Our Commitment to Justice through Education
The Colorado Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (C-CHEP)
The Colorado Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (C-CHEP) serves as a statewide alliance, uniting Colorado’s leading academic institutions, the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), and dedicated community partners. We believe the transformative power of a high-quality, post-secondary education should be accessible to all students, regardless of their circumstances.
By delivering rigorous academic programming within correctional facilities, C-CHEP is bridging the gap in educational equity and fostering a more inclusive future for our state.
Our Mission
By addressing the complex challenges faced by incarcerated learners and the educational institutions who serve them, C-CHEP expands educational opportunities for incarcerated learners.
Our Vision
C-CHEP envisions Colorado’s incarcerated learners thriving and released students joining a prison-to-school community, enabling them to fulfill their educational, personal, career, and civic goals.
Our Core Values
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Student-Centered Learning: C-CHEP values Prison Education Programs (PEPs) that practice student-centered learning.
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Academic Integrity: We support PEPs that uphold the integrity of the educational mission by offering incarcerated students courses that meet the same high standards of academic rigor, curriculum coverage, and overall quality as those available to non-incarcerated students.
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Collaboration: C-CHEP values a collaborative model of community engagement rooted in cooperation, not competition.
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Holistic Support: We value the educational, personal, career, and civic goals of incarcerated learners and support the PEPs and other community groups who provide the post-release programs needed to fulfill these goals.
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Strategic Partnerships: C-CHEP values the CDOC and CDHE as partners in advancing educational opportunities for incarcerated learners and post-release services for our students.
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Human Growth: We empower the whole student on a journey of self-discovery. Recidivism may drop because of our efforts, but we pursue human growth and flourishing as our primary goals.
The Impact of Transformative Education
At the heart of C-CHEP is a commitment to evidence-based outcomes. We recognize that education is the most effective tool for pursuing personal and systemic change. Our programs focus on:
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Sustainable Reentry: Research consistently demonstrates that students engaged in higher education while incarcerated have significantly lower recidivism rates and higher post-release employment success.
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Academic Rigor: We provide the same high-caliber instruction behind the walls as we do on our campuses, ensuring students earn meaningful, transferable credits.
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Holistic Growth: Beyond degree completion, our curriculum fosters critical thinking, ethical leadership, and a sense of community belonging.
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Community Leadership: We are not just educating students; we are preparing the next generation of Colorado’s community leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates.