College in Prison Program FAQ

The College in Prison Program, housed at Marcy Correctional Facility, provides incarcerated individuals the opportunity to get a college education through MVCC while serving their sentence. The program enrolls 20-25 incarcerated individuals and offers full-time coursework throughout the semester toward MVCC’s Entrepreneurship Certificate and Business Management AAS. For more information, visit CIPP Homepage

MVCC has been involved in providing higher education in the prison environment since 2016, originally at Mohawk Correctional Facility and currently at Marcy Correctional Facility. The College in Prison Program offers individuals who are incarcerated the opportunity to earn an MVCC education while serving their sentence. The program recognizes the educational gaps that exist within the criminal justice system and works to inspire incarcerated individuals to get an education. Coursework inside the facility and academic standards are maintained to the same rigor as a traditional college setting.

All students are fully matriculated and pursue MVCC’s Entrepreneurship Certificate as a stepping stone into the Business Management AAS degree.

The program varies and depends on how many courses a student takes per semester. Some students may have transferrable credits, which would allow them to graduate sooner. The program estimates it will take about three to four years for degree completion.

The College in Prison Program enrolls 20 to 25 students part-time throughout the fall and spring semesters at Marcy Correctional Facility.

College in Prison Program students are supported with an unbiased approach to education and growth through personal development. Through education, program team members help students rebuild their lives by offering hope and opportunity while fostering students’ imagination, passion, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking. They are treated with dignity and provided with a healthy learning environment.

Through the degree programs offered, students are able to discover strengths, attributes, skills, and a direction for their future. It helps some return home with confidence, support, and a plan while others may continue their education and enroll at other universities or colleges.

Any incarcerated individual in the facility who meets the following requirements can participate:

• Completion of a CIPP application
• High school diploma or completion of the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)
• Six months of good behavior (no two-tier tickets) prior to applying
• Completion of a questionnaire and interview

Courses within the College in Prison Program are taught by MVCC academic department-approved instructors who meet the same minimum qualifications required of adjunct faculty.

Research consistently demonstrates that access to postsecondary education is among the most effective interventions for reducing recidivism. While the criminal justice system administers consequences for unlawful behavior, punishment and rehabilitation are not mutually exclusive goals. MVCC’s College in Prison Program reflects the College’s commitment to reducing recidivism by equipping incarcerated individuals with the academic preparation, critical thinking skills, and credentials needed to reintegrate successfully into society. Investment in education during incarceration lowers the likelihood of reoffending, strengthens public safety, and produces measurable long-term benefits for students and their communities alike.