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Last week I had several conversations with incarcerated men and women who are students in the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program, a program which is made possible by a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Corrections and Shorter College in Little Rock, AR. Shorter, a private two-year college, was founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1886.
In 2016, Shorter College was in the inaugural group of 67 postsecondary institutions granted an opportunity by the US Department of Education to allow approximately 12,000 men and women in 100 prisons located in 27 states to use a Pell Grant to pay for a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. This was made possible through executive action supported by President Barack Obama. Prior to the launch of the pilot program, all incarcerated men and women in the United States were ineligible for a Pell Grant as a result of the enactment of the Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. This act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton – a former governor and attorney general of Arkansas. Except for the men and women in the Second Chance Pilot Program, this ban is still upheld.
Currently, Shorter College educates more than 400 students in eight prisons throughout Arkansas. It is among several faith-based institutions in the Pell pilot, and one of only three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in it. For Shorter, faith and second chances are synonymous, a belief which led them to participate in this experiment.
According to President Jerome Green, “Our mission is to create a bridge, moving people from impossibility to possibility.” He shared these words during a graduation ceremony where 23 men and two women — 12 blacks, 12 whites and 1 Latino — earned an associate’s degree in entrepreneurship in November 2018. This was milestone for Shorter College.
President Green is not alone in his support for this program.
Governor Asa Hutchinson delivered the commencement address at the Second Chance ceremony. “We celebrate two things today,” he said. “One, the importance of education and, two, the importance of career opportunity.” US Senator John Boozman also attended the graduation ceremony.
With all the talk about the Pell Program at Shorter College, I had to go see it for myself.
My first visit to Little Rock occurred on August 7-8, 2019. While there I sat in on a professional development workshop for 35 instructors working for the Second Chance Pell Program inside eight prisons. I learned a lot about program successes, which includes the positive impact a college program like this has on prison morale — be it the incarcerated or correctional officers. I also learned about program challenges, such as management of student records by multiple agencies or the temporary disruption of learning when a student is transferred from one prison to another.
My second visit occurred on September 24-25, 2019. While there I visited two prisons – one for men the other for women — at the Wrightsville Unit which is located approximately 10 miles from the state capitol. Joining me in the prison visit from Shorter College was an undergraduate student leader, a campus advisor and administrator, and the director of the second chance program. A warden and a member of the state board of corrections were present, too.
Behind the bars, I had a conversation with more than 40 men and women — black, white and Hispanic — ranging in age from their 20s to 60s. Some grew up in Little Rock or Fayetteville, and others in rural Arkansas counties. Many of the men and women I met are parents, and their criminal convictions which led them to incarceration are diverse. Despite their differences, all of them share one thing in common: enrollment in Shorter College with assistance from a Pell Grant.
I asked two questions (among others) of the students in every classroom I visited: Why did you decide to enroll in college? What is this doing for you personally, professionally, etc.? Their responses were multifaceted, though three consistent themes rose to the top.
Self-improvement: Education for all of them is a way to make themselves better people. Several entered prison without a high school diploma, yet they earned a G.E.D. in prison. Some had completed a high school diploma before arriving to prison, and others had completed college courses but did not earn a degree. As a college student at Shorter, learning became a ticket for self-improvement: be it in prison or for preparation for the world beyond it.
Role-model factor: The desire to be a good parent, grandparent or spouse while in prison, and beyond, is a great motivator for going to college. So is being an example of hope for peers in prison. “If I can go to school in prison, so can you” is what they share with family members and friends.
Gaining marketable skills: Several of the men and women who have been in and out of prison for years said the probability of their return to prison after going to college is slim. Why? They will leave prison this time with stronger oral and written communication skills as well as a newfound ability for self-management and efficacy. For others, being a business owner is the driving factor. Having “felon” on a background check impacts job prospects and they know it. Earning an associate’s degree in entrepreneurship, or one of several workforce certifications, is a potential pathway to gainful employment. My second reason for being in Little Rock was to deliver a keynote address at the Shorter College Weekly Chapel Assembly. This honor provided me the opportunity to discuss with students, faculty, staff and members of the business and government community the role education plays in criminal justice reform. The exchange of ideas with attendees was healthy. We covered topics such as the school-to-prison pipeline, the politics of sentencing, and race in the criminal justice system. At the conclusion of the assembly, I attended a lunch on campus where I met with several justice-involved adults. Two of them were full-time students at Shorter College. Both began their college journey in prison as part of the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program.
In closing, I walked away from my visit to Little Rock with enthusiasm and questions. On one hand, I am excited to see so many young people interested in criminal justice reform. While the majority of the students on campus have never been incarcerated, they know someone who has been to prison, jail or both. Learning how in-prison college works was eye-opening for them. At the same time, some questions come to mind. Will these academically-motivated students get a job when they leave prison? Will they continue their studies after prison, be it at Shorter College or elsewhere? If yes, will the rising cost of higher education prevent them from continuing their education?
Only time will tell.
Shorter College has more than 400 students in Arkansas prisons. For them, faith and second chances are synonymous, which led them to this experiment.
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