FYE Virtual Symposium 2024
May 2024 - Jun 2024
Honored to have moderated a pivotal discussion at WGU's First Year Experience symposium on "Creating Opportunity for Incarcerated Students: Piloting a WGU Prison Education Program." The panel brought together diverse perspectives from education innovation, prison reform, and academic leadership to explore WGU's groundbreaking initiative to provide higher education access to incarcerated individuals.
Led an engaging dialogue with Dr. Susie Chen (Manager, Advanced Analytics at WGU Labs), Darryl Epps (Director of Outreach & Intake Services at John Jay College), and Dr. Ben Coulter (Chancellor, WGU North Carolina) examining the intersection of educational technology, student support, and institutional partnerships in prison education.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, following the restoration of Pell Grant access for incarcerated individuals. Through partnerships with Nucleos and the College of Business, WGU is positioned to launch its B.S. Business Administration - Management degree program within the Wyoming and Maine Departments of Corrections, marking a significant step toward educational equity and reduced recidivism.
Key insights
From our discussion
Alignment of Incarcerated Learners with WGU’s “Rising Talent” Profile – Insights into how the skills, aspirations, and educational needs of incarcerated learners correspond with WGU’s target student demographic.
Technology-Enabled Learning in Correctional Facilities – Examination of digital learning models and their potential for expanding educational access within prison systems.
Strategic Partnership Development with State Departments of Corrections – Approaches to fostering effective collaborations that support higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
Implementing WGU’s Competency-Based Education in Prison Settings – Key considerations for adapting and integrating WGU’s flexible learning model into correctional education programs.