Providing college in prison has been proven to have far reaching impacts, not only the lives of the incarcerated students but reaching further, to families, children, and communities. In prison, college programs provide a source of pride, encouragement, and even have been proven to improve the overall safety of the facility.
CPEP is no exception. Over the last quarter century, we have been providing college level courses and associate degrees in the prisons surrounding our Ithaca campus. Serving our students for 25 years has given us a unique view into our impact. We have seen beyond the immediate effects that classroom engagement has on students – many for whom school did not resonate in their earlier lives, we see graduations and proud families who travel far to embrace this achievement, prison transfers requested to continue advanced degrees, releases with clear plans and aspirations, men returning home to a wonderful impact on their families and their communities.
When our students enter our classrooms, their leave prison behind, if only for a few hours. They enter a space where they are not defined by their crime but by their thought. They learn, or relearn the language of education- how to engage and be challenged in a positive and productive way. Our students learn conflict resolution skills and learn to master how to give and receive constructive criticism.
College changes lives. CPEP changes lives.