New England Board of Higher Education announces $500,000 in grants for higher education in prisons
New England Council member, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) announced that one of their initiatives, the New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC), is awarding $500,000 in grants to New England colleges and universities for projects working to expand access to higher education programs in prisons.
NEPEC is a five-year initiative funded by Ascendium Education Group and led by the New England Board of Higher Education. It was established to implement strategies and recommendations from the 2023 New England Commission on the future of Higher Education in Prisons. NEBHE issued a request for proposals in April of this year and received applications from institutions in all six New England states. Five proposals were chosen and will now receive $100,000 each. The inaugural recipients of these Accelerator Grant awards are Boston College, Quinnipiac University, Roger Williams University, Washington County Community College, and White Mountains Community College.
“NEPEC’s Accelerator Grants play a vital role in equipping New England institutions with the resources and support they need to advance this transformative work —not only inside correctional facilities, but also along the full continuum from incarceration to graduation and beyond into meaningful employment.” says Molly Lasagna, Senior Strategy Officer for Incarcerated Learner Initiatives at Ascendium Education Group.
The New England Council congratulates the New England Board of Higher Education on this impressive achievement and commends the vital work they are supporting.
Read more via the New England Board of Higher Education’s website