College Programs
The Rochester Education Justice Initiative (REJI) administers degree-granting college programs at Groveland Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison in Sonyea, NY; Attica Correctional Facility, a maximum-security state prison in Attica, NY; and Wyoming Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison in Attica, NY. In total, about 120 students are enrolled in these programs each semester.
Students at Groveland, Attica, and Wyoming work toward an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts: General Studies from REJI's partner institution, SUNY Genesee Community College (GCC). Graduates of the GCC program at Attica may transfer to the University of Rochester's Bachelor of Arts program at the prison to earn a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Students returning home from prison can continue to pursue either degree post-release.
Our college programs are free for all incarcerated students. There are no out-of-pocket tuition expenses or fees, and REJI provides students with all necessary textbooks and supplies
REJI courses at Groveland, Attica, and Wyoming span humanities, sciences, and social sciences disciplines, and are typically at the introductory or intermediate (100 or 200) level. Depending on the semester and subject area, some courses are offered for UR credit, and others are offered for GCC credit. REJI has also partnered with Nazareth College to offer courses for Nazareth credit.
Examples of courses REJI has previously offered include:
- Public Speaking and Debate
- General Psychology
- Ethics of Language
- Spirituality, Religion, and Health
- Political Philosophy
- Theories of Religion
- Human Diversity
- Introduction to Financial Accounting
- Conflict in 20th Century Europe
- Language and Advertising
- Mobility in American Literature
- Feminist Theory and Rhetoric
- Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
- Energy and Power
- Parts of the Self
- Fundamentals of Cell Biology
- Imagining Worlds: Science Fiction and Social Justice
To learn more about REJI's college programs, contact Eitan Freedenberg, deputy director, at e.freedenberg@rochester.edu.
To apply to teach at Groveland, Attica, or Wyoming, visit our Instructor Application page.