Inmates given a second chance for education.
Inmates at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe are getting a second chance to advance their education as a result of a unique outreach program of Palo Verde College.
Started in the fall of this school year, the Ironwood Project may well represent a first for community colleges.
"As far as I know, it is the first time where courses are being offered by a community college to those who are incarcerated," said Pat Koester, director of Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) at Palo Verde College.
Enrolled full-time
With an enrollment of 53 students, the Ironwood Project offers inmates courses in English, Spanish, computers, history and general education. The students are all enrolled full-time and are doing well with their studies, according to Koester.
The program has also received attention statewide. In April, the Board of Governors and the Chancellor's Office honored Koester and Palo Verde with its Student Success Award.
Ironwood initially partnered with another nearby community college, Coastline College, which specializes in distance learning. Coastline had been providing some correspondence courses to the prison, but inmates needed more intensive counseling and support services that Coastline couldn't provide.
EOPS Services
"We provide them services through our EOPS such as books, counseling and educational planning," said Koester. Koester and her colleague, Joe Jondreau are the two faculty members to personally work counseling the inmates on academic matters.
While Coastline continues to provide correspondence courses in technology, Palo Verde faculty also contribute their course materials to the inmates.
"Our faculty really rose to the occasion. Several started offering a course, or two or three," Koester said.
Because the inmates have no access to computers or the Internet, Palo Verde instructors are also videotaping their classes on campus for the inmates. Instructors prepare the material, which is then delivered to the inmates. When the inmates are finished, the assignments are returned to the instructors for grading.
The inmates at Ironwood are at all different levels, academically, according to Koester.
"But all but a few are very serious and are doing well," she said.