YPISLANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University is giving incarcerated students the opportunity to present at an annual event that showcases research projects.
Twelve incarcerated students who are enrolled in the university’s College in Prison program at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility will present their projects at the 45th annual Undergraduate Symposium on Friday, March 28, according to a release from Eastern Michigan.
“This opportunity is monumental for our students and a reflection of the commitment EMU has made to providing equitable access to higher education,” said Meghan Lechner, director of the College in Prison program. “These presentations not only highlight our students’ incredible work and resilience but, also challenge perceptions about higher education and incarceration.”
The students will present their research on improvisation in education, the impact of poetry, dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and more. They will be presented through pre-recorded presentations, according to the release.
The final presentation will be given by a student who started college incarcerated and is finishing her degree on the university’s main campus.
“Our participation in the Undergraduate Research Symposium gives us a voice and allows us to demonstrate that our ideas and contributions matter,” said College in Prison student Jacara Moore. “Although I am incarcerated, I feel liberated. I hope the audience walks away with a deeper understanding of the power of improvisation and how it can enhance real-life experiences in meaningful ways.”
The Eastern Michigan University College in Prison Program allows incarcerated students to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the university.
Through the program, these students get in-person instruction from faculty with the same curriculum and expectations as the classes taught on the main campus.
The 45th Annual Undergraduate Symposium starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 28, and is being held at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center at 900 Oakwood Street in Ypsilanti.
For more information on the event, visit here.
