South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc) has become the first higher education institution under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to be fully accredited as a Prison Education Program (PEP) provider. This significant milestone follows the reinstatement of Pell funding for incarcerated individuals under the U.S. Department of Education's (USDOE) Justice Pell Initiative, effective July 1, 2023.
The Justice Pell Initiative emerged from a three-year pilot program aimed at providing Pell Grants to incarcerated students. Unlike other institutions, SoLAcc did not need to apply for Experimental Site status since it exclusively serves inmates housed in local facilities, who have always qualified for regular Pell funding.
The college has an established a partnership with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office to train inmates in a Technical Welding Program. This program, which began in August 2017, aims to reduce recidivism by providing inmates with critical skills. Inmates who complete the required coursework and performance profiles receive a technical diploma in welding, and they have the option to continue classes at SoLAcc to work toward an associate degree upon their release.
SoLAcc's accreditation as a PEP provider was officially recognized during the SACSCOC June 2024 Board Meeting, expanding educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals in local facilities.