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Schools Offering College Courses to Inmates - Ohio

July 31, 2015

Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program (Cincinnati)

Program Website: http://www.xavier.edu/criminal-justice/insideout/about.html

Contacts:
Peg Hubbard
Department of Criminal Justice
513-745-3518
hubbard@xavier.edu
Christine Shimrock
Facilitator, Inside-Out Class
513.706.1177
shimrockcm@xavier.edu

Program Description: The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is a semester-long overview of current social justice topics, taught inside a local prison. Curriculum includes exploration of why people commit crime; what prisons are for; analysis of the Criminal Justice system; punishment and rehabilitation; victims and victimization; restorative justice; myths and realities of prison life.

The class combines Xavier students (outside students) with an equal number of incarcerated men (inside students). The class is facilitated by a Xavier professor. Students meet separately on the first, third and last weeks of class in order to properly orient and debrief the experience. During the semester, inside and outside students will discuss issues, complete reading/writing assignments and work together to complete a group project.

Degrees Offered: 3 course credits for “outside” students

Programs Offered: Xavier students (outside students) meet every week with an equal number of incarcerated students (inside students) at Lebanon Correctional Institution. The class consists of guided dialogue, in both the large group and smaller subgroups. Three classes-the first, third and last-are held separately in order to properly orient and debrief the process.

Unique Features: N/A

Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH

Correctional Facilities Served: Lebanon Correctional Institution (LeCI)

Population Served: Incarcerated men and Xavier students; The men at LeCI go through the same screening process as Xavier students. They fill out a similar application and are interviewed by the same panel. The intention of the instructors is to choose a mix of students (race, socioeconomic, opinions, criminal history, education, etc.) to ensure class discussion is enriched by varying viewpoints.

Number of Students: 12 incarcerated students and 12 Xavier students per year

Graduates to Date: N/A

Year Founded: N/A

Founders: Lori Pompa (founder of Inside-Out model)

College/University/Organization Partnerships: Xavier University

Inside/Outside (ISOS)

Program Website: http://insideoutside.homestead.com/#anchor_136

Contacts: Jefferson James, jefferson@cdt-dance.org

Program Description: Inside/Outside began in February 2001 with the participation of individual artists and collaborating organizations in an intensive training conducted in Cincinnati by the Pat Graney Dance Company of Seattle. The training involved Cincinnati participants in the creation of an integrated arts program for women at River City.

The residency of the combined Seattle and Cincinnati artists’ teams culminated in two performances at River City. Interweaving poetry, movement, and visual arts created by incarcerated women, the performances were attended by audiences composed of incarcerated women and men, River City staff, and members of the general public including city officials, corrections professionals, local artists, and friends of the arts.

The Inside/Outside program is designed to build inter-personal and life-management skills through the arts. Through this process, Inside/Outside participants develop and improve skills of self-expression and also develop and enhance important life/work skills including communication, teamwork, and leadership.

Moreover, participants learn to view art as a tool to process through painful aspects of their lives and to channel negative thoughts and feelings in a productive way. In doing so, Inside/Outside participants learn effective strategies for stress reduction. Inside/Outside is continuing as funding permits and has completed 13 sessions so far.

Degrees Offered: No degree offered

Programs Offered: The program works by bringing together individual writers, poets, musicians, visual, movement, and theater artists into one team that conducts a series of creative workshops with residents at River City. These workshops culminate in a presentation by participants featuring their writing, visual art and performance pieces.

Unique Features: This is a creative multi-arts program which allows the participants to gain knowledge and experience in the arts and to create and present a production to the inside and outside public.

Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH

Correctional Facilities Served: River City Correctional Center

Population Served: Adults from River City Correctional Center with substance abuse issues who would otherwise be sent to Ohio penitentiaries.

Number of Students: Varies

Graduates to Date: N/A

Year Founded: 2001

Founders: Diane Debevec, Pauletta Hansel and Bet Stewart in collaboration with Jefferson James of Contemporary Dance Theater and Mary Pierce Brosmer of Women Writing for (a) Change.

College/University/Organization Partnerships: N/A

Funding: This program is funded through Foundation and government arts grants as well as individual donations.

Ohio University College Program for the Incarcerated (CIP)

Program Website: http://www.outreach.ohio.edu/cpi/

Contacts:
Ken Armstrong, Director of Independent Study (armstron@ohio.edu, 740-593-2910)
independent.study@ohio.edu
Haning Hall 222, Ohio University,  Athens, OH 45701
1-800-444-2420

Program Description: Since 1974, the College Program for the Incarcerated (CPI) has provided incarcerated men and women with courses and degree opportunities to further their educational goals. Ohio University seeks to meet the diverse needs of incarcerated distance learners. Through CPI, both associates and bachelors degrees are available. Each student is assigned an academic advisor to assist in successfully planning a degree program.

Although CPI cannot offer financial aid to incarcerated students, or the option of partial payments, a significant discount through the Comprehensive Fee Plan is offered. Some students may qualify for VA benefits. Ohio University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The College Program for the Incarcerated is administered by the Office of Independent Study.

Degrees Offered: Associates in Arts, Science, Applied Business, and Individualized Studies; Bachelor of Specialized Studies

Programs Offered: Two study formats are currently available for CPI students: Correspondence Courses and Course Credit by Examination. The content of the Correspondence Course is divided into lessons to guide the student’s learning. The content is presented in a course guide. The assignments submitted at the end of each lesson allow the student and the instructor to interact exclusively through the mail. For the Course Credit by Examination, a single comprehensive examination determines the course grade. There is no contact with an instructor, no feedback, and there are no lessons. This method of earning credit is only recommended for students who already have close familiarity with the content of the course and with Ohio University distance learning courses.

Unique Features: N/A

Headquarters: OH

Correctional Facilities Served: Mainly 4 prisons: Rush City, Moose Lake, Lino Lakes, and St. Cloud. St. Cloud University (Minneapolis, MN) has on-site classes, while the others mainly correspond

Population Served: People who are incarcerated

Number of Students: N/A

Graduates to Date: N/A

Year Founded: 1974

Founders: N/A

College/University/Organization Partnerships: Ohio University

Funding: Resources are limited to private, charitable institutions such as churches and community groups, which students may write to ask for help with tuition costs. Family members support enrollments for a significant number of students. While there is no financial aid directly available from Ohio University, the Comprehensive Fees exclusive to CPI students significantly reduce the cost of enrolling in two or more correspondence courses.