Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education in Prisons - PA CHEP

02/05/2026

Last Friday, PA CHEP brought together educators, justice-impacted leaders, advocates, and partners from across Pennsylvania for our 2026 Annual Convening at Bucknell University.

We appreciated hearing from keynote speaker Luis “Suave” Gonzalez and Bucknell President John Bravman, as well as the depth of insight and experience shared throughout the day across sessions and conversations.

The convening centered the leadership and perspectives of people directly impacted by incarceration, alongside colleagues working across higher education, reentry, and corrections to strengthen access to education and build clearer pathways beyond the classroom.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to a convening focused on collaboration, accountability, and concrete paths forward.

01/31/2026

01/29/2026

The 2026 PA CHEP Annual Convening is happening tomorrow at Bucknell University! We’re looking forward to a full day of sessions, panels, and community connection.

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time – all the details are on our website.

See you there!

2026 PA CHEP Annual Convening at Bucknell UniversityElaine Langone Center701 Moore Ave.Lewisburg, PA 17837January 30, 20268:15 am - 4:00 pm Add to Calendar Building Collaborative Futures: Bridging Justice and CommunityPA CHEP is excited to partner with Bucknell University for our 2026 Annual Conveni...

09/04/2025

Save the Date!

The PA CHEP Annual Meeting will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026 at Bucknell University. Sessions will run from morning through mid-afternoon. Full details coming soon – mark your calendars!

08/15/2025

We’re proud to announce the recipients of PA CHEP’s 2025 subgrants, made possible through the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

These seven projects will expand higher education in prison across Pennsylvania — creating new degree pathways, strengthening reentry supports, and building long-term infrastructure for student success.

Meet the recipients and learn more about their work: https://mailchi.mp/6d55957dd617/pa-chep-announces-2025-mellon-subgrant-recipients

02/05/2025

We’re thrilled to share exciting updates from the world of prison education in Pennsylvania! 🎓

✨ New Programs: Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) is launching an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts at SCI Camp Hill, while Penn State’s Restorative Justice Initiative has kicked off its Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation and Human Services at SCI Benner!

👩‍🏫 Job Opportunity: HACC is hiring a Prison Education Program Coordinator—perfect for someone passionate about supporting education in correctional settings.

💡 Upcoming Grants: PA CHEP will soon open applications for subgrants to expand and enhance higher education programs within PA’s prisons, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

💻 Workshop for PEP Directors: This spring, we’re hosting a virtual workshop for directors of PA’s prison education programs to foster collaboration and problem-solving.

📅 Program Coordinator Office Hours: Need support or have questions? Join Alex Maco for open office hours every Tuesday & Wednesday from 2-3 PM!

📸 2024 Annual Meeting Recap: We’ve launched a new page with key moments from our 2024 Annual Meeting, including session recordings and photos.

Get all the details in our latest newsletter:
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/f1ba581c31e3/february-2025-newsletter?e=687fa0d6c2

12/19/2024

🌟 December 2024 Newsletter 🌟

On November 15, PA CHEP’s Annual Meeting brought together a vibrant community of educators, advocates, and reentry professionals at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The day featured:
🎤 An inspiring keynote by Romarilyn Ralston
💬 Powerful panels with reentrants discussing key issues
🏆 A special recognition of Irvin Moore for advancing higher education in prison

🎥 Missed a session? Watch recordings of the keynote, reentrant panels, and more here: https://pct.mediaspace.kaltura.com/playlist/1_6ba5sgaj

📸 Share Your Memories! Help us build a retrospective page by sending your photos and videos to Alex Maco at [email protected].

Stay tuned for more updates, including January office hours with our Program Coordinator!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season. Together, we’re making a difference.

Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/b09e1de16cdc/december-2024-newsletter?e=687fa0d6c2

11/08/2024

📢 One Week Until the 2024 PA CHEP Annual Meeting!

We're thrilled to see everyone on November 15 for a day of meaningful discussions and insights. As we get closer, here are a few important updates:

🔄 Updated Agenda: We’ve made some adjustments to the schedule, mainly with room assignments. Be sure to check out the latest version for accurate info! You can download the PDF from our website, and we’ve included the updated agenda here as well for easy access.

📍 Location Details: All sessions will take place on the 2nd floor of the Bush Campus Center in either Penn’s Inn or the numbered classrooms.

💬 Registration Reminder: Registration is still open and free! Encourage others to sign up if they haven’t yet. Please note that while we’ll be preparing name badges for those who have registered, anyone signing up after today may not receive one.
https://www.pachep.org/2024-annual-meeting

We can’t wait to see you next week! Let us know if you have any questions, and stay tuned for more updates.