Educational Transition Coordination Program
Wayne State University’s Educational Transition Coordination (ETC) program, in partnership with the Michigan Justice Fund (MJF), creates a prison-to-college pipeline for formerly incarcerated individuals. Our prison reentry program clears a pathway for individuals released from prison into higher education institutions.
The new prison reentry program developed by Wayne State University social scientists Stephanie Hartwell Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science and Sheryl Kubiak Ph.D., dean of the School of Social Work, aims to increase the success rate and economic mobility of people who were formerly incarcerated in Michigan. “The research is clear, incarceration negatively impacts life chances and outcomes including socio-economic status, morbidity and mortality. Access to education unequivocally reduces recidivism and improves outcomes for not only the individual but their families and communities as well…” says Dean Hartwell.
“Education is a vehicle for social mobility and is so important to those who re-enter the community after confinement. This program provides linkage and information for those who may be unfamiliar with the process of university enrollment and what it takes to be a college student. Every university should be reaching out and reaching inside our prisons and jails” says Dean Kubiak. Trained Educational Transition Coordinators will navigate learners to an individualized higher education pipeline. The customized plan will comprise a network of community organizations, resources and educational support to help these students reach their educational goals.