Campbell’s Second Chance Initiative Featured in Ithaka S+R Report on Prison Education
Recently, Ithaka S+R released a powerful new report exploring how the built environment shapes educational experiences in prison. I’m proud to share that Campbell University’s Second Chance Initiative was featured as a case study in this important work. I’m deeply grateful to Warden Van Gorder, Sampson Correctional Institution and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) for supporting research and innovation in prison education and to the leadership, staff, and faculty whose dedication continues to make this work possible.
This research highlights how space, relationships, and institutional commitment work together to support student success. As the report notes:
"Beyond the physical environment, the commitment to education was reflected in the good relationships that students reported having with the warden and staff, all of whom were invested in the success of the program. This sense of connection extended beyond the prison walls—some former and current incarcerated students also served as editors for the college’s newspaper, which was distributed both to students inside the prison and to those on the main campus."
"While improvements could be made, this case study highlights the fundamental role that space and institutional attitudes play in shaping the success of prison education programs. The trust and value instilled through both the built environment and stakeholder engagement were central to the positive experiences reported by students."