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Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
Mon May 9, 2016, 03:14 PM May 2016

Obama moves to open colleges to ex-convicts

Obama moves to open colleges to ex-convicts

The Obama administration is trying to make it easier for ex-convicts to go to college.

The U.S. Department of Education released a resource guide Monday to give colleges and universities alternatives to asking for criminal history on college applications, a question that has been shown to prevent an estimated 70 million citizens from pursing higher education.

“We believe in second chances and we believe in fairness,” Secretary of Education John King, Jr. said in a statement. “The college admissions process shouldn’t serve as a roadblock to opportunity, but should serve as a gateway to unlocking untapped potential of students.”

King made Monday’s announcement while visiting UCLA, a member of the University of California system, which does not inquire about criminal history on its admissions applications.

The resource guide, “Beyond the Box: Increasing Access to Higher Education for Justice-Involved Individuals,” recommends colleges and universities wait until after an admission decision has been made to ask about an applicant’s criminal record.



http://www.thehill.com/regulation/administration/279206-education-dept-to-colleges-avoid-criminal-history-question-on
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Obama moves to open colleges to ex-convicts (Original Post) Live and Learn May 2016 OP
There are also programs that offer college courses in prison KamaAina May 2016 #1
Why yes, I believe it was. Private prisons don't want inmates making it in society. Live and Learn May 2016 #3
Cannot rec this enough. NuclearDem May 2016 #2
Anything that will keep them from going out and committing more crimes FLPanhandle May 2016 #4
 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
1. There are also programs that offer college courses in prison
Mon May 9, 2016, 03:26 PM
May 2016

but not nearly enough.

https://prisonuniversityproject.org/about-us/

In 1994 the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act barred people incarcerated in the U.S. from receiving Pell Grants. This piece of legislation effectively ended prison higher education in the U.S., as virtually all of the approximately 350 programs around the country shut down for lack of funds.

The College Program at San Quentin was founded in the wake of this disaster. Initiated by a professor from UC Davis, in cooperation with then-Patten College and members of the Education Department at San Quentin, the Program began in the fall of 1996 with two classes, a volunteer coordinator, and no budget.

Fundraising efforts to support and expand the Program were started in 2000. In 2003, the Prison University Project was formed (fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center) to provide material, administrative, and financial support to the College Program at San Quentin. In 2006, PUP incorporated as an independent non-profit organization....

The Prison University Project runs a College Preparatory Program and an Associate of Arts Degree Program at San Quentin. PUP is also engaged in an array of artistic and cultural projects that document the intellectual and creative work of students, facilitate their civic engagement in the public sphere, and humanize the image of incarcerated people generally in the public imagination.


Wasn't that the infamous crime bill that Clinton signed and is now trying to walk back?

Live and Learn

(12,769 posts)
3. Why yes, I believe it was. Private prisons don't want inmates making it in society.
Mon May 9, 2016, 03:41 PM
May 2016

They want them to come right back and fill a bed.

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