SAULT STE. MARIE — Lake Superior State University is putting together a new program for inmates reaching for higher education.
The new program is made possible because of recent changes in the way Pell Grants become available. Pell Grants are typically available to post-secondary students in American universities. Due to changes made to the grant earlier this year, it will now become available to prisoners.
LSSU has announced future plans for an inmate education program that would teach LSSU classes in-person at local Chippewa County correctional facilities.
Three programs will be available to students: a business fundamentals certificate, business entrepreneurship certificate, and an associate’s degree in health and fitness specialty.
“We wanted to offer opportunities so they could start their own business, or create their own future jobs or get positions as personal trainers, depending on their allowability by the state of Michigan,” said Kathy Berchem, Academic Dean of the College of Health & Behavioral Sciences at LSSU.
Through this program, LSSU is hoping to have a positive impact on the lives of inmates, as well as local crime statistics, overworked prisons and the university in general. School officials said it’s also shown that these programs can lead to better behaved inmates in the prisons.
“‘Recidivism is the percentage of inmates that returned to prison after release, and the normal rate is about 70 to 85 percent. And what they’re showing is some amount of education, like an associate’s degree, dropped that rate to 13.7 percent,” said Berchem. “If there’s a significant reduction there, it means those people are becoming functional, productive members of society.”
More:Chippewa County corrections officers are understaffed and overworked
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Other LSSU student resources will also be available to the inmates, including career counseling and tutoring materials. In order to qualify for the program, inmates must meet the same requirements that other LSSU students must reach before becoming accepted.
Currently all planned classes will be in-person, but they could evolve into online or hybrid classes once certain computer programs and websites are approved for prison computers.
Other prisons and universities throughout the state are also participating in the program, but once it is up and running, inmates in different prisons may have the option to transfer to a Chippewa County location to participate in the program.
LSSU has been approved by its accrediting body to educate prisoners. It is still waiting for direct approval from the Michigan Department of Corrections.
“It’s really about trying to reach as many people as possible to allow the opportunity for prisoners to rehabilitate and get the education and training that they need, so that when they are released, they are able to integrate back into society,” said Berchem. “We’re hoping we can improve the lives of the community around us, which is part of our global mission.”
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
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