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 nearly 25 incarcerated men and offers three to four courses yearly toward a Business Administration and/or Liberal Arts degree. To date, the program has enrolled nearly 80 students. For more information, visit this page.

MVCC has been involved in providing higher education in the prison environment since 2014, 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 males to get an education. MVCC academic standards and coursework are stringent and foster developmental growth.

All students are fully matriculated and in pursuit of a Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies or Business Administration 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. More than two academic classes are offered every semester 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. 

All students are required to have either a high school diploma or have completed the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) to apply to the College in Prison New Directions program. The program coordinator and Admissions Office verify that these are completed.  From time to time, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision educational supervisor may have a copy and can assist with this requirement/document. All potential students must have six months of good behavior prior to applying to the program, which includes no two-tier tickets (higher level offenses) within that six-month period. All applicants must also take the MVCC placement/entrance exam, which is taken by all potential MVCC students, to determine if whether remedial courses are needed before entering the program. Students are also required to complete a questionnaire and an interview.

Anyone who is in prison and meets the criteria for eligibility can participate.

The courses within the College in Prison Program are taught by MVCC faculty members who are union-based and compensated by MVCC. Instructors who are employed by MVCC are compensated per hour, per semester, and per course.

The criminal justice system does provide a punitive punishment for wrong-doers. Although the criminal justice penal system is enforced, it is also equally important that individuals in prison are provided with the resources to be law-abiding citizens once returning to society. This involves educating and providing them with resources as they transition back into society. The College in Prison Program prepares students to be better individuals and helps prevent them from returning to prison.