Mount Tamalpais College
non-profit organization | |
Location | |
---|---|
Executive Director | Jody Lewen |
Budget | $3,000,000 |
Staff | 29 |
Volunteers | over 350[1] |
Website | www |
Formerly called | Prison University Project |
Mount Tamalpais College, formerly known as the Prison University Project, is a two year liberal arts college that offers an
In addition to its academic programs and support services for students, Mount Tamalpais College disseminates information on prison education to the public at large.[1] From November 2007 to January 2008 it organized an exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library, including photographs by Heather Rowley of everyday scenes at San Quentin and essays by students in the College Program about their experiences;[4][5] a similar exhibition on Alcatraz Island ran from June 1 to October 22, 2008.[6][7] The Prison University Project received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama in September 2016.[8]
Background
The Prison University Project has its origins in the aftermath of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which made it illegal for prisoners to receive Pell Grants, reducing the number of college degree-granting programs in United States prisons from its peak of over 350 to fewer than 10.[9][10] The College Program at San Quentin was founded in fall of 1996, based entirely on volunteer teaching and organization. As the College Program expanded and efforts to raise funds increased, the Prison University Project was founded in 2003.[11] It changed its name to Mount Tamalpais College in 2020.[12]
The College Program at San Quentin
About 300 student inmates are enrolled in the College Program at San Quentin each semester.[13] A high school diploma or its equivalent is required to participate, but most students nevertheless begin with the College Program's non-credit preparatory courses in Mathematics and English.[14] Associate's degree course offerings have included Calculus, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry,[9] English, and Composition.[15] 20 courses are offered per semester. Most courses are worth 3 credits, with 60 being required for graduation. Courses are student centered and culturally responsive, and Mount Tamalpais College staff assists instructors and tutors in maintaining these practices through trainings, syllabus consultation, and semester-long support. Students pay no fees or tuition. All textbooks and school supplies are provided by the program and through donations from publishers. As of 2018, 162 men had completed their degrees at San Quentin.
The College Program has been cited by both instructors and student inmates,
References
- ^ a b "Prison University Project Today". Prison University Project web page. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "A Visit To San Quentin". Larry King Live. 2006-06-07. CNN. Transcript. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ Fabros, Mellisa (2007). "UC Berkeley graduate students teach science at San Quentin". Berkeley Science Review (13): 20. Archived from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- I Love Libraries. American Library Association. Archived from the originalon 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "Past Exhibitions at the Library - 2007". San Francisco Public Library web page. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
- ^ "IS IT SAFE? An Exhibition at Alcatraz". Prison University Project web page. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ Rix, Kate (September 2008). "San Quentin's Campus". The East Bay Monthly. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ^ "Remarks by the President at the Presentation of the 2015 National Medals of the Arts and Humanities". Obama White House Archives. September 22, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ . Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ SpearIt. “Uncertainty Ahead: Update on Pell Grant Funding for Prisoners,” in The State of Criminal Justice 2017 (American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section 2017).
- ^ "History and Background". Prison University Project web page. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ College, Mt Tamalpais (2020-12-17). "Humanist Grantee Spotlight: Mt. Tamalpais College". Foundation Beyond Belief. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ "Prison University at San Quentin Prison". Richmond Confidential. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
- ^ "College Preparatory Program". Prison University Project web page. Archived from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- ^ a b Bova, Carla (2007-04-21). "A 'zealot' for higher education wins award for teaching at San Quentin". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ "The promise of higher education at San Quentin". UC Berkeley News. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
- ^ "Inside San Quentin, Inmates Go To College". Morning Edition. 2011-06-20. NPR. Transcript. Retrieved 2011-06-20.