A new partnership between the University of New Haven and Yale University’s Prison Education Initiative has enabled six men to gain access to higher education while incarcerated.
In 2021, the academic institutions released a statement that a $1.5 million grant donation from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation enabled the initiative to develop a graduate program for prospective students serving a prison sentence in Connecticut. People who were released on parole were also allowed to participate and received careers advice after their release.
The Associated Press reports that the first cohort of graduates held their ceremony in prison with hopes of a brighter future that would benefit tremendously from a college degree from one of the state’s top schools.
Rejoicing in being known beyond their criminal status and especially their academic status, the men now have greater aspirations to pursue prestigious careers, such as a law degree for one of the program’s graduates, Marcus Harvin.
“That name, Yale, means so much because I’m from New Haven and the opportunity to go to Yale and start my studies in prison has never been there,” said the father of two. “Sometimes people even think I’m lying, so I show them my prison card and my Yale card.”
The program has grown tremendously from its funding, expanding to include a women’s prison and developing a consortium of 15 schools and prison systems across the country. Yale-UNH Partnership Director, graduate Zelda Rowland, spoke about the transformative impact not only on the students but also on the institutions involved on both sides.
“We believe that we are not only transforming the lives of individual students, but also the institutions in which we work, both the universities and the correctional system.”
As for the degree itself, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont delivered a speech honoring the graduates, addressing the themes of empowerment and resilience that make the program so strong.
“You learn from the past, but you define your own future,” said the opening speaker. “And what happens in your future will be your legacy. And I want you to have a really important story to tell.”
This growing program hopes to impact generations within its reach while reversing the stigma placed on inmates and their ability to succeed.