Villanova Selected For Inmate Education Pilot Program

Villanova University is one of four Pennsylvania colleges that will participate in a national pilot program to allow inmates to access post-secondary education with the goal of helping them get jobs upon release, according to an announcement from Governor Tom Wolf's office.

Bloomsburg University, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania were also selected. The four Pennsylvania institutions are among 67 colleges and universities awarded federal grants under the U.S. Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell pilot program

“More than 90 percent of the 48,000 individuals behind bars in Pennsylvania will leave prison one day,” said Governor Wolf. “It’s no secret that achieving basic literacy and completing high school are positive indicators of future success and reduced recidivism. Having a college degree or certificate in hand will give those individuals an even greater chance for successful reintegration and to become productive members of society. I thank the incredible institutions of higher learning who’ve partnered with us in this effort.”

The program will provide funding for 115 inmates at six correctional institutions to access college degree or certificate programs at the participating schools.

Villanova University will partner with Graterford Prison in Montgomery County, PhillyVoice reports.

The $30 million Pell pilot program is designed to test whether participation in high-quality education programs increases after expanding access to financial aid for incarcerated individuals, according to information from the governor's office.

“With 20,000 individuals leaving our institutions every year the DOC has placed a heavy focus on reentry and removing barriers to reentry,” said Corrections Secretary John Wetzel. “For the last 22 years, college education was out of reach for most inmates who had to cover the costs themselves. Through this partnership with participating colleges and universities we can expand access to high quality education programs that will give individuals the skills they need to become tax payers rather than tax burdens.”