Second chance

In more than seven years as an adjunct instructor and tutor of English, Lisa Grant has read countless essays. But few have moved her as much as submissions to the 2022 edition of Expressions, SUNY Adirondack’s creative publication.

Five Second Chance students in Grant’s ENG 101 class at Washington Correctional Facility submitted works and three were selected — in an anonymous jurying process — for inclusion.

of 3.2 and 4.0, respectively, while taking a full-time course load).

In August 2022, 17 students earned a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management, with another 14 expected to receive a certificate in August 2023 and 10 students on track to earn an associate degree in August 2023.

According to the Department of Justice, programs such as Second Chance greatly reduce recidivism rates. Research findings show that inmates who participate in education programs are 43 percent less likely to return to prison than inmates who do not.

The largest-ever analysis of correctional educational studies indicate that prison education programs are cost effective, with a $1 investment in education reducing incarceration costs by $4 to $5 the first year after release, when those who leave prison are most likely to return.

WHAT: SUNY Adirondack offers Pell-eligible men at Washington Correctional Facility an opportunity to earn a degree through the Pell Second Chance program.

DETAILS: Students can earn a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Management, or an associate degree in Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Classes are offered in Washington Correctional Facility by SUNY Adirondack professors and adjunct instructors.

BY THE NUMBERs

44 students enrolled in Second Chance at Washington Correctional Facility

17 students awarded certificates

10 students on track to earn an associate degree in Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship in August 2023

22 computers in lab on a local area network (LAN) to support instruction and student learning

One in-classroom library developed for scholars

A smaller fall version of Expressions garnered 20 short stories and poems from Second Chance students in ENG 109, eight of which were selected for publication.

Increased skill in writing is among many successes in the classrooms at the correctional facility. Since the program started in fall 2021, the majority of students earned Dean’s or President’s List honors (maintaining a grade point average

A RAND Corporation analysis of correctional education research found that employment after release was 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in education programs than among those who did not.

“These students are inspiring,” said Michael Prutsman, SUNY Adirondack’s dean for Extended Program. “Seeing the work they put in, their commitment and success is life-changing.”

Black has been successful, securing more than $1.7 million in grant funding in the past year. (She works part time for SUNY Adirondack and part time for Fulton-Montgomery Community College, where she has secured more than $1.2 million in that time.)

SUNY Adirondack is a long way from South India, but Kelly Black is finding her work as a grant writer as fulfilling — albeit perhaps not quite as exciting — as her archaeological study of the impact of human-animal relationships on the environment throughout the Iron Age, Neolithic and early historic periods in that region.

As Black earned master’s and doctoral degrees, she applied for grants to fund her research, which brought her to Egypt, China and India. She secured grant funding from National Geographic and the National Science Foundation, among other sources.

Before beginning work at SUNY Adirondack, Black was a lecturer and teaching assistant at University of Chicago, teaching social theory courses and serving as a TA for anthropology and environmental law courses.

In 2017, Black moved to the region with her husband, who grew up here, and their young family. “I heard such great things about SUNY Adirondack so the college was always on my radar,” Black said. “When the grant writer job was posted … this opportunity seemed too good to ignore. The position was the perfect combination of things I was looking for in a job: it presented a new professional challenge, it required a skill set I was confident I had and I believed it would be a rewarding experience.” have a positive impact over the she said.

Much about the college makes her job a little easier in a competitive environment.

“SUNY Adirondack has a successful history of procuring large grants and managing complex projects,” Black said. “Funders do not need to worry about whether SUNY Adirondack can complete projects; the college has a successful track record.”

“There is so much good energy and good work that comes from the shared commitment to providing accessible education at SUNY Adirondack. It is really inspiring to watch and be a part of,” she said. “Working at SUNY Adirondack has exceeded my expectations.”