Donnelly College to participate in U.S Department of Education's Second Chance Pell program to benefit incarcerated students at Lansing Correctional Facility
Donnelly College is pleased to announce that we have been selected to participate in the U.S Department of Education's Second Chance Pell program.
This program creates educational opportunities for incarcerated students by providing need-based Federal Pell Grants to individuals enrolled in post-secondary programs offered by approved colleges and universities. Before the current expansion, just 63 schools in 26 states had been invited to participate. Those institutions were awarded approximately $36.2 million in Federal Pell Grants during the first two years of the program. In that time, 11,750 students received Federal Pell Grants and, after three years, 4,000 post-secondary degrees and credentials have been awarded to those students. Donnelly College is one of only 67 new institutions chosen from more than 180 schools that applied to be added this year.
Donnelly College has a nineteen-year history of working closely with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) administration to provide college-level educational programs to Lansing inmates. Since 2001, nearly 500 inmates have taken Donnelly courses and 23 have graduated with associate degrees. Although we are proud of this record, we know that many more inmates will be able to benefit from our academic programs now that Donnelly has been approved for the Second Chance Pell program.
Last fall, when KDOC began working with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) to develop a coordinated strategy to provide postsecondary educational programs at correctional facilities across Kansas, Donnelly was invited to become a charter member of the newly formed Kansas Consortium for Correctional Higher Education (KCCHE). Although private colleges are not governed by KBOR, Donnelly was included in the consortium based on our long standing commitment to our Lansing students and our excellent relationship with LCF.
Through the consortium, Donnelly will not only expand our own associate degree programs, we will also to connect them with programs offered by two other KCCHE member institutions: a welding certificate program offered by Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) and a bachelor’s program in Business Administration offered by University of St. Mary in Leavenworth (USM). We are excited about the additional opportunities these new pathways will provide for incarcerated students seeking a postsecondary certificate or degree.
“This award will allow our Lansing students to complete their associate degree in business in a timely manner and increase the opportunity to many others who want to complete their post-secondary education. Donnelly College students at Lansing are among the most inquisitive students in our associate degree program. This opportunity will allow them to explore the field of business and gain employable skills for the future,” said Lisa Stoothoff, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs / Dean of the College.
In addition to establishing new educational pathways through KCCHE, Donnelly will continue to encourage LCF students to continue their education after release on our main campus, either completing their associate degree or enrolling in one of our two bachelor’s degree programs—our Bachelor of Science in Information Systems or our Bachelor of Arts in Business Leadership. Donnelly will provide admissions, financial aid, tutoring, and career services support to ensure that LCF students successfully transition to campus-based programs after release.
Donnelly's longstanding commitment to providing postsecondary educational programming at LCF is an extension of our mission of "providing education and community services with personal concern for the needs and abilities of each student, especially those who might not otherwise be served." Our Financial Aid staff has extensive experience administering Federal Pell grants and we have a number of experienced and dedicated instructors who have taught in the LCF program for many years.
Carl Hughes ’10, Lansing graduate and entrepreneur said, “If it could be summed up in one word, [this program] gives us opportunity.... Having the opportunity to not lose those years — to be able to walk out and do something — the appreciation can't be said.”