October 30, 2014
Prison College 101
I’m sorry that my posts have been becoming less frequent as of late. Due to my heavy school load I’m afraid I won’t be able to write as often. I miss and enjoy writing to you all, but I must focus on my schooling goals at this time. Please stay tuned because my decreased writing frequency does not mean I will not be writing at all, just probably less frequently.
I’ve had many people ask me over the last few weeks what going to college in prison is like. Now that I have just completed my fifth week of assignments, I have a better idea and will share with you the answer to that question.
The first step was registering for classes which took place about 2 months before the actual semester began. Keep in mind nothing in prison happens quickly. So, shortly before the semester begins you find out if you actually got the classes you signed up for. At that point, you are given the requested book list for your classes. As far as obtaining the books themselves, you have a few options. You can purchase or rent them from the college directly. You can have a family member buy or rent them online and send them in. Or, you can try to find the book from someone else at the prison who has taken the class previously. I chose to rent them directly from the college which I think is the best option because you are assured your books will be here by the beginning of the semester. The problem with using family members to purchase books and try to send them in, is that there is a risk of not only them arriving late, but the chance the mail room rejects them and sends them back.
The first day of “classes” you are given your syllabus along with your books. The rest is up to you. I say “classes” because there are no actual classes nor is there an interaction with a teacher. Class is set up like an online class only with no internet access. Your syllabus and book contain pretty much everything you need to complete the course. In the syllabus all your assignments and required reading is listed along with due dates.
All college students have access to the computer lab in the education building which is operated by a proctor from Taft College. The computers are all fairly old and only have Excel and Word 2010, but it’s better than nothing. The proctor is our only link to the college itself. He is the person we turn all assignments in to and the one who administers all tests and quizzes. When assignments are turned in, he takes them to the actual teacher at the college and he will bring back your grades when they are ready.
College in prison is different than any schooling I have done before and takes a little while to get used to. Although I have lots of time to study there, prison offers a variety of distractions and limitations. For example, there is limited access to resources including a quiet place to study. In prison college there isn’t the luxury of having your own house or room to study. Often times I have to study in noisy conditions with a small workspace. We have access to the computers for only 5 ½ hours a day Monday through Friday, so I must plan accordingly in order to type my assignments. Sometimes this computer time might not even be available. For instance, this week the proctor was out sick for a day and a half, so you were plain out of luck if you needed to use a computer. You are confined to their schedule when it comes to school which takes a little while getting used to. Going to school outside of prison there is access to quiet places to study, a lap top, and whatever else one can think of.
Yes, it takes some getting used to, but prison college is a great way to utilize your time and get something out of prison. People without a college degree who don’t take advantage of this opportunity are letting prison take time away from their life. This is not only a productive way to do time, but I will be able to look back on this time for the rest of my life and feel good knowing that I made the most out of the hand I was dealt.
Thank you all for following my journey and being a valuable part of my support network. More updates to follow.
Warren Schultz
