs are unable to provide basic information about their students, instructors, or key student success metrics such as persistence and completion. We conclude with recommendations for program administrators, colleges and universities, and policymakers involved in the work of prison higher education, equity, and access to higher education. [Note: The volume and issue (35, 4) shown in the citation on the PDF are incorrect. The correct volume and issue are 36, 1.] – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1470172 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1470172 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 48 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Correctional Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Student Evaluation Type: general – SubjectFull: Barriers Type: general – SubjectFull: Data Collection Type: general – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Institutionalized Persons Type: general – SubjectFull: College Students Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Invisible Students: Challenges to Evaluation in Prison Higher Education Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Erin L. Castro – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Amy Lerman IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1047-8485 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 36 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Metropolitan Universities Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
