Velocity - Magazine - Page 3
The
Program
MORE THAN A CLASSROOM
by Jennifer Snyder
Approximately 2,000 people are
The students do not have an easy
In 2024, SCC was named the
released from Nebraska prisons every
path. Taking college classes while
Community Partner of the Year by
year. They return to their families,
incarcerated requires navigating facility
NDCS. In addition, Doty was named a
communities, and a job market that
schedules, restricted technology, and
2025 Rockwood Leadership Fellow and a
often reads their record before it
the mental and emotional weight of
Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate
reviews their resume. The shape of what
confinement; that UPWARD students
Narrative Fellow. These recognitions
comes next depends on a long list of
enroll, persist, and excel under those
are a testament to SCC’s commitment
variables, but one of the most powerful
conditions is the part that surprises
toward prison education.
predictors is whether they had access to
people who haven’t watched it happen.
education while they were inside.
That is the gap Southeast Community
“Pursuing education while
“Our students and alumni are
navigating far more than assignments
incarcerated requires discipline under
and exams,” Doty explains. “That is why
College’s UPWARD Prison Education
circumstances most people will never
our program is designed to support the
program was built to close. A
fully understand,” Doty said. “These
whole person. We care about academic
partnership between SCC and the
students are not asking for shortcuts.
success, but we also care about whether
Nebraska Department of Correctional
They are doing difficult work in difficult
someone can get to class, stay enrolled,
Services, UPWARD was launched
conditions. They are studying, writing,
reconnect with their families, access
in January 2024 after the federal
reflecting, growing, and preparing to
services, and imagine a future they
government reinstated Pell Grant
return to communities where they want
actually believe they can reach.”
eligibility for incarcerated students.
to contribute. They deserve to be seen in
UPWARD provides college classes,
that fullness.”
career navigation, and re-entry
support inside five southeast Nebraska
correctional facilities.
In its first 18 months, the program has
served more than 900 students, with
nearly 400 enrolled in credit-bearing
programs. As of May 2026, UPWARD
awarded 165 continuing education
+
“
Students are worthy of
high expectations,
real investment, and
meaningful support.
900
STUDENTS
credentials, credit certificates, diplomas,
”
and two-year degrees. SCC anticipates a
15-20 percent increase in enrollment in
the next six months.
“This program is about what
happens when a college decides
that incarcerated and formerly
incarcerated students are worthy of
high expectations, real investment,
and meaningful support,” said Amy
Doty, dean of UPWARD. “This work
matters because it changes individual
lives. It also matters because it changes
families, communities, and systems.”
June 2026
The model SCC has built is wider than
the classroom. Along with academic
400
ENROLLED IN CREDIT PROGRAMS
coursework, the program provides
career readiness navigation, employer
engagement, re-entry planning, and
connections to community partners.
Behind that work is a community of
educators, including 35 faculty and
tutors, 10 UPWARD administrators and
staff, 10 career readiness navigators,
and four student workers.
165
AWARDS & CREDENTIALS
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