I’ve worked in higher education for nearly 30 years, and last week I had the most powerful educational experience yet...and it was in a prison

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation from Dr. Sharon Varallo to attend final presentations by 10 Augustana students who happen to be incarcerated at East Moline Correctional Center. I feel truly privileged to have been invited to attend and get to know these Augustana students, who are admittedly different from most with whom I interact. 

My initial role with the Augustana Prison Education Program (APEP) was to help connect a donor with Dr. Varallo, who was channeling her passion into a really compelling program. But, once the money came in the door and the program was underway, I hadn’t given it much thought. 

That changed when I was asked to facilitate a panel discussion that included two faculty members teaching in the program and a trustee from the foundation that made the grant that funds APEP. During that 65-minute Zoom webcast, it became very clear to me that something special was happening in the classroom at East Moline Correctional Center. 

I wanted to know more. Dr. Varallo’s invitation followed shortly thereafter, and I accepted with excitement and a bit of unease. (I hadn’t been in a jail since I was six or seven, when I had thrown rocks through some windows and my father took me over to the county jail as a learning experience). 

The visit was scheduled for December 7. Jacob Bobbitt, another administrator on campus, and I were invited to watch final presentations. But late in the day on the Friday before, we were notified that we could not go on the scheduled day because that was the day the students at East Moline Correctional Center were getting their COVID-19 booster shots. I thought then that the visit might not happen at all, because it was so late in the semester, but Dr. Varallo worked a miracle and rescheduled everything for the next morning. 

Getting to the classroom was what you might imagine it would be like: guards, gates, temperature checks, dated facilities and incarcerated people (all men) wearing the same thing. Jacob and I were led by Dr. Paul Olsen, Augustana Professor Emeritus of English and retired coach, on the half-mile walk to the Augustana College classroom. 

We got there early and were met by two Augustana students enrolled in APEP who were practicing their presentations. Let me say, I was impressed already. 

The classroom is adorned with all kinds of Augustana College posters and pennants. 

Both of the men immediately stopped and greeted “Olsen.” They also introduced themselves to Jacob and myself with an enthusiastic handshake. It was clear to me from the very beginning that these men take pride in their connection to Augustana College and the opportunity they have to earn a bachelor’s degree through APEP. 

The rest of the students also showed up early, save one who had received permission to complete an activity in the library and arrive later. Upon entering the classroom, each student greeted Jacob and me in the same way as the first two students. Each took his seat, which I believe had been assigned, and things got rolling. 

I was already so moved by the enthusiasm these students demonstrated for learning and the opportunity that I’d have left with very positive views of APEP without even seeing the presentations. These were impressive students. But, after listening to the presentations, I was transformed by the experience. 

Dr. Varallo had given them the assignment to make a persuasive argument about the value of each one of Augustana College’s Learning Perspectives—the foundation of the college’s general education requirements. It was an imaginative assignment for a host of reasons, but it was especially interesting to witness what these students put into it. 

Each student had one of the following to defend, and then persuade his fellow classmates of the value of taking course work within each area: 

“Universal” Human Experiences

 Arts 

 Natural Sciences              

 Social Sciences   

 Math/Stats        

 Additional Languages

 Global, Diversity-Focused

 History                

Literature     

Each student clearly explained the learning perspective, identified a compelling reason why it was part of the General Education Program, cited a course or two that sounded especially interesting, presented evidence and context for their persuasive argument, and defended the overall value of that learning perspective to becoming a truly educated person. 

As I listened to these presentations, I could not help but think how valuable it would be for all first-year students at Augustana to hear these men champion the backbone of an Augustana liberal arts education. These students, who know that they have an incredible opportunity, also seem to understand that Augustana will equip them with a view of life both deep and panoramic. They hope to be able to apply the knowledge and perspectives they are gaining in a productive and positive way beyond the walls and fences of East Moline Correctional Center. 

I hope, after this experience, to see their graduation from Augustana College. They proved to me that they are serious about college, bettering themselves, and the opportunity of the liberal arts. I look forward to welcoming them to the world as well educated citizens with an expansive future and more open doors. 

APEP is a grant-funded program, supported through the generosity of individual, foundation and corporate donors. Gifts can be made online at www.augustana.edu/makeagift, or through wire transfer, gifts of stock or personal check. When making an online gift, select “other” as an area of support, and enter “APEP” in the box provided. Mail checks to: Augustana College, Advancement Services, 639 38th St., Rock Island, IL 61201. For major gift support ($5,000 or more), contact Kent Barnds, executive vice president of external relations, at kentbarnds@augustana.edu or 309-230-7743.