This article was originally written by Lisa Bauer for UW-Madison
On a chilly May afternoon at Oakhill Correctional Institution, 15 people filed in wearing graduation gowns over their prison-issued uniforms. Their faces showed pride in earning a degree that will benefit them, their communities and the state.
“I see my education preparing me for reentry into the workforce in many ways,” said Brian Brennan, who is currently incarcerated and graduated with his associate degree this summer.
“It is giving me the confidence I have been lacking for quite some time. But most importantly, it is providing me with the tools and knowledge that I need to be a successful, productive member of society.”
The May ceremony marked a major milestone in the expansion of higher education access inside Wisconsin prisons. These graduates are among one of the first cohorts to earn Associate through the University of Wisconsin Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (UW CHEP) , a collaborative initiative delivering college courses, certificates and degree pathways to students in person across seven correctional institutions in the state, with two more to be added this fall.
Since launching in 2023 through Governor Evers’ Workforce Innovation Grant program, UW CHEP has helped 19 students earn an associate degree from UW-Green Bay. An additional 150+ students earned badges (microcredentials showing their workforce ready skills). Nearly 170 incarcerated students in Wisconsin are enrolled in a credit-bearing UW course or set of courses this fall.
UW degrees and credentials are designed to increase post-release employment opportunities, reduce recidivism and build stronger communities across Wisconsin.
“We pride ourselves on evidence-based practices, but having hope also disrupts (recidivism),” said Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy, who spoke at the May graduation. “There’s nothing I can say that will outshine your stories. This is just the beginning of the positive things you will do beyond prison.”
A statewide partnership for education and reentry
UW CHEP is coordinated by UW–Madison through its Prison Education Initiative (PEI), in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, UW-Green Bay, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Milwaukee.
- UW-Green Bay leads the Associate of Arts and Science program at Oakhill and plans to build a bachelor’s degree program there and at other prisons. UW-Green Bay also offers courses at Green Bay, Oshkosh and Taycheedah Correctional Institutions.
- UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout are expanding programming at Stanley Correctional Institution, with plans to launch bachelor’s degree programs there in fall 2025.
- UW-Milwaukee is planning on offering courses at Racine Correctional Institution in spring 2026 and is working on the process for offering a bachelor’s degree completion program there.
- UW–Madison delivers college jump-start courses at Oakhill, Racine, Columbia and Taycheedah through its Odyssey Beyond Bars program and through the Division of Extension.
The initiative is funded through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Department of Workforce Development, and Ascendium Education Group. In addition, students who are incarcerated may be eligible for Pell Grants to cover tuition.
“Higher education in prison can help people turn their lives around and break the cycle of reincarceration,” said Peter Moreno, director of the PEI.
“The UW CHEP is helping build brighter futures, safer communities and a stronger workforce for Wisconsin.”
Benefits of higher ed in prison
Proven benefits of prison-based higher education include:
- Workforce development: UW CHEP collaborates with employers and workforce agencies to ensure relevant curriculum. A PEI career advisor and a reentry support coordinator connect students to job opportunities and community resources.
- Reduced recidivism: Those who participate in prison education programs are about 40% less likely to return to prison after they come home (RAND Corporation).
- Taxpayer savings: According to RAND, every $1 invested in prison education saves $4-5 in reincarceration costs.
More than a diploma
After earning his associate degree, Brennan plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing after he is released.
“I chose the health care field for a reason: because I want to give back, help and serve my family, friends, community and the state of Wisconsin in the best way I know possible,” he said.
