UW-Stout Partners to Offer Bachelor’s Degree Program at Stanley correctional Institution
MENOMONIE, WI – UW-Stout is collaborating on a new initiative that will allow students at Stanley Correctional Institution to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Management and Leadership, beginning this fall. The program is part of the University of Wisconsin Correctional Higher Education Partnership (UW CHEP), launched in 2023 with funding from the wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the Wisconsin Department of Workforce development, and Ascendium Education Group. Students may also be eligible for Pell Grants.
Fourteen students are currently enrolled for the fall semester, with a goal of reaching 15 for the Winterm session in January. Initial courses will include biology, business accounting, and industrial management. The program builds upon a foundation of prior coursework, offering credentials in areas like data analytics, data accumulation and research methodology, and strategic planning and organizational management.
UW CHEP emphasizes workforce development, collaborating with employers and workforce agencies to ensure curriculum relevance. A Program Evaluation and Improvement (PEI) career advisor and reentry support coordinator will connect students with job opportunities and community resources upon release.
UW-Stout faculty involved in the program have expressed its profound impact. Associate Professor Richard Gee,director of UW-Stout’s B.S. criminal justice and rehabilitation program, noted the transformative effect on students. “Helping to establish a new construction of self and a narrative of redemption is very satisfying. I have seen the students grow academically,but also in self-confidence,” he said.
Assistant Professor Jonny wheeler, from UW-Stout’s B.S. video production and M.F.A. design programs,taught introductory design courses at both Stanley and Oakhill Correctional Institutions. These courses focused on “foundational,analog principles: mostly sketching,” due to restrictions on technology like cell phones,social media,and Adobe software. Wheeler described the experience as “one of the most fulfilling experiences of my professional career,” adding, “To witness firsthand the transformative power of education in a place where it is so deeply valued is to be reminded of our essential purpose as educators.”
Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy highlighted the program’s impact on reducing recidivism, stating at a recent graduation ceremony at Oakhill Correctional Institution, “There’s nothing I can say that will outshine your stories. This is just the beginning of the positive things you will do beyond prison.” Fifteen students earned Associate of Arts and Science degrees through UW-Green Bay at that event.
UW-Stout, Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, focuses on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes, as outlined in its FOCUS2030 strategic plan.
