A new program allowing inmates in Virginia state prisons to receive college credit for courses taken while incarcerated was announced by Gov. Terry McAuliffe March 17.
There are five different classes that are available for credit: Introduction to Business, Business Software Applications, Digital Print Reproduction, Commercial Arts and Design and Computer-Aided Drafting.
Christopher Colville, superintendent of education for the Virginia Department of Corrections, said the courses were recommended for college credit after they were reviewed by the American Council on Education.
“We thought that [the courses] were valuable enough that they could be recommended for college credit, and ACE reviewed them and agreed with us,” Colville said.
The classes are based on the same programming found in career and technical education courses in school divisions across Virginia, Colville said. The classes are taught by teachers who are licensed through the Virginia Department of Education.
The inmates must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the program. They have to reach a certain level of proficiency on tests that assess verbal and mathematic skills in order to be able to take the offered classes, Colville said.
Colville said the program does not cost the state any extra money, and the cost for the Department of Corrections will only increase a small amount to pay ACE administrative fees for maintaining documentation on their recommendation for credit.
The ultimate goal for the program is to encourage the inmates to further their education even after they are released.
“When the offender gets out, they already have 9 credits or 6 credits or 14 credits, depending on the program,” Colville said. “It may give them the incentive to finish their degree or get into a degree program and use these credits toward a degree.”
Virginia is the first state to offer this type of program statewide.
However, this is not the only program in Virginia that gives inmates the opportunity to further their education. There are several local programs that have similar goals.
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail offers education programs for inmates, including Adult Basic Education programs, GED preparation courses and tutoring services.
Additionally, an on-Grounds program called “Books Behind Bars” serves local inmates.
Each semester since 2010, 16-18 students are offered the opportunity to join the Books Behind Bars program following a University-wide application process.
Creator and director of Books Behind Bars Andrew Kaufman said these students then discuss various literary works with local inmates.
“It gives both groups the opportunity to interact with one another and have conversations with one another about things that are important,” Kaufman said.
These groups of people would rarely interact with each other in any other context, Kaufman said, but the program brings them together to discuss great literature, have meaningful conversations about life and have fun.
“I think providing any opportunity that we give these young men and women, or men and women of any age, in prison to further their education is only going to benefit everyone,” Kaufman said.
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