Campus Within Walls
Program Website: http://www.southside.edu/news/2011/campus_within_walls.asp
Contacts: Ann Cavan, Regional Principal, Lunenburg Correctional Center, Ann.cavan@dce.virginia.gov
Program Description: The “Campus within Walls” program started in January 2011 in two Southside Virginia prisons, Lunenburg and Greensville Correctional centers and offers postsecondary education to incarcerated students to reduce recidivism upon their release. The Virginia Departments of Corrections, Correctional Education, and Southside Virginia Community College partnered to answer Governor McDonnell’s call for reduction of recidivism. The Campus Within Walls program’s innovative approach focuses on degree completion in a fast-track, technology-rich, dormitory, and learning community environment.
Degrees Offered: Associates
Programs Offered: College men in two Southside Virginia prisons live in a designated college dormitory. They are all enrolled in college and take a wide range of courses leading to an IT-A++Certificate and/or an associate degree. Most of the students are in full time college programs.
Unique Features: Incarcerated students are housed together, thus creating a collective sense of pride and determination among a community of learners. Incarcerated teaching assistants with college degrees also reside with students and provide academic support.
Headquarters: VA
Correctional Facilities Served: Lunenburg and Greensville Correctional centers
Population Served: Men who are incarcerated
Number of Students: Approximately 160 men total for both facilities
Graduates to Date: Anticipate 80, by 2012
Year Founded: 2011
Founders: John Cavan
College/University/Organization Partnerships: Virginia Departments of Corrections, Correctional Education, and Southside Virginia Community College
Funding: Partially funded by the Workplace Training for Incarcerated Individuals Grant, the Department of Justice Second Chances Grant, and charitable involvement from the Sunshine Lady Foundation, Inc.
InmateAID Aid
