Prison University Project

infobox Organization
name = Prison University Project


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formation = 2003
type = 501(c)3 non-profit organization
headquarters =
location = San Quentin, California
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membership =
leader_title = Executive Director
leader_name = Jody Lewen
num_staff = 3cite web |url=http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org/pages/aboutus/staff.html |title=Staff |accessdate=2008-04-23 |format= |work=Prison University Project web page ]
num_volunteers = about 60
budget =
website = [http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org prisonuniversityproject.org]
remarks =

The Prison University Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which supports the College Program at San Quentin State Prison, an associate's degree program which is the only on-site college program in any prison in the U.S. state of California. [cite news |first=Becca |last=MacLaren |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=San Quentin inmates get diplomas, set goals |url=http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_6257899 |work=Marin Independent Journal |publisher= |date=2007-06-29 |accessdate=2008-04-21 ] Courses are taught by volunteers, most of them graduate students, instructors, and faculty members from San Francisco Bay Area colleges and universities. [cite episode |title=A Visit To San Quentin |episodelink= |url= |series=Larry King Live |serieslink= |credits= |network=CNN |station= |city= |airdate=2006-06-07 |began= |ended= |season= |number= |minutes= |transcript=Transcript |transcripturl=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/07/lkl.01.html |accessdate=2008-04-21] Degrees are awarded by Patten University. [cite journal |last=Fabros |first=Mellisa |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |month= |title=UC Berkeley graduate students teach science at San Quentin |journal=Berkeley Science Review |volume= |issue=13 |pages=20 |id= |url=http://sciencereview.berkeley.edu/articles.php?issue=13&article=briefs_8 |accessdate= 2008-04-21 |quote= ]

The Prison University Project also provides guidance to student inmates, as well as disseminating information on prison education to the public at large.cite web |url=http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org/pages/aboutus/PUPtoday.html |title=Prison University Project Today |accessdate=2008-04-21 |format= |work=Prison University Project web page ] From November 2007 to January 2008 it organized an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, including photographs by Heather Rowley of everyday scenes at San Quentin and essays by students in the College Program about their experiences; [cite web |url=http://ilovelibraries.org/news/libraryshowcase/prison.cfm |title=The San Francisco Public Library Hosts Who We Are: Essays and Photographs of Students at San Quentin State Prison |accessdate=2008-04-21 |format= |work=ILoveLibraries.org |publisher=American Library Association ] [cite web |url=http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/news/pastexhibs/pastexhibitions2007.htm |title=Past Exhibitions at the Library - 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-21 |format= |work=San Francisco Public Library web page |publisher= ] a similar exhibition on Alcatraz Island began on June 1, 2008 and is scheduled to continue until October 22.cite web |url=http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org/pages/events/exhibition.html
title=IS IT SAFE? An Exhibition at Alcatraz |accessdate=2008-07-13 |format= |work=Prison University Project web page ] [cite web |url=http://www.parksconservancy.org/visit/alcatraz/index.asp |title=Alcatraz |accessdate=2008-07-13 |format= |work=Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy web site |publisher= ]

Background

The Prison University Project has its origins in the aftermath of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which made it illegal for prisoners to receive Pell Grants, reducing the number of college degree-granting programs in United States prisons from its peak of over 350 to fewer than 10.cite journal |last=Wang|first=Linda|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |month=October |title=Chemistry Behind Bars |journal=Chemical & Engineering News |volume=85 |issue=43 |pages=17-22 |id= |url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/85/8543cover.html |accessdate= 2008-04-22 |quote= |publisher=American Chemical Society] The College Program at San Quentin was founded in fall of 1996, based entirely on volunteer teaching and organization. As the College Program expanded and efforts to raise funds increased, the Prison University Project was founded in 2003 "to provide material, administrative, and financial support to the College Program at San Quentin." [cite web |url=http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org/pages/aboutus/history.html |title=History and Background |accessdate=2008-04-22 |format= |work=Prison University Project web page ]

The College Program at San Quentin

A High School diploma or its equivalent is required to participate in the College Program at San Quentin; courses offered have included Calculus, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, English, and Composition.cite news |first=Carla |last=Bova |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A 'zealot' for higher education wins award for teaching at San Quentin |url=http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_5725462 |work=Marin Independent Journal |publisher= |date=2007-04-21 |accessdate=2008-04-22 ] 12 courses are offered per semester. [cite web |url=http://www.prisonuniversityproject.org/pages/programs/SQcollegeprogram.html |title=San Quentin College Program |accessdate=2008-04-22 |format= |work=Prison University Project web page ] Courses offered as part of the associates' degree program at San Quentin are worth 3 credits, with 60 being required for graduation. As of October 2007, 68 inmates had completed their degrees at San Quentin.

The College Program has been cited by both instructors and student inmates, [cite web |url=http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/04/16_lewen.shtml |title=The promise of higher education at San Quentin |accessdate=2008-04-22 |format= |work=UC Berkeley News |publisher=University of California, Berkeley ] as well as corrections officers, as exerting a positive influence on the lives of participants and improving their chances of contributing productively to society upon their release.

References