UW Pathways from Prison Program Receives Grant to Expand Access to Education

The University of Wyoming Pathways from Prison (WPfP) program has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals.

The funding will support the expansion of the program into the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins and increase connections with the UW community and state of Wyoming. It also will provide essential learning tools, including Chromebooks and academic materials, as well as additional instructional and program support.

“I am extremely proud that the Mellon Foundation has chosen UW’s Pathways program to support and help us advance our mission to provide service to the state of Wyoming and some of the most marginalized people in the state,” says Rob Colter, director of WPfP and head of UW’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. “I also am extremely grateful for the support for the program provided by President Ed Seidel, Interim Provost Anne Alexander and many others on campus. I am especially grateful to the Pathways outreach coordinator, Jackson Colter, for doing so much of the legwork for our proposal.”

Additionally, the program aims to fund a graduate assistantship, which will be held by a UW public humanities Ph.D. student, and an undergraduate internship to support academic programming and enhance the resources for WPfP students to more closely resemble the student experience of nonincarcerated students. Finally, there are plans to increase compensation for program instructors.

WPfP started in 2015, offering one-off courses for college credit in correctional facilities across Wyoming. Since 2022, the program has grown to offer a full Bachelor of General Studies degree at the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk and the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington. The first cohort at the Wyoming Women’s Center will graduate this summer.

“We’re proud to receive this support for the Wyoming Pathways from Prison program and to continue this important work,” says Scott Turpen, dean of the UW College of Arts and Sciences. “This grant expands access to education while creating meaningful opportunities for both our on-campus students and those in the Pathways program, strengthening the learning experience across our entire community.”

The grant from the Mellon Foundation will advance three primary goals for the program throughout the next three years.

In its first year, the program will strengthen connections with campus partners, while expanding faculty participation through improved compensation and targeted recruitment efforts. It also will lead a competitive admissions process to select a cohort of 40 students at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, ensuring all participants meet both UW academic standards and Wyoming Department of Corrections requirements.

In the second year, the program will connect students with campus resources, such as the Writing Center and mental health services, while expanding opportunities to engage in academic and creative work alongside on-campus students. It also will focus on improving pathways for students to continue their education after release, including support during transitions to halfway houses and other community settings.

In the third year, the program will deepen its partnership with the Wyoming Department of Corrections by expanding its presence across facilities, reintroducing short-term courses, and creating paid peer tutoring and mentoring opportunities for program graduates.

“I anticipate the impact of the grant to extend well beyond the initial funding period,” Colter says. “By demonstrating the effectiveness and value of prison education, the program is well positioned to attract additional support and continue growing its reach.”

For more information about WPfP, visit www.uwyo.edu/wpfp/index.html or email Colter at rcolter@uwyo.edu.