This episode of FutureU explores the evolution of higher education in prisons following the July 2023 reinstate of federal Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated learners. Host Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo examine the Minnesota Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MCHEP), a statewide coalition to streamline logistics, best practices, and eliminate administrative burdens for colleges setting up education programs in prisons.
In conversations with MCHEP Executive Director Michael Valesano and former incarcerated student turned reentry coordinator Andre Anderson, they highlight that effective prison education goes beyond degree-granting courses; it requires genuine collegiate culture, support ecosystems, and in-person engagement.
Valesano elaborates on this: “And so that’s we’re looking to bring inside of prison, not just classes, full colleges, full college experiences, and full student cultures.”