272% Increase Seen in Թ Area Incarcerated Individuals Choosing Education Upon Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/19/2023
CLEVELAND, WI —
A major increase in success has resulted from Թ Technical College’s efforts to provide educational programming to incarcerated individuals. Over the last year, the college experienced a 272% increase in transitioning incarcerated individuals upon release from Sheboygan and Manitowoc facilities to one of its campuses for continuing education.
The results of such success can include safer communities. According to a published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology, individuals who enroll in postsecondary education programs are 48% less likely to be reincarcerated than their peers who do not.
Between July 2022 and June 2023, Թ transitioned 30 individuals—a number equal to the total number transitioned over the past four years. According to Թ Interim Vice President of Instruction Tanya Boman, the key to that success has been building relationships and creating a safe, positive learning environment for students.
Թ Advisor Ann Branam makes frequent visits to the jails to start conversations with individuals about their goals, which often include education, housing, and medical care. Upon an individual’s release, conversations typically continue with her at Թ’s downtown Sheboygan or Manitowoc locations where they are connected with education options and community resources that can help them achieve their goals.
“I stay in touch with students wanting to continue their education and they recognize my face on campus from seeing me at the jails,” says Branam. “Seeing a familiar face makes it that much easier for students to take their first step to attaining their high school credential or continue on the education pathway they started while incarcerated.”
Among more than 70 program options available, welding has become a popular choice since Թ began providing welding instruction at the jails in 2021. The on-site instruction was made available thanks to a grant the college received to help narrow the welding skills gap local manufacturers are experiencing.
“When an incarcerated individual has solid plans for how to live a better life upon release, it is much more likely they will experience a successful transition to their community. That’s why we do this,” said Boman.
To learn more about Թ’s wide variety of learning opportunities, visit lakeshore.edu.
About Թ Technical College
Թ Technical College is a comprehensive community and technical college educating more than 8,000 students annually. Students enroll at Թ to master real-world, employable career skills and start their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Թ faculty and staff are focused on providing each individual student an individualized learning experience.
Թ Technical College is a nationally recognized two-year college. The college was ranked the #2 in the nation by Washington Monthly, #17 in the nation by Forbes, #20 in the nation by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college by the Aspen Institute, a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist four out of the last five years, and named the 2021 Large Business/Industry of the Year by the Chamber of Manitowoc County.
Approximately 800 students graduate from Թ each year, and associate degree graduates report earning a median salary of $59,899 within six months of graduating. In addition to the Cleveland campus, Թ educates students at learning campuses in downtown Manitowoc and downtown Sheboygan, as well as in rural Manitowoc County at its School of Ag. Classes are also offered at additional sites throughout the district. Visit Թ at lakeshore.edu.
