Show Prison Inmates Earn College Credit Stacie Peart Campus Editor has over ten satellites satellites satellites satel satel- lites around Utah These different different different dif dif- ferent campuses teach various various various vari vari- ous courses including specialized specialized specialized programs and general gener gener- al education The colleges college's satellite at atthe atthe atthe the Salt Lake Prison works like the other campuses to provide educational opportunities opportunities opportunities for students who are inmates Everything that is done at ata ata ata a regular campus is done at atthe atthe atthe the prison on a smaller scale said Mark Wheatley Director of Education for the Prison Program We try to run it like a regular campus Wheatley explained that the prison satellite works closely with the Redwood Campus to make sure inmates have enough classes class class- es to graduate The prison satellite has regular classrooms but the classes are j just of the prison There are different course options available to inmates The mens men's facility teaches programs in building construction construction construction con con- and construction management Inmates in courses all remain at atthe atthe atthe the prison However inmates who have the required security ty level can go on work pro pro- These projects allow the prisoners to travel to their work site for the day then return to the prison at night For example one work project project project pro pro- takes inmates to build modular homes for housing developments Other courses taught in the mens men's facility are automotive and electron electron- ics The women's facility teaches courses in subjects like culinary arts Currently the women's facility population population population tion is increasing so is trying to find more courses and subjects to teach for the women who are at the I ty tv Wheatley added that many courses can be taught there but due to cost they certainly certain certain- ly dont don't have the latitude to teach all the courses at the prison Wheatley said aid t that at inmates s who register with and become students dont don't pay the same tuition as other students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents its a significantly Prison continued on page 7 Prison continued from front reduced rate A lot of people think why should we give inmates education Wheatley said He explained that it takes more money to house an inmate than it does to provide schooling and then send them into the world educated He also said there is less recidivism or inmates are less likely to return to o prison later if they receive education education education tion while in prison The report mentioned that several of the students have been paroled the year and remain out of prison having found jobs in hospitality Many of the inmates receive their high school diploma or AAS degree through the prison satellite Some of these students then go on to for a bachelors bachelor's or a masters master's degree We have approximately students each semester that attend the prison courses cours cours- es Wheatley said Not just any inmate can sign up for courses For example would not admit inmates who have problems with security Inmates who participate in therapy and other prison programs programs programs pro pro- grams are more likely to be beable beable beable able to register for classes through Students who register for courses must maintain their security level in order to remain enrolled in inthe inthe inthe the program Wheatley admits that there is a very small percentage of inmates that become a disciplinary problem The inmates who sign up for courses want to be there faculty not prison personnel teach the courses offered The prison satellite has eleven full time staff and seven to eight part tune time staff members The prison has tenured faculty and also faculty faculty faculty fac fac- fac- fac members on the faculty senate Unlike other campuses faculty members stay at the prison all day For security reasons they do not teach one class in the morning leave and then return to teach a night class like some instructors at other campus campus- es The faculty helps students with more than just teaching They can help students choose a career path and get geta a degree for that career The staff includes an Incarcerated Student Specialist to help the students at the prison get registered The specialist also has other functions such as cashiering Each instructor must take 16 hours of correction training every year This is because security is the number number number num num- ber one issue while at the prison Instructors can forget they are teaching at a prison and they have to be reminded of the risks Some of the unclear risks are the higher occurrence of AIDS and hepatitis Recently the Vice- Vice President of Academic Services Board of Trustees Report commended the prison satellite because several several several sev eral of the students have been paroled this year and remain out of prison haying having found jobs in hospitality Wheatley explained that the more educated inmates become the less likely they will make a return trip through the Utah correctional system The prison satellite conti continues ues to work to help their students by providing good educational ties |