Post by Wabasher on Oct 3, 2009 7:06:57 GMT -5
Daniels says Ivy Tech proposal to Indiana state prisons ‘shows promise’
By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Ivy Tech Community College’s proposal to expand its programs in Indiana’s state prisons “shows promise,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday during a visit to Terre Haute.
He stopped short of saying Ivy Tech should be the sole provider of associate degrees and vocational education in Indiana’s prison system — “not unless they can prove they can do it better, everywhere all the time,” the governor said.
He said he’s aware Ivy Tech is interested in providing the service, “but we’re early into this process.”
The State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) wants to reduce the amount it spends on postsecondary education of prison inmates — and Ivy Tech Community College has indicated it can get the job done less expensively.
Ivy Tech has been in discussion with the Department of Corrections and SSACI for more than a year now, Jeff Terp, vice president for program analysis and engagement with Ivy Tech’s central office, said Monday. The state is trying to find ways to reduce the cost of educating prison inmates, he said.
Another goal is to provide inmates with skills that can help them find jobs when they get out of prison, Terp said.
Ivy Tech is not seeking to be the exclusive provider of associate degrees in the state’s prison system, he has said.
“We’re fulfilling our mission as a community college,” he said Tuesday.
If Ivy Tech expands, there is some concern about the impact that would have on other colleges that currently provide education in Indiana’s prisons, including Indiana State University.
This year, ISU is educating more than 400 inmates in several state prisons and the federal prison in Terre Haute. Other providers have included Ball State University, Oakland City, Grace College and Purdue North Central.
The amount paid to those institutions has varied, and (SSACI) is now considering capping the amount of money it spends on state prison inmates to $120 per credit hour.
Today, SSACI will conduct a special meeting “to discuss the student funding policy for Indiana’s incarcerated population.” ISU will be among the institutions presenting its case, and it will have 10 minutes to do so.
ISU wants to continue to be involved in the state’s prison program, ISU Provost Jack Maynard has said. He believes the education can be provided at the competitive rates that SSACI is considering. “We’re taking it seriously,” he said.
Loss of a contract to deliver education to prison inmates would hurt ISU’s enrollment and revenues, Maynard said. It would impact those who teach courses in the prisons.
Daniels said the state’s general approach is to encourage competition, “which tends to have the beneficial effects of lowering costs and improving quality.”
Indiana also is placing a major emphasis on educating prisoners and providing them with job skills to reduce recidivism rates, which also saves taxpayer dollars, the governor said.
“If Ivy Tech has a way to provide that less expensively, we are always looking for that,” Daniels said. “One reason Indiana is still in the black is because we’ve looked in every corner for ways to deliver necessary services for less money. So I think it [Ivy Tech’s proposal] has promise.”
Indiana is one of the few states that provides financial aid for prison inmates, said Claudia Braman, SSACI executive director.
This year, SSACI had to reduce the amount of its grants to students who are non-offenders because of an increase in the number of qualified applicants, she said.
Spending less on the prison population would free up additional financial aid for those who aren’t incarcerated, she said.
Today, ISU and other colleges that provide education to Indiana’s prison inmates will have an opportunity to respond to a proposal presented by Ivy Tech and the Department of Corrections, she said.
By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Ivy Tech Community College’s proposal to expand its programs in Indiana’s state prisons “shows promise,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday during a visit to Terre Haute.
He stopped short of saying Ivy Tech should be the sole provider of associate degrees and vocational education in Indiana’s prison system — “not unless they can prove they can do it better, everywhere all the time,” the governor said.
He said he’s aware Ivy Tech is interested in providing the service, “but we’re early into this process.”
The State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) wants to reduce the amount it spends on postsecondary education of prison inmates — and Ivy Tech Community College has indicated it can get the job done less expensively.
Ivy Tech has been in discussion with the Department of Corrections and SSACI for more than a year now, Jeff Terp, vice president for program analysis and engagement with Ivy Tech’s central office, said Monday. The state is trying to find ways to reduce the cost of educating prison inmates, he said.
Another goal is to provide inmates with skills that can help them find jobs when they get out of prison, Terp said.
Ivy Tech is not seeking to be the exclusive provider of associate degrees in the state’s prison system, he has said.
“We’re fulfilling our mission as a community college,” he said Tuesday.
If Ivy Tech expands, there is some concern about the impact that would have on other colleges that currently provide education in Indiana’s prisons, including Indiana State University.
This year, ISU is educating more than 400 inmates in several state prisons and the federal prison in Terre Haute. Other providers have included Ball State University, Oakland City, Grace College and Purdue North Central.
The amount paid to those institutions has varied, and (SSACI) is now considering capping the amount of money it spends on state prison inmates to $120 per credit hour.
Today, SSACI will conduct a special meeting “to discuss the student funding policy for Indiana’s incarcerated population.” ISU will be among the institutions presenting its case, and it will have 10 minutes to do so.
ISU wants to continue to be involved in the state’s prison program, ISU Provost Jack Maynard has said. He believes the education can be provided at the competitive rates that SSACI is considering. “We’re taking it seriously,” he said.
Loss of a contract to deliver education to prison inmates would hurt ISU’s enrollment and revenues, Maynard said. It would impact those who teach courses in the prisons.
Daniels said the state’s general approach is to encourage competition, “which tends to have the beneficial effects of lowering costs and improving quality.”
Indiana also is placing a major emphasis on educating prisoners and providing them with job skills to reduce recidivism rates, which also saves taxpayer dollars, the governor said.
“If Ivy Tech has a way to provide that less expensively, we are always looking for that,” Daniels said. “One reason Indiana is still in the black is because we’ve looked in every corner for ways to deliver necessary services for less money. So I think it [Ivy Tech’s proposal] has promise.”
Indiana is one of the few states that provides financial aid for prison inmates, said Claudia Braman, SSACI executive director.
This year, SSACI had to reduce the amount of its grants to students who are non-offenders because of an increase in the number of qualified applicants, she said.
Spending less on the prison population would free up additional financial aid for those who aren’t incarcerated, she said.
Today, ISU and other colleges that provide education to Indiana’s prison inmates will have an opportunity to respond to a proposal presented by Ivy Tech and the Department of Corrections, she said.