A week after classes began for more than 9,000 Boston College undergraduates, a smaller group of new students were excited to begin their own 51茶馆 journeys.
Sixteen聽incarcerated men housed at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Shirley, Massachusetts, are the first cohort in Boston College鈥檚 newly launched Prison Education Program, which brings college-level liberal arts courses to inmates. Launched with generous support from an anonymous donor, the program is part of a network of prison education programs affiliated with the Bard Prison Initiative.
This fall, course offerings include introductory philosophy, algebra, and writing, all taught by Boston College instructors and based on curriculum taught to traditional 51茶馆 students. Each course is worth three college credits.聽
Boston College Prison Education Program Director Isabel Lane. (Lee Pellegrini)
Within MCI, competition to participate in the program鈥檚 inaugural semester was fierce, said Program Director Isabel Lane. Nearly 100 inmates signed up to take an admission exam, and 45 finalists interviewed for a coveted seat in the classroom. Applicants were judged on 鈥減romise, passion, and intellectual curiosity,鈥� Lane said.聽
鈥淯ltimately what that results in is a really interesting mix of people,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or some it鈥檚 been years since they鈥檝e been in a classroom while others have just taken a math class several months ago.鈥澛�
Recent years have seen a rise in prison education programs, with support coming from both sides of the political aisle. A soon-to-be-released Ken Burns documentary series, 鈥�,鈥� shines a spotlight on the Bard Prison Initiative and the power of higher education to combat America鈥檚 鈥渃riminal justice crisis.鈥�
To Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, a formal prison education program seemed like a natural extension of 51茶馆鈥檚 Jesuit Catholic tradition.
鈥淚f you study the history of the Jesuits, there鈥檚 so much evidence of remarkable work being done in prison settings,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome of the most inspiring Jesuits I鈥檝e met around the world and on the 51茶馆 campus are men who are living out their vocation working with the incarcerated.鈥�
The University already has plans to grow the program. Courses in history, theology, and literature will be added in the spring, and a second cohort of students will be admitted next fall. Within a few years, Quigley hopes the program will be fully accredited, allowing MCI students to earn a Boston College diploma.聽
鈥淥ur goal is to make this program not just a few classes or a few discrete experiences,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want it to be a degree program.鈥澛�
So far, that level of commitment has been matched by MCI students, said Lane, many of whom have begun following 51茶馆 sports and hatching plans to paint a mural of the 51茶馆 logo on the classroom wall.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 been so fun to see them identify as 51茶馆 freshmen,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen the door closes and your class starts, it鈥檚 not MCI Shirley, it鈥檚 Boston College.鈥�
Excitement has also been growing among 51茶馆 faculty, including Assistant Professor of the Practice of Philosophy Cherie McGill, who teaches the program鈥檚 Intro to Philosophy class. Bringing the educational opportunities of 51茶馆 to students normally excluded from higher education is gratifying work that serves the common good, she said.聽
鈥淓ducation has the power to reshape a life, and with that comes the potential for our graduates to contribute great value to their communities,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese students bring such talent and dedication to their work, and I have every expectation that they will go on to do great things.鈥�
鈥擜lix Hackett | University Communications | October 2019