Prison University Project

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Prison University Project


Formation 2003
Type 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Location San Quentin, California
Executive Director Jody Lewen
Staff 3[1]
Volunteers about 60[2]
Website prisonuniversityproject.org

The Prison University Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which supports the College Program at San Quentin State Prison, an associate's degree program which is the only on-site college program in any prison in the U.S. state of California.[3] Courses are taught by volunteers, most of them graduate students, instructors, and faculty members from San Francisco Bay Area colleges and universities.[4] Degrees are awarded by Patten University.[5]

The Prison University Project also provides guidance to student inmates, as well as disseminating information on prison education to the public at large.[2] From November 2007 to January 2008 it organized an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, including photographs by Heather Rowley of everyday scenes at San Quentin and essays by students in the College Program about their experiences.[6][7]

[edit] Background

The Prison University Project has its origins in the aftermath of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which made it illegal for prisoners to receive Pell Grants, reducing the number of college degree-granting programs in United States prisons from its peak of over 350 to fewer than 10.[8] The College Program at San Quentin was founded in fall of 1996, based entirely on volunteer teaching and organization. As the College Program expanded and efforts to raise funds increased, the Prison University Project was founded in 2003 "to provide material, administrative, and financial support to the College Program at San Quentin."[9]

[edit] The College Program at San Quentin

A High School diploma or its equivalent is required to participate in the College Program at San Quentin; courses offered have included Calculus, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry,[8] English, and Composition.[10] 12 courses are offered per semester.[11] Courses offered as part of the associates' degree program at San Quentin are worth 3 credits, with 60 being required for graduation. As of October 2007, 68 inmates had completed their degrees at San Quentin.[8]

The College Program has been cited by both instructors and student inmates,[12] as well as corrections officers,[10] as exerting a positive influence on the lives of participants and improving their chances of contributing productively to society upon their release.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Staff. Prison University Project web page. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  2. ^ a b Prison University Project Today. Prison University Project web page. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  3. ^ MacLaren, Becca. "San Quentin inmates get diplomas, set goals", Marin Independent Journal, 2007-06-29. Retrieved on 2008-04-21. 
  4. ^ "A Visit To San Quentin". Larry King Live. CNN. 2006-06-07. Transcript. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  5. ^ Fabros, Mellisa (2007). "UC Berkeley graduate students teach science at San Quentin". Berkeley Science Review (13): 20. 
  6. ^ The San Francisco Public Library Hosts Who We Are: Essays and Photographs of Students at San Quentin State Prison. ILoveLibraries.org. American Library Association. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  7. ^ Past Exhibitions at the Library - 2007. San Francisco Public Library web page. Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  8. ^ a b c Wang, Linda (October 2007). "Chemistry Behind Bars". Chemical & Engineering News 85 (43): 17-22. American Chemical Society. 
  9. ^ History and Background. Prison University Project web page. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  10. ^ a b Bova, Carla. "A 'zealot' for higher education wins award for teaching at San Quentin", Marin Independent Journal, 2007-04-21. Retrieved on 2008-04-22. 
  11. ^ San Quentin College Program. Prison University Project web page. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  12. ^ The promise of higher education at San Quentin. UC Berkeley News. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
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