On May 27, the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison convened its third and final in-person strategic planning meeting, bringing together member agencies, organizations and stakeholders from across the commonwealth to advance a shared vision for higher education in prison in Virginia.
The meeting marked an important milestone in VCHEP's strategic planning process, with participants spending the day in focused working sessions across four key areas: Expanding Access, Policy and Partnerships, Employment and Workforce and Sustainability. Facilitated by steering committee members and subject matter experts, the sessions provided dedicated time for participants to refine recommendations, identify priorities and build consensus around next steps.
"It was a shirtsleeves-rolled-up day," said VCHEP Director Terri Erwin, Ph.D., describing the four hours of intensive collaboration and discussion that took place across the working groups.
VCHEP welcomed Rachel Sander of the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison, who facilitated the Expanding Access working group. Steering committee members Felicia Ganther, vice chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and Tierney Fairchild, Ph.D., co-founder and executive director of Resilience Education, facilitated the Policy and Partnerships and Employment and Workforce groups, respectively. Erwin and Kenneth Hunter represented VCHEP and led discussions for the Sustainability group.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in collaborative exercises, pair-share scenarios and group discussions designed to challenge assumptions, strengthen recommendations and identify opportunities for long-term impact. Working group leaders, steering committee members and advisors shared insights drawn from their experience across higher education, corrections, workforce development and public policy.
Key Working Group Takeaways
Expanding Access
Continued focus on identifying and addressing barriers that limit access to postsecondary education opportunities for incarcerated learners.
Explored strategies to increase awareness, participation and equitable access to programs across Virginia's correctional facilities.
Policy and Partnerships
Discussed opportunities to strengthen collaboration among higher education institutions, correctional agencies, workforce organizations and community partners.
Identified policy considerations that could support greater alignment and consistency across programs statewide.
Employment and Workforce
Examined ways to better connect educational pathways with workforce opportunities before and after release.
Considered strategies to strengthen employer engagement and support successful transitions into employment.
Sustainability
Focused on long-term strategies for maintaining and growing higher education in prison initiatives across Virginia.
Discussed approaches to funding, stakeholder engagement and ongoing program evaluation to ensure lasting impact.
The May meeting concludes the in-person phase of VCHEP's strategic planning process. Working groups are now finalizing their recommendations and proposed goals, which will be submitted by July 10. Those recommendations will be synthesized into a comprehensive strategic plan and final report, with expected publication later this year.
VCHEP extends its gratitude to the steering committee members, working group leaders and participants whose expertise and commitment have guided this process. The initiative is made possible through the generous support of Ascendium Education Group and the guidance of advisors Molly Lasagna and Margaret diZerega.
As the strategic planning process enters its final stage, VCHEP remains committed to advancing educational opportunity and strengthening pathways to success for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Virginians.
