Restoring dignity, personal agency, and economic opportunity through higher education
Why we're here
The Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MiCHEP) advocates for the power of higher education to improve the lives of incarcerated students and their communities, thereby benefiting corrections staff and Michigan taxpayers. MiCHEP believes that college-in-prison can restore personal agency, dignity, and economic opportunity for incarcerated students. A college education can help ensure successful reentry into society as informed and capable citizens committed to the common good.
Identify
Identify best practices for delivering the highest quality education with the goal of bringing a "main campus" college experience to the prison campus.
Share
Share information about college-in-prison between member institutions, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), other partners, and the public
Encourage
Encourage member colleges to provide a range of educational offerings consistent with student interests and workforce needs
​Advocate
Advise
Collaborate
Advocate for policies that support the flourishing of incarcerated college students and graduates
Advise the MDOC on ways to best integrate higher education strategies into its Offender Success framework
Collaborate on data sharing and other strategies to encourage more integrated approaches to higher education in prison
"This program has not only changed my life, but also the lives of my family. It has given me vision, drive, and passion to change the culture and conditions here in prison, while helping me motivate my kids to further their education."
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MiCHEP Student
1,300
incarcerated college students
12
Michigan colleges offering degrees
730
completed
associate degrees
3,000
prospective students on waiting lists
15
partner
correctional facilities
150
completed
bachelor's degrees
2026-2028 Strategic Plan
Our 2026-28 Strategic Plan outlines MiCHEP's vision, mission and priorities for the next chapter of college-in-prison education across Michigan. This roadmap focuses on strengthening educational parity, expanding digital equity, creating pathways to post-release success, cultivating a specialized educator ecosystem, and advancing MiCHEP's role as a statewide policy catalyst. It provides a framework for how we will deepen partnerships, grow our collective impact, and build a more sustainable future for higher education in prison. We invite you to explore the plan below and learn more about where MiCHEP is headed and how we will work together to get there.
