News

Read About Our New Team Supporting Incarcerated Learners, Help Us Shape Our Future Communications and More

• Introducing Our New Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison Team
• Help Us Evolve Our Communications
• Informed Self-Placement Engages Students in the College Placement Process, With Encouraging Results

Introducing the New Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison Team

Ahead of a vital period for the postsecondary education in prison space, Ascendium has added veteran leadership to support its Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison portfolio. Molly Lasagna joins as senior program officer, and Maryann Rainey is transitioning from our Streamline Key Learner Transitions focus area. The pair will oversee a portfolio that includes Ready for Pell, our two-year initiative designed to support and strengthen postsecondary education in prison programs in advance of the restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated adults, coming in the 2023-24 academic year.

Over $11M in New Grants, Innovative Reentry Campus Program Delivery, New Education Philanthropy Team Member and More

• Over $11 Million Invested in Grants to Support Community College Student Success, Postsecondary Completion and More
• Reentry Campus Program Takes Innovative Approach to Delivering Postsecondary Education in Prison
• Education Philanthropy Team Welcomes New Hire with Community College System Expertise

Second Chance Month Brought Needed Attention To Justice-Impacted Individuals. Now The Real Work Begins.

Lucretia Murphy of Jobs for the Future (JFF) discusses ongoing efforts to support incarcerated learners, both before and after release. This includes Ascendium’s Ready for Pell initiative, for which JFF is an intermediary partner.

Over $11 Million Invested in Grants to Support Community College Student Success, Postsecondary Completion and More

Recently, Ascendium approved new grants totaling over $11 million. These grants support a range of work, including but not limited to, student success at community colleges, the organization of stakeholders across multiple states to address the challenges of postsecondary education in prison regionally and technical assistance to rural community colleges interested in applying for federal grant dollars.

Ascendium Education Group Releases 2021 Education Philanthropy Report: Stronger Together

Ascendium Education Group has released its 2021 Education Philanthropy report, Stronger Together. The report tells the story of Ascendium’s philanthropy during 2021 and what can be achieved through partnership and collaboration.

Public, Private Grants Add Momentum to UW System Prison Education Initiative

The University of Wisconsin System’s Prison Education Initiative aims to build degree programs in prisons throughout the state. It’s an example of work in our Expand Postsecondary Education in Prison focus area that aims to remove barriers to academic and career success by helping incarcerated adults gain equitable access to high-quality postsecondary education.

UW System Developing Bachelors Degree Program in WI Prisons

The University of Wisconsin System, in partnership with the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections, is preparing to launch their Prison Education Initiative to offer baccalaureate degrees, competency-based degrees, certificate programs and stackable credentials to incarcerated adults across Wisconsin. Ascendium is helping fund the development of the curriculum and infrastructure for the Prison Education Initiative pilot program so incarcerated adults can have equitable access to high-quality postsecondary education and remove barriers to academic and career success.

Ascendium Announces Ready for Pell, a $4.7M Strategic Initiative for Postsecondary Education in Prison

Ascendium Education Group is announcing Ready for Pell, a two-year, $4.7 million strategic initiative to strengthen postsecondary education in prison programs ahead of the restoration of Pell Grants in 2023-24 for learners who are incarcerated.

The Turning Point

Educational offerings within correctional institutions not only impact incarcerated learners, but also workforce systems and communities. With grant funding from Ascendium, the Iowa Department of Education continues to study barriers and pathways to postsecondary education for incarcerated learners.