Regis University participates in Colorado’s Higher Education in Prison (C-CHEP)

Regis University’s Prison Education Program is excited to be actively participating in efforts to create a statewide coalition of prison higher education programs. The Colorado Coalition of Higher Education in Prison (C-CHEP) was kicked off in January 2025 at the First Annual Colorado Conference on Higher Education in Prison. This effort is funded through a grant from ECMC Foundation and is spearheaded by Stephen Hartnett, Director of the University of Colorado Denver Prison Education Program. It brings together not only higher education programs, but also secular and non-secular community organizations dedicated to workforce development, safe transitions, continuing education and civic leadership.

The coalition meets once a month at different locations across the Denver area, with plans to include locations outside of the Denver metro areas in the future. Regis hosted the June gathering of C-CHEP on our campus and had a wonderful turnout from community partners, released students from various programs, instructors from Regis’ program, and our provost, Jake Bucher, Ph.D. We identified 5 pathways/task forces for the coalition to focus on for the time being.

The 5 pathways are:

Educational Issues

Safe Transitions

Advocacy

Strategic Communication

Beauty

The task forces that were created to tackle each of these goals are the educational working group, the safe transitions working group, the research working group and the professional development working group. These groups meet at least once a week. I am currently serving on the safe transitions working group and our current project is called “Unlocked Potential." It is a series of videos designed to be accessed by any person entering the Colorado Department of Corrections that encourage a mindset shift and pursuing educational opportunities that are available inside. A successful transition back to society starts as soon as someone enters the carceral system.

The coalition is also focused on preparing for the Second Annual Colorado Conference on Higher Education in Prison that is set for January 30, 2026, at the University of Colorado Denver campus. The second conference will include a panel on Higher Education in Prison Leaders from Around the Nation. Fr. Tom Curran, S.J., will make a presentation about the work of JPEN during the conference.

The work that is happening in Colorado around creating a coalition for higher education in prison programs is very exciting. It is inspiring and heartening to see so many different organizations, private, public, secular and non-secular, come together to work towards the common goal of walking alongside our incarcerated brothers and sisters. We are all companions in this work and are so much more powerful together than we ever can be apart. If you are interested in learning more about the work happening in the Colorado Coalition of Higher Education in Prison or if you are interested in attending the conference in January, please reach out to Erin Trumble.

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