Prison Education Programs
WCCC began our partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) at Southern Maine Women’s Re-Entry Center (SMWRC) in late fall of 2018 delivering online courses in Production Technology through our workforce division. WCCC currently provides prison education programs through online course delivery at four institutions in the State of Maine; Southern Maine Women’s Re-Entry Center (SMWRC) in Windham, The Women’s Center (WC) in Windham, Mountain View Correctional Facility (MVCF) in Charleston, and Downeast Correctional Facility (DCF) in Machiasport.
A Prison Education Program Advisory Committee, with representatives from WCCC and MDOC, meets monthly to provide feedback on programming and ensure we are meeting our guiding principles.
Guiding Principles for Postsecondary Education in Prison
| Guiding Principle 1: Quality comparable to campus
Provide quality education in prison that is comparable to community campuses and that will facilitate success for students continuing their education when they return home.
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Guiding Principle 2: Communication and collaboration among partners
Commit to a communication structure that will foster partnership between the college, corrections department, and students. Facilitate meetings to support open dialogue and create a culture where clear, honest communication can lead to continuous program improvement.
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| Guiding Principle 3: Inclusion and student voice
Promote inclusive spaces. Opportunities for student voices to be heard is vital to creating a community that empowers students and cultivates leadership and self-efficacy.
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Guiding Principle 4: Equitable access
Embed gender and racial equity as well as accessibility into the program design. Ensure programs have on-ramps gauged to different ability levels to ensure an equitable opportunity for success.
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| Guiding Principle 5: Collect data and build college expertise
Begin collecting data from the start of the program to support data-driven implementation strategies and identify areas for improvement. Ensure program consistency by documenting policies and procedures specific to prison-based education. Build college expertise by supporting the professional development of faculty and staff. |
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