Mellon Foundation Subgrants
for Higher Education in Prison
In 2025, PA CHEP awarded seven subgrants to colleges and universities across Pennsylvania to expand access to higher education in prison. These awards were made possible through the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Together, the funded programs are serving incarcerated students in both state and county correctional facilities, offering degree pathways, workforce training, and reentry-focused education.
2025 Recipients
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Bucks County Community College
Launching an asynchronous online program at Bucks County Correctional Facility with certificate courses in business, entrepreneurship, and digital skills.
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Johnson College
Piloting OSHA 10 workforce training for incarcerated students in northeastern Pennsylvania, paired with reentry-focused curriculum and community partnerships.
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Muhlenberg College
Expanding Inside-Out courses and establishing a civic reentry Think Tank at Lehigh County Jail.
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Saint Joseph's University
Deepening Inside-Out programming at SCI Chester with new pre-college workshops in writing, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
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University of Pennsylvania
Partnering with formerly incarcerated educators to deliver certificate-bearing reentry workshops at SCI Chester using digital tools for reentry preparation.
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University of Scranton
Continuing its accredited associate degree program at SCI Dallas with full-time faculty instruction and advising.
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West Virginia University
In partnership with Waynesburg University, expanding its degree program at SCI Greene with reentry guides, mentorship, and training for system-impacted educators.
About the Initiative
The Subgrant Initiative was a one-time regranting program launched by PA CHEP with Mellon Foundation support. Through a competitive and collaborative review process, seven institutions were selected for funding based on their commitment to equity, student-centered design, and long-term impact.
The funded projects reflect geographic and programmatic diversity — from county jails to state prisons, from workforce certificates to associate degrees — and collectively expand access to more than 170 incarcerated learners across Pennsylvania.
Acknowledgement
We are deeply grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their partnership in advancing equitable access to higher education in prison across Pennsylvania.