Augustana launches state's first ‘Second Chance Pell Experimental Site’

Press release submitted by the Illinois Department of Corrections

Last week was the first week of fall semester classes for college students across the state, including 30 students enrolled in the Augustana Prison Education Program (APEP) inside East Moline Correctional Center.

The program is the first Second Chance Pell Experimental Site in in the state of Illinois to draw upon Second Chance Pell awards from the U.S. Department of Education.

In 2021, Augustana College applied and was selected to participate in the Second Chance Pell Initiative to provide the prison education program. The Second Chance Pell Initiative, which the Department of Education expanded for the 2022-2023 award year, enables individuals in custody to participate in post-secondary education programs with Pell grant funding. This is the first program of its type in Illinois since formerly incarcerated persons were banned access to Pell grants in 1994. 

This collaboration between Augustana and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) aims to identify best practices to share with the broader higher education community in Illinois and comes in advance of full Pell grant restoration for individuals in custody in summer 2023.

“Pell restoration is a tremendous opportunity to expand partnerships between colleges and correctional agencies to deliver high-quality education to individuals in custody,” said Rob Jeffreys, director of IDOC. “The work of Dr. (Sharon) Varallo, her team of educators, and staff at East Moline Correctional Center were essential to establishing as robust and effective a program as exists today. Launching a Second Chance Pell site is an important step to prepare IDOC for full restoration next year.”

Launched in 2021, APEP is a full-time Augustana College bachelor of arts degree program offered to men in custody in East Moline. Students take Augustana coursework from the same faculty who teach on the campus in Rock Island.

Driven to succeed

APEP was started with funds from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation and sustained with donations from community organizations and private donors. Now, as a Second Chance Pell Experimental Site, Augustana can utilize need-based Pell grants to pay for the costs of college for people in custody.

“The APEP students are driven to succeed. They express their thanks every day, sometimes literally and often in the effort they take to be prepared for every class every time. They make their professors proud. APEP is a joy," said Dr. Varallo, executive director of APEP.

“East Moline is proud to partner as an arm of IDOC with Augustana in this collaborative agreement. The coursework is challenging, and we have seen the growth that has led to a more competitive entry to our second cohort. We look forward to what the future holds as Pell grants will likely increase more opportunity for our individuals in custody for a fantastic liberal arts program. We have seen by allowing access to an excellent education sets them up for success as they re-enter back into society,” said Amber Allen, assistant warden of programs at East Moline.

A variety of studies have demonstrated that postsecondary education programs in prisons are effective investments that reduce prison costs. Those with the opportunity to enroll and complete college courses are considerably less likely to recidivate and have been found to pose fewer disciplinary challenges while incarcerated. 

People who participate in prison education programs are also more likely to have gainful employment with life-sustaining wages upon release.

This semester, the 30 students enrolled in APEP will take full-time coursework with the option to select from eight different courses including Principles of Economics, Introduction to Liberal Arts, and Writing Poetry, among others. Augustana plans to offer courses during a winter session and the spring semester.

“We are thrilled that Augustana applied and was approved for this opportunity,” said Alyssa Williams, assistant director of IDOC. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with them and deepening IDOC’s understanding of how to prepare for Pell restoration next year. We anticipate it will become an essential part of expanding access to academic college courses across the Illinois prison system.”

IDOC is actively working with Illinois stakeholders and national experts to further prepare for full Pell restoration in 2023 and anticipates the launch of another Second Chance Experimental Site in partnership with Lewis University in January 2023.