Who We Are

UW-Eau Claire's Prison Education Initiative brings a full UW degree experience inside the walls of Stanley Correctional Institution. Launched in 2024 as part of the UW Coalition for Higher Education in Prison, our faculty teach in-person, credit-bearing courses to incarcerated students at Stanley Prison working toward a bachelor's degree in professional studies. This spring, eight students crossed that stage. For them, and for every student who follows, this degree represents something far bigger than a diploma: a second chance, a changed sense of self, and a different future for their families.

What We're Fundraising For

Running a full college program inside a correctional facility comes with costs that don't look like a typical classroom budget. We're raising funds to cover:

• Textbooks and course materials for students who have no access to campus resources or outside purchasing
• Faculty travel to and from Stanley Correctional Institution
• Classroom supplies and instructional materials needed to replicate a true UW-Eau Claire learning experience inside the facility
• Program costs that allow us to expand access to more students each year

Your Impact

The research is clear: incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education programs have a 43% lower chance of returning to prison than those who don't, and every dollar invested in prison-based education saves up to $5 in future re-incarceration costs. But the impact goes beyond the data. As one graduate put it, earning their degree was a chance to reclaim a voice, rebuild self-worth, and show their own children that setbacks don't define a person's potential. Your gift helps make an opportunity like this possible for the next student, turning a classroom inside Stanley Correctional Institution into the beginning of a new chapter.

Matching Gift Opportunity

Make a gift on Giving Day to support the Prison Education Initiative and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar until we reach $5,000 thanks to Jackie Crinion, a generous 1974 graduate!