Minnesota Dept. of Corrections Celebrates Largest Class of Higher Education Graduates in nearly 30 years
 Nineteen incarcerated persons received their college diplomas or certificates today as part of a partnership with Higher Ed.
St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) today held its largest higher education commencement ceremony since 1994 at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Lino Lakes.
Nineteen (19) students earned a higher education degree while incarcerated as part of a unique cross-institutional partnership forged in 2021 between MCF-Lino Lakes and Minneapolis College, Metro State University and the University of Minnesota. The partnership created the Transformation and Reentry through Education and Community (TREC) program. TREC creates a seamless pathway from GED/Diploma to Associates, Bachelor’s degrees and certificates for incarcerated students.
“Participating in the TREC Program opens an untold number of opportunities for us,” said Carlos Sessions, who earned a B.A. in Individualized Studies from Metro State University while in prison. “The investment in this education program shows society is beginning to understand it is cheaper to educate than warehouse [incarcerated persons].”
Over 95 percent of the people incarcerated with the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) will one day return to their communities. Research shows that education is a key factor to success, increasing the odds of gaining employment and reducing recidivism.
“It is my pleasure to see these students work so hard to meet and achieve their educational goals within the environment they must live, and we work in,” said Randall Bergman, education director at MCF-Lino Lakes. “I’ve witnessed exceptional academic growth and personal transformative change from the students that are taking advantage and dedicating their lives to the education opportunities provided them.”
In recent years, the DOC has dramatically expanded educational opportunities and partnerships across the department’s correctional facilities. This is the second TREC graduating class.
“When I was in high school I used to make fun of the scholars (nerds),” said Jamar Brown who earned a A.A. Philosophy and Entrepreneurship Certificate from Minneapolis College. But now it’s ironic how things turned out because I’m strongly considering continuing college so I can become a professor.”
“These students simply want to learn. It’s not for a job but rather to think critically and expand their knowledge on a whole host of topics,” says Ann Deiman-Thornton, Dean of Education, Public and Human Services at Minneapolis College and former Education Director for the Minnesota Department of Corrections-Stillwater Correctional Facility. “We’ve had incredible attendance, nearly 100 percent, making this graduation a celebration of the dedication from these students and the great need for this program.”
Contact
Andy Skoogman, Communications Director
andy.skoogman@state.mn.us
651-491-3443
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