CCRI included in initiative to provide Pell grants to people in state or federal prisons
CCRI included in initiative to provide Pell grants to people in state or federal prisons
June 22, 2020
The Community College of Rhode Island today announced it is included in the expansion
of the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative to provide need-based Pell
grants to people in state and federal prisons.
CCRI is one of 67 colleges awarded the grant, and one of only 130 colleges nationwide
selected to participate in the Second Chance Pell program.
The Second Chance Pell program at CCRI is a specialized initiative, different from
needs-based or merit scholarships offered in traditional education programs and universities.
This program will not tap into traditional scholarship funding sources, but, instead,
will build upon an existing partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
Under this program, eligible individuals can take courses toward a certificate or
an associate degree as part of their rehabilitation program. Last year, more than
250 individuals took courses, and, since the program started 15 years ago, 95 individuals
earned their associate degree.
The Second Chance Pell program will allow CCRI to expand the capacity of the existing
program by enabling an increased number of individuals to enroll in CCRI certificate
programs and expanding the offerings to new areas of the incarcerated population that
have not previously had access to courses. CCRI plans to serve 40 additional students
the first year through this Second Chance Pell program.
“We are eager to build upon our proven relationship with the Rhode Island Department
of Corrections that has enabled us to provide educational opportunities to hundreds
of incarcerated students each year,” said CCRI President Meghan Hughes. “Our college
prides itself on our successful track record in serving first-generation college students,
students from underrepresented groups, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
CCRI is well prepared to help our Second Chance Pell students achieve their educational
and career goals, while they complete their rehabilitation.”
“We know that for every dollar spent in education, the state saves $5 in incarceration
costs. We want to make sure individuals have the necessary tools to live as law-abiding
citizens once they complete their sentence,” said RIDOC Director Patricia A. Coyne-Fague,
Esq., regarding the initiative. “Education has proven to be very effective at breaking
the cycle of incarceration. The data shows that if a justice-involved parent gets
a postsecondary education, their children are more likely to go to college and graduate
with a degree as well. From a community safety perspective, it just makes sense to
invest in education as part of the rehabilitative process.”
The vast majority of incarcerated people will one day return home, and providing access
to postsecondary education in prison means that these individuals are far less likely
to recidivate; they are better equipped to play productive and positive roles within
their communities. Access to postsecondary education also improves prison safety for
both incarcerated people and corrections employees alike.
The Vera Institute of Justice has been providing technical assistance to the participating colleges and corrections
departments since the initiative’s inception, working to ensure that the programs provide quality higher education in prison and
post-release.
“This expansion of Second Chance Pell will improve lives and strengthen communities,”
said Nick Turner, president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice. “The expansion
is also a testament to the fact that broader access to college in prison is a strategy
that works – to improve safety and expand opportunity in our country.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting several Second Chance Pell institutions and have
seen firsthand the transformative impact this experiment has on the lives of individuals
who are incarcerated,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “By expanding
this experiment, we are providing a meaningful opportunity for more students to set
themselves up for future success in the workforce. The stories I’ve heard from students
and institutions engaged in the experiment are very encouraging, and we look forward
to seeing how this expansion will help even more students achieve a better future.”
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
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The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
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The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.
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Beginning today, the CCRI Players launch a four-day run of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, produced by CCRI Performing Arts Professor Luke Sutherland and scheduled for five performances at the college’s Providence Campus Auditorium. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with 2 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time
November 26, 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza.
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic to Host Free Sealant and Fluoride Community Day for Children & Teens
March 31, 2025
The CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic’s upcoming Sealant and Fluoride Community Day on Friday, April 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Lincoln Campus will provide free dental sealants and fluoride treatments for children and teens ages 6 to 17. The event will be led by CCRI’s dental hygiene students, who will provide preventative care under the supervision of licensed professionals.
Lucas Johnson Named Rhode Island's 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar
March 17, 2025
Warwick, RI- Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) student and Warwick resident, Lucas Johnson, has been named a 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.
Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship
March 07, 2025
NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.
CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare
March 05, 2025
For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.
CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament
March 05, 2025
Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.
The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology
December 13, 2024
Cranston, RI, native Thomas Ohanian, a World Languages & Cultures student completing his independent study, recently won his fifth Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for co-inventing the Avid Multicamera System, a technology that has revolutionized the film-making and editing industry.
College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award
December 12, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.
CCRI Players tackle themes of doubt and uncertainty with final production of fall semester
December 12, 2024
Beginning today, the CCRI Players launch a four-day run of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, produced by CCRI Performing Arts Professor Luke Sutherland and scheduled for five performances at the college’s Providence Campus Auditorium. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with 2 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time
November 26, 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza.
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
