U.P.’s first prison collegiate education program starts in Chippewa County

What's happening: Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie has enacted its “STEP UP” program, a prison education program designed to help those incarcerated in the Chippewa Correctional Facility a chance to earn an associate degree in small business administration. The program will include a full-time curriculum focusing on business and finance management, which has shown considerable success in fighting recidivism and keeping people as active and productive members of society. The program is a first for the Upper Peninsula.

Developing opportunities: Prison education programs have helped many people get their General Education Development certificates, but many have struggled to continue to a higher level of education. The FAFSA Simplification Act of 2021 reactivated the Pell Grant for those who are incarcerated — something that was revoked in 1994 — creating opportunities for universities and other higher education institutions to create programs geared toward those inside jails and prisons. This allowed LSSU to pursue STEP UP in 2022 and start classes for the first time this semester. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, recidivism drops from 46 percent to 33 percent among inmates who complete a college education program during incarceration.  

What they're saying: “We are excited to collaborate with the Michigan Department of Corrections, whose support has been invaluable in making this transformative opportunity possible,” said Dr. David Travis, president of Lake Superior State University. “Our partnership with other universities and colleges through MiCHEP (Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison), of which LSSU is a member, has helped establish standards for providing higher education to this community.” 

What's next: Twenty students are enrolled in the educational opportunity this semester and working towards their associate's degrees; the first graduates are expected in 2026.