The Goucher Prison Education Partnership receives federal funding to expand programming

Thanks to the support from U.S. senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP) recently received a $355,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to upgrade and expand its offerings. GPEP offers a Goucher College bachelor’s degree to individuals incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW) and the Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup (MCIJ).

The funding from this grant will enhance the computer technology available to Goucher College students in these two prisons, strengthening both their academic and workforce skills. The grant will also help create additional classroom space in trailers.

“These funds will serve as a catalyst, allowing us to offer more classes, held throughout the day rather than just in the late afternoon and night, and creating a gathering space for academic and community events. Having this dedicated classroom space will allow GPEP students to move to full-time status and graduate in 4-5 years rather than 8-9, both central goals in our five-year strategic plan,” says Dr. Ann Duncan, Executive Director of GPEP and the Susan D. Morgan Professor of American Studies and Religion at Goucher College.