Frequently Asked Questions

Why does college matter?

While college and higher education is not an appealing path for every person, THEI believes that all people, no matter where they live, deserve the opportunity to determine their own path. Access to higher education while incarcerated is proven to increase an individual’s options for health, success and meaningful employment post release.

What does this program offer me/my loved one?

The TCIX program offers an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration or Political Science. At NWCX, an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration is offered and at MCCX a General Transfer Associate’s Degree is offered. This degree requires 60 credit hours of study and takes between three and four years to complete.

Being a part of the THEI community also gives students the opportunity to receive other services, such as career counseling, re-entry support, and transition onto a college campus upon release.

THEI student reports: The program offers much to those individuals dedicated to the idea of change. There are many men who have never been told that their lives have value and that they can contribute to society. This program can first and foremost provide that self-awareness

THEI student reports: The primary reward of college is of course a degree, but the hidden treasure that the students discover is how to access and analyze information. The student becomes a critical thinker, and this can change the path of life for anyone willing to exert the effort.

Who will my professors be?

All professors for the THEI college program are official professors at our partnering college. At TCIX, all professors come from NSCC. At MCCX, all professors come from RSCC. At NWCX, all professors come from DSCC.

How much does college cost?

The cost for students is $25 per semester, which can be paid in one, two or four installments.

What is expected of me while I am in college?

College students are expected to conduct themselves with academic integrity, persistence and initiative. Students must have clean disciplinary records (no A write-ups in the last six months). Attendance in class is mandatory. In order to maintain good standing in the program, a student must keep his grade point average above 3.0. College is hard work! Take it seriously and you will set yourself up for success.

THEI student reports: For a brief period of time each day you attend class, or study. During this time you are a student, not an inmate. You are a member of a community of men and/or women that are trying to improve their lives and the lives of their families. You matter. Act like you want to belong to that group. Generally speaking, you get treated exactly the way you treat others.

How can my incarcerated loved one get an application to apply?

Applications can be requested through the Principals at the prison sites at which THEI operates (whenever an admissions cycle is open at that facility). If THEI operates a program at the facility, but an admissions cycle is not currently being offered, interested applicants can write to THEI to receive more information at our mailing address: 1006 Shelby Ave, Nashville, TN 37206.

For more information about our current program sites, please see our programs.

If my loved one does not live at a site at which THEI currently operates a program, how can he/she enroll in college?

Even if THEI does not coordinate a college program at your prison site, there may be other college programs available. Reach out to THEI via our Contact page as a first step.

I’ve taken some college in the past. What happens to those credits?

We will work to find your transcripts from your prior colleges and have those credits transferred.

My incarcerated loved one is a former student in a THEI program and would like to re-enroll. What should we do?

We would love to hear from them! Former students can write to us at our mailing address below. Please include any relevant information about your circumstances and indicate your interest in reapplying to the program. All re-admissions decisions will be considered on a case by case basis in accordance with our program policies.

1006 Shelby Ave, Nashville, TN 37206.

I was enrolled in a THEI program a long time ago. I’m home now and I want to go back to school. Where do I begin?

We would love to assist you! Please reach out to our re-entry coordinator, Barbi Brown at barbi@thei.org to discuss your questions and next steps.

If a THEI student gets released while enrolled in the program, can they continue to stay enrolled in college?

THEI works closely with all of our students to ensure that students who would like to continue with college after leaving prison are able to do so. If a student would like to stay enrolled in the same college that they were enrolled in while incarcerated, THEI will assist with making the transition to the traditional campus. This process will require applying for financial aid, completing some paperwork to change their campus location, and adjusting to changes like purchasing your own textbooks, selecting and registering for your own classes, and meeting with your academic advisor. For students who would like to transfer to a different college or university upon returning home, THEI will also assist in the transfer application process both pre- and post-release. THEI provides a laptop computer to all students that enroll in college post-release to assist with their transition.

For more information about our re-entry programming, please visit our Re-entry Services page.

My loved one is currently enrolled in a THEI program and needs to get an urgent message to your staff. What is the best way to reach you?

If face-to-face communication with a THEI staff person on site at the facility is infeasible for some reason, students can always correspond with THEI staff directly through the mail at the address below:

1006 Shelby AVe., Nashville, TN 37206

If a loved one would like to speak to a THEI staff person on a student’s behalf, we can be contacted at the number below M-Th from 10-6pm central, or by email at info@thei.org.

Will this program help with finding employment?

THEI’s Student Success and Re-Entry team is committed to supporting students in planning and preparing for release and overcoming challenges that arise during their transition from prison, including in the search for employment. While we are not an employment agency, our team is well-equipped to support students in their employment search, and is committed to helping students dream for and obtain meaningful employment, as we know that stability and self-fulfilment are critical ingredients for success for any person.

How can my community/company/organization/family/congregation support THEI?

To find out more about our current volunteer and donation needs, please visit our (link to page with this info) page. Be sure to join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest happenings and ways to support our work (link to newsletter sign up).

For all general inquiries about supporting THEI’s work, please email us at info@thei.org

‍For all media or funding inquiries, please contact our Community Engagement Manager, Karla Coleman García, at Karla@thei.org

Why does THEI believe that people in prison deserve low-cost access to higher education?

THEI believes that all people deserve access to quality higher education no matter where they live. The state of Tennessee has made great strides in reducing financial and other barriers to higher education for Tennessee residents through the Tennessee Reconnect initiative, and we believe that the same efforts to reduce barriers to education should be made for Tennesseans who are incarcerated.

For more information about THEI’s approach to this work, please visit our Guiding Principles. For more information about the Tennessee Reconnect program for Tennessee residents who are not incarcerated, visit tnreconnnect.gov

Who is eligible to apply for THEI’s college programs?

To apply for enrollment in one of THEI’s college programs, an applicant must be incarcerated at one of the facilities at which THEI operates. At this time, we are not able to consider applications from individuals at other facilities. For more information about THEI’s current college sites, please visit our Programs Page.

Applicants must have earned a high school credential or equivalency to apply, and must have at least one year remaining on their sentence prior to their anticipated release date. Individuals who have previously earned an associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

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