Washington County Community College Awarded NEPEC Accelerator Grant to Expand Prison Education Program
Calais, Maine – Washington County Community College (WCCC) is proud to announce its selection as one of five New England higher education institutions to receive a prestigious Accelerator Grant from the New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC), with support from Ascendium Education Group. This funding, in the amount of $100,000 over a one-year period, will significantly expand WCCC’s Prison Education Program (PEP) by launching an innovative suite of online, stackable certification courses in computer technology, providing justice-involved learners across Maine with equitable access to high-quality, workforce-aligned education.
Since 2018, WCCC’s PEP, in partnership with the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC), has delivered numerous online courses at four facilities: Southern Maine Women’s Re-Entry Center, The Women’s Center in Windham, Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston, and Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport. Guided by principles of quality education, collaboration, inclusion, equitable access, and data-driven improvement, the program provides opportunities for students to graduate with degrees in Certified Production Technician (CPT), Business Management, Human Services, Liberal Studies, as well as short-term workforce career courses leading to clear career pathways. Since starting PEP, sixty-three students have utilized eligibility for federal Pell grants to enroll in degree or certificate programs. In addition, over thirty Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) students have completed short-term workforce training in the Rouxbe ProCook and Sous Chef programs, Google IT Certifications, Production Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community, Entrepreneurship, and Remote Work Essentials, with over fifty currently active in virtual short term training courses.
The NEPEC Accelerator Grant will enhance the foundation already in place at the College by introducing industry-recognized certifications, including Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, Google AI and Generative AI, IT Automation with Python, and CompTIA Cloud. Courses are offered at no cost to students through support from the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce and other partners. Thanks to the NEPEC grant opportunity, these courses will extend to a fifth facility, the Maine Correctional Center (MCC), and transform WCCC’s Associate Degree in Computer Technology, previously available only in-person, into an online option. In an effort to address the growing demand for technology-driven career skills, the program will initially launch with workforce short-term certification-level trainings, then quickly evolve into a Pell-eligible degree pathway by the 2026–2027 academic year.
The Accelerator Grant funding will allow for the hiring of a part-time Program Coordinator who will lead the project, overseeing curriculum development, re-entry support, and individualized career planning. The initiative includes peer mentoring cohorts, remote employment exploration, and employer partnerships to align training with industry workforce needs. Additionally, WCCC will collaborate with the Center for Effective Public Policy and Apple as they work to establish a Justice Coding Lab at MCC, offering a three-credit course for men and women, complementing MDOC’s remote work and learning policies.
Embedding trauma-informed pedagogy, gender and racial equity, and accessibility, this project reflects NEPEC’s mission and WCCC’s commitment to inclusive, high-quality education with holistic support from intake to re-entry. A Prison Education Program Advisory Committee, with WCCC and MDOC representatives, students, and key partners, will ensure ongoing alignment with these goals.
WCCC’s President, Susan Mingo states, “We are grateful to receive this transformative grant, which will provide justice-involved learners with advanced skills and comprehensive holistic support. This exciting investment opens educational pathways, within Maine’s carceral system, to sustainable careers and expands access to high-wage, in-demand opportunities within the technology sector.”
For more information about WCCC’s Prison Education Program, visit https://wccc.me.edu/academics/prison-education-programs/ or contact Dr. Tyler Stoldt, Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services at WCCC.
About Washington County Community College
Founded in 1969 as Washington County Vocational Technical Institute, the college became Washington County Technical College in 1989. In 2003, as part of the transition from the Maine Technical College System to the Maine Community College System, it was renamed Washington County Community College, reflecting its expanded mission to serve the people of Washington County and Maine. Located in Calais, Maine, WCCC is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education that empowers students and strengthens communities through innovative programs and partnerships.
About NEPEC
The New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC), under The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), was established in 2024 with a five-year grant from Ascendium Education Group to implement the 2023 New England Commission on the Future of Higher Education in Prison’s recommendations and prepare the region for the reinstatement of federal Pell Grants for incarcerated learners. NEPEC aims to accelerate and support efforts to ensure all incarcerated individuals in New England have access to high-quality, workforce-aligned, equitable postsecondary education. Stay updated on NEPEC’s work at www.nebhe.org/higher-education-in-prison and follow them on LinkedIn.
About Ascendium Education Group®
Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Our national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. We partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Our grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org