Giving Connection

Tennessee Higher Education in Prison Initiative (THEI)

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Volunteer

1006 Shelby Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206, USA

EIN Number: 45-4531767

contact information

Phone: 615-879-8857

Hours: Closed

Mon - Fri 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (EST)

Sat Closed

Sun Closed

Website: http://www.thei.org

Email: info@thei.org

NTEE Code: I40: Rehabilitation Services for Offenders

MISSION - WHAT WE DO

The mission of the Tennessee Higher Education Initiative is to provide access to on-site degree-bearing higher education for individuals in Tennessee prisons; to support our students in leading meaningful lives in and outside prison; to prepare our students for successful re-entry; and to help our students become contributing members of our communities.

VISION - GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS

THEI is a grassroots, community organization committed to principles of harm reduction, healing, and centering the lived experiences of the people we serve. We fulfill this commitment by recognizing and addressing systemic injustices that have marginalized and stigmatized communities and continue to leave people behind. We engage in reimagining and building towards the world we want to see through systems work, direct service, and through the language and context through which we operate.

SERVICES - HOW WE DO IT

THEI College Program at Turney Center Industrial Complex: In May 2014 THEI began a 2nd college program in Middle Tennessee at the Turney Center, a medium security prison for men. The program at Turney was modeled after the pilot one at Charles Bass, and shared many of the same elements including being serviced by Nashville State, being degree-bearing, using the cohort model, and integrating technology to support teaching and learning. In May 2015 the program opened to inmates housed at the nearby minimum-security facility, the Turney Center annex and welcomed THEI students from Charles Bass when that facility closed its doors. At present there are 5 cohorts with an enrollment of 92 students, and 8 courses offered (included 2 online). The men work full-time during the day and take 2-4 courses per semester at night and on Saturdays leading towards an AS degree from Nashville State in Business Administration, Political Science or Psychology. Credits earned from these courses are transferable to any public college or university in TN, as well as many private ones in the Southeast. In order to be admitted to the program, each applicant must take the TN college placement exam and place at college level in reading & writing, complete the application, and write an entrance essay. Once admitted to the program, students must pay $25 per semester, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and keep a clean disciplinary record. The use of technology to support teaching and learning is emphasized. Students are assigned desk-top computers in a large computer lab and starting summer 2016 with Biology I, THEI began offering the first internet courses behind bars in TN. Since then we have offered 2 every semester including Biology I/II, Accounting I/II, Macroeconomics and Computer Applications, so that students are gaining much needed computer skills that will help them be successful in a 21st century economy. THEI College Program at Northwest Industrial Complex: In November 2016 THEI expanded our reach to West Tennessee when we started a new college program at Northwest Correctional Complex(NWCX), a medium security prison for men in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Our servicing partner at Northwest, Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC), began offering classes to a cohort of 25 students on January 2017. The NWCX program follows the THEI model that was successfully established at 2 prisons in Middle Tennessee - Charles Bass and the Turney Center. The men are organized into a cohort, or learning community, work full-time during the day and take 2-3 courses per semester working towards an A.S. Degree in Business Administration from DSCC. Should a student be released prior to earning his degree, credits earned from these courses are recognized and transferable to any public college or university in TN, as well as many private ones in the Southeastern region. In order to be admitted to the program, each applicant must take the standard TN college placement exam and place at college level in reading and writing; complete the application and write an essay. Once admitted to the program, students must pay $25 fee each semester, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and keep a clean disciplinary record. Technology is an important piece of the program as it was desired that incarcerated students experience technological equity, to the extent possible, with DSCC campus students. Students are assigned desk-top computers with Microsoft office and other non-internet based software. The prisoners are gaining much needed computer skills (i.e. excel, powerpoint, Microsoft office…), which will help them be successful in a 21st century digital world. Our Immediate Reentry Track (IRT) is for students who are eligible for release within 2 years. At present, roughly 30% of THEI college students at Turney Center are eligible for release within two years, the majority of whom will be released to communities in Middle Tennessee. Research shows that incarcerated individuals who come in contact with a resource practitioner multiple times before release are far more likely to seek support from that person after release. In order to increase the likelihood of degree completion post-release, our Support Services Coordinator develops release plans with students through weekly one-on-one meetings at the prison, up to a year prior to each person's anticipated release date. These meetings establish a relationship of trust and support, and typically include career planning, help securing financial aid, selecting and applying to colleges, and help transferring credits to a new institution. All credits and degrees earned from courses taken through THEI are transferable to all public colleges and universities in the state as well as many private schools in the region. Alumni Support Services: THEI helps students develop their release plans prior to returning home, and then execute and adapt the plans in the weeks and months following release.