Nalia Medina, Assistant Director of Government Relations
NASFAA 2025 National Conference attendees, on Wednesday, had the opportunity to hear a panel discussion about the complicated aspects and outstanding questions surrounding prison education programs (PEPs). The panel was composed of financial aid and corrections experts well-versed in the prison education space and who have fostered strong partnerships to effectively serve incarcerated students.
Because not every student is eligible to receive a Pell Grant, panelists encouraged attendees to think more broadly about other funding mechanisms beyond just the Pell Grant for PEPs, and discussed how various funding types can be used to grow PEPs.
The panel also highlighted potential challenges with infrastructure, lack of adequate staffing, facility restrictions, and the importance of continued collaboration between institutions and the Department of Corrections (DOC) to address those barriers.
Vital to the creation and facilitation of a successful PEPs are three components, which according to the panelists include: the experience of someone at the DOC who has worked with incarcerated individuals, the passion of a faculty champion that supports the mission, and the expertise of how to administer the programs.
Publication Date: 6/26/2025
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