We're planning another full semester with a fantastic lineup of classes, workshops, and guest lectures at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Faculty from BYU, Utah State, Utah Valley University, and the University of Utah are offering courses in art, history, law, music, and philosophy! In preparation for the fall, we're stocking up on supplies for students, including legal pads, pens, and notebooks. Please consider supporting or onsite programming by purchasing an item from Amazon Wish List if you are able.
View the University of Utah Prison Education Project Wish List here
Mission
Through a commitment to social transformation, UPEP advances educational equity through on-site higher education, empirical research, and advocacy.
Ways to Give
At this time, UPEP is a non-credit program. We are actively fundraising to cover costs associated with enrollment. All costs associated with attendance are covered by the Project. Incarcerated students are not asked to financially pay for participation in UPEP.
Why higher education in prison?
Less than 5% of the 2.3 million people incarcerated in the U.S. have access to quality higher education. UPEP is working to change this reality. Check out our upcoming events and latest news here!
Research
Beyond Pell Restoration: Addressing Persistent Funding Challenges in Prison Higher Education Toward Racial and Economic Justice
Wednesday March 30, 2022
Beyond Pell Restoration
Leveraging the Power of Pell in Prison: Equity Challenges in Scaling the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative
Tuesday February 23, 2021
Power of Pell_ Article 2021 final
The Landscape of Postsecondary Education in U.S. Prisons, 2019
Wednesday November 20, 2019
Title: The Landscape of Postsecondary Education in U.S. Prisons, 2019. Description: The landscape of postsecondary education in U.S. Prisons, 2019. Research Brief. Salt Lake City, UT: Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison, University of Utah. Castro, E. L., Padilla, E. A., & Royer, C. E. (2019, Nov.)
The research collaborative on higher education in prison
Friday September 20, 2019
The Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison is part of the University of Utah Prison Education Project, a multi pronged approach to expand the field of quality higher education in prison. We work in collaboration with programs across the country to transform the landscape of higher education in prison through empirical research and collaboration […]