NCJ Number
46294
Journal
Change Volume: 8 Issue: 9 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 17-20
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OHIO UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM FOR PRISON INMATES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE UNIVERSITY'S INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROVIDING COURSES TO OHIO RESIDENTS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IN 1974, IT BEGAN TO OFFER THE COURSES TO INMATES FROM ONE PRISON ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS. AS THE FIRST STUDENTS WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PRISONS, NEWS OF THE COLLEGE PROGRAM TRAVELED AND THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVED A FLOOD OF APPLICATIONS FROM INMATES. THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE PROGRAM HAVE INCLUDED POOR PRISON LIBRARY FACILITIES, SECURITY REGULATIONS THAT FORBID THE USE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF MATERIALS, AND A HIGH LEVEL OF CHEATING AND STEALING. HOWEVER, THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENT MOTIVATION ON THE PART OF SOME STUDENTS AND A LACK OF STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR INTERACTION. THERE IS LITTLE SCREENING OF APPLICANTS; ANYONE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS EQUIVALENT MAY ENROLL. THE DROPOUT RATE IN THE FIRST YEAR WAS 50 PERCENT, DOWN TO 40 PERCENT IN THE SECOND YEAR. STUDENTS MUST CARRY A FULL LOAD OF AT LEAST 12 CREDITS AND ARE ALLOWED A FULL YEAR TO COMPLETE ONE QUARTER'S WORK. THOSE WHO COMPLETE ONE QUARTER USUALLY CONTINUE. ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM AGREE THAT VISITS TO THE PRISONS BY COUNSELORS AND TUTORS ARE ESSENTIAL. THE COST OF COURSES IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER FOR PRISONERS THAN FOR OTHER STUDENTS, BUT THE PROGRAM BREAKS EVEN WITHOUT SUBSIDIES. PROBLEMS WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY'S NEWGATE PROGRAM AND OTHER IN-PRISON COLLEGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE NOTED. (LKM)