White Mountains Community College Programme Expansion Boosts Prison Education in New Hampshire - A Business NH Magazine Report
Berlin,NH – A recent grant award is poised to considerably expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals in New Hampshire,a development with potential economic and societal benefits for the state. white Mountains Community College (WMCC) was one of five New England institutions to recieve a $100,000 Accelerator Grant from the New england Prison Education Collaborative, funded by Ascendium Education Group. This funding will fuel the growth of WMCC’s innovative prison education program, initially launched in March 2023 at the Berlin Correctional Facility.
The program, which awarded associate degrees in business administration and liberal arts to its first cohort of 14 students this past May – marking the first such graduation in New Hampshire in decades – aims to equip individuals with skills for successful reintegration into society. The grant will facilitate the creation of a statewide director position dedicated to extending program offerings to the men’s and women’s prisons in Concord.
“The return of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students is a game-changer,” explains Sarah Kuczynski, director of the New England Prison Education Collaborative. “These grants are designed to help New England colleges capitalize on this renewed federal investment and build lasting, impactful programs.”
Currently, WMCC’s Berlin facility is the sole location in New Hampshire offering Pell-eligible courses to incarcerated individuals, and critically, no programs currently serve incarcerated women. Leah Maciejewski, WMCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, emphasizes the importance of equitable access. “We need to move beyond a single program in a single location,” she states. “Expanding our reach is vital to providing opportunities for all.”
The expansion also focuses on strengthening pathways for graduates to continue their education. WMCC is working to establish clearer transfer agreements with institutions within the university System of New Hampshire, allowing students to pursue bachelor’s degrees upon release.
maciejewski envisions a future where community college programs are available in all state correctional facilities, including the federal prison in Berlin. “Preparing individuals for their eventual release is a key component of public safety and economic development,” she notes. “Providing educational opportunities gives them something to strive for and increases their chances of successful re-entry into the workforce.”
This initiative represents a strategic investment in human capital, potentially reducing recidivism rates and contributing to a more skilled workforce in New Hampshire.For more information on White Mountains Community College and its programs, visit wmcc.edu.
