Community College of Vermont expands in-prison classes; officials seek wired facilities and track reentry outcomes

Community College of Vermont officials and Department of Corrections staff told a legislative committee that the CCV corrections-education program has enrolled about 120 incarcerated students, offers vouchers for DOC staff and families, and is piloting reentry vouchers for people leaving custody.

Why it matters: Education inside correctional facilities is presented as a tool for reentry and workforce development. CCV and DOC officials asked the committee to support efforts to bring secured educational networks into facilities so more classes and vocational training can be offered.

Program overview and funding: Joyce Judy, President of the Community College of Vermont, said CCV began offering classes inside Vermont prisons after a 2017 pilot supported by the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation. CCV later secured a congressional earmark from Senator Sanders to scale the program; Judy said that award provided a runway and that sustained operations will combine Pell funding and other sources. Brian O'Connor, Director of Corrections Education for CCV, told the committee the program currently serves 120 incarcerated students in CCV classes and noted that more students now qualify for Pell funding under the Second Chance Pell pilot.

Participation and structure: O'Connor said the 120 enrolled students represent roughly "13% of the incarcerated population in Vermont" and that CCV also offers two voucher types for corrections staff (about 35 staff per semester) and family members (about 15 family vouchers per semester). A new reentry-voucher pilot that began Jan. 1 is small but active: O'Connor said two people had already used reentry vouchers to continue studies after release.

Coursework and vocational ambitions: Officials said CCV currently delivers professional-studies courses (intro to business, psychology, word processing, accounting, computer systems) that translate to college credits. Judy and O'Connor said CCV wants to expand vocational and technician training — including modern manufacturing simulations and equipment — if facilities have secure educational networks and space for tech labs. "If we could bring those in, we can give the incarcerated students this vocational manufacturing experience," O'Connor said.

Technology and capacity constraints: Committee members and CCV speakers agreed that lack of wired, secure education networks limits program scale. Judy said earlier grant applications to the state broadband program were unsuccessful; she and DOC asked the committee to press energy-and-technology and appropriations staff for support. CCV estimated earlier wiring costs at roughly $3.5–4 million to outfit facilities with appropriate Wi‑Fi and secure educational access.

Faculty, pedagogy and outcomes: CCV said faculty report the in-person teaching environment is demanding but highly rewarding. Judy relayed a student comment delivered in class: "This is the first time my family has ever been proud of me," as an example of personal impact. Officials said they will begin tracking intermediate indicators such as disciplinary reports and post-release enrollment and employment; long-term recidivism effects will require more time and larger cohorts.

Where the program is now: CCV operates in four of six state facilities (Northern, Chittenden, Northwest and Southern State), offering a limited number of courses per site because of space and staffing. O'Connor described four subprograms at CCV: incarcerated students, staff vouchers, family vouchers and reentry vouchers; the last is the smallest but valued by staff and participants.

Ending: CCV and DOC asked the committee for legislative support and continued engagement with the state broadband and appropriations processes to expand secure connectivity and equipment, which they said is the key constraint to scaling classes and vocational training inside facilities.