As college-in-prison programs grow across the country, researchers at the IU School of Education are launching a new survey designed to better understand and improve the experiences of incarcerated students. 

The College-In-Prison Survey of Student Engagement is part of the award-winning National Survey of Student Engagement, with a focus on college students who are currently in prison. With the rise of college-in-prison programs, NSSE researchers recognized a need for high-quality data to help institutions understand and improve the educational experiences they are providing.

“NSSE has long been committed to understanding the experiences of all students, regardless of their background or enrollment status. It made sense to extend student engagement assessment into prison education settings, but we also recognized that we had much to learn about that environment,” said Robert Gonyea, Senior Research Scientist with NSSE.

Rather than simply repurposing the existing survey, NSSE researchers worked with educators, program leaders, researchers, and students to adapt the survey with a grounding in the realities of CIP programs. The result is an assessment designed specifically for these settings while drawing on decades of research about student engagement and educational quality.

“What inspired this project was the realization that CIP programs deserved access to the same kinds of evidence and assessment tools that colleges use every day to improve educational quality. If these programs are going to continue to grow and serve students effectively, they need reliable ways to understand students' experiences and identify opportunities for improvement,” Gonyea added.

The primary goal of CIPSSE is to get college-in-prison programs actionable information and help to give voice to students in those programs. Researchers also hope to create partnerships and strong relationships with the program directors, faculty instructors, prison facility staff, and state departments of corrections as they find ways to help without placing any extra burden on the people doing the work facilitating these programs.

We’ve met so many amazing people dedicated to these programs and students, and we’d love to help them grow their programs, advocate for more resources, and inform others of the great work that they’re doing. We really view this as a service to the field of higher education and to our country in general,” said Allison BrckaLorenz, Senior Research Scientist.

Students in CIP programs often face educational circumstances that differ substantially from those experienced by students studying on college campuses, according to Ron Davis, CIPSSE Proejct Manager. Campus-based college students have a plethora of resources and support systems, constant access to the internet, and a learning environment designed to encourage exploration, collaboration, and academic success. For students enrolled in CIP programs, many of these opportunities and resources aren't available. Students pursuing higher education in correctional settings must navigate environments that can change rapidly and unpredictably, forcing the students to adapt while learning.

“Students in CIP programs encounter many other challenges and opportunities that vary across facilities and states. Our hope is that CIPSSE can support the continued growth and improvement of CIP programs, where it’s understood that a positive education experience is an essential part of learning,” Davis added.

As of now, CIPSSE is the first tool of its kind. Davis said the data that CIPSSE generates would allow the creation of a database of student-related engagement information that college-in-prison programs can use to advocate for change or make recommendations for better practices. Secondly, CIPSSE will be able to support programs in making data-informed decisions based on nuanced state, facility, or programmatic level barriers. As more programs choose to participate in the survey, CIPSSE's understanding of the CIP landscape will also expand.

“Many CIP programs have had limited opportunities to conduct systematic assessments because of resource constraints, administrative barriers, and the complexity of operating in correctional settings. As the survey gains more participants, CIPSSE will be able to offer a comprehensive overview of the field, enabling tailored consultations to assist these programs in implementing change,” Davis said.

NSSE gratefully acknowledges the support of the Indiana University Office for Research Development, whose Seed Grant helped make this project possible and provided critical support, allowing researchers to build partnerships, navigate the complex approval processes required to work in correctional settings, and pilot the survey with participating programs.