TRAC (Transforming, Renewing, Achieving, and Connecting), a Higher Education in Prison Program
The UNO TRAC program provides for-credit general education and Inside-Out classes to incarcerated students at the Omaha Correctional Center; a student organization for formerly incarcerated students on campus; and community symposia highlighting trends and problems connected to higher education in prison, mass incarceration, and reentry.
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and education is the most sought-after program while also being the program that is most often withheld and denied.
Individuals who have the opportunity to be educated are proven to be more prepared for reentry to society and have significantly lower rates of recidivism. Over 2,000 Nebraskans transition from prison to the community, and education helps makes this transition smoother.
| TRAC Program |
|---|
| Classes offered at the Omaha Correctional Center |
| Testimonials |
| Community Symposia |
| TRAC Student Organization |
| Faculty and Staff Community of Practice |
Classes offered at the Omaha Correctional Center
The TRAC program has partnered with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) to provide classes for incarcerated individuals at the Omaha Correctional Center through generous donations.
The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is committed to advancing research and educating leaders in Criminal Justice. It is a nationally ranked leader in research and education that improves quality of life, with a commitment to serving and engaging with the community.
Courses offered will help students enrolled:
- Increase levels of academic confidence
- Increase self-esteem, self-awareness, independence, emotional stability, and stable relationships
- Develop intellectual skills
- Build connections
- Engage in critical reflection of self and society
- improve prison safety
- Prepare for reentry to the community
- Improve employment opportunities
TRAC Program Highlights
- The program is donor funded.
- 27 classes offered between Fall 2017 and Spring 2023
- 340 Enrollments, with a completion rate of 80%
- Two former students, who were enrolled in the very first class offered at OCC, are currently enrolled in graduate programs at UNO
History of Classes offered at the Omaha Correctional Center
Fall 2017:
ENGL 1200 Autobiographical Reading and Writing, taught by Dr. Daniel Wuebben
Spring 2018:
ENGL 2250 Short Story, taught by Dr. Daniel Wuebben
SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology, taught by Dr. Nikitah Imani
Summer 2018:
PSCI 1000 Introduction to Political Science, taught by Joel Case
Fall 2018:
ENGL 1150 English Composition I, taught by Dr. Daniel Wuebben
Spring 2019:
HIST 1000 World Civilizations I, taught by Dr. Martina Saltamacchia
SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology, taught by Dr. Nikitah Imani
WRWS 1500 Introduction to Creative Writing, taught by Professor Peggy Jones
Summer 2019:
ENGL 1010 Genre Studies Prose, taught by Dustin Pendley
Fall 2019:
SOC 2100 Social Problems, taught by Dr. Alecia Anderson
Spring 2020:
ENGL 2120 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Writing, taught by Emily Borgmann
SOC 2150 Sociology of Families, taught by Dr. Jennifer Heineman
PSCI 2310 Introduction to Political Thought, taught by Joel Hebrink
Fall 2020:
HIST 1000 World Civilizations I, taught by Dr. Martina Saltamacchia
RELU 2410 Real Estate Principles and Practices, taught by Martin Barnhart
Spring 2021:
CMST 1110 Public Speaking Fundamentals, taught by Marlina Davidson
PSCI 2310 Introduction to Political Thought, taught by Joel Hebrink
Fall 2021:
Art 2050 Survey of Western Art History I, taught by Dr. Bridget Sandhoff
WRWS 1500 Introduction to Creative Writing, taught by Professor Peggy Jones
Spring 2022:
BLST 1000 Introduction to Black Studies, taught by Dr. Nikitah Imani
Summer 2022:
ENGL 1150 English Composition I, taught by Dustin Pendley
MATH 1130 Quantitative Literacy, taught by Dr. Mark Sand
Fall 2022:
ENGL 3000/CRCJ 4800 Reading and Writing about American Prisons, taught by Dustin Pendley
CHEM 1010 Chemistry in Environment and Society, taught by Dr. Ed Tisko
Spring 2023:
CRCJ 1010 Survey of Criminal Justice, taught by Dr. Sadaf Hashimi
ENGL 3000/CRCJ 4800 Reading and Writing about American Prisons, taught by Dustin Pendley
PHHB 1500 Foundations in Public Health, taught by Rachael Jensen
Fall 2023:
BLST 1000 Introduction to Black Studies, taught by Dr. Nikitah Imani
SOWK 1010 Social Work and Social Welfare, taught by Emily Greenberg
Spring 2024:
CRCJ 1010 Survey of Criminal Justice, taught by Dr. Sadaf Hashimi
PHHB 1500 Foundations in Public Health, taught by Rachael Jensen
Student Testimonials
"I remember the day I was accepted as a UNO student. I was in my cell when I got my UNO welcome letter and student ID number, but I felt like I'd just gotten a million dollars. When you're in prison you feel like you don't belong to anything, but UNO made me feel like I belonged to something."
"Access to higher education has been an amazing experience. I am able to feel like I am using my time wisely, in a productive manner. Professionally, I see myself getting better with my social and communication skills. I feel encouraged by my progress and the motivation is real."
"These classes have opened up so many more opportunities for me. I never thought that college was possible. As no one in my family has a college education, let alone a degree. This has shown me that not only college is possible, but I can get and earn a degree."
“I love being in college. It gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment.”
“The influence that the UNO classes have on my life is huge. And when I get out I wish to go there and be the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s. I thank UNO and the donors for their graciousness.”
“I am making progress in my academic career…[This] will affect my life for its remainder and the lives of those I come into contact with, especially my family.”
“As an incarcerated person, UNO has improved the quality of my life by treating me as a member of society. UNO makes me feel like a person. Not a number.”
“Without a doubt, I would recommend UNO classes to my peers. The instructors and professors are fabulous! And the classes are enjoyable. The UNO classes are challenging, because I am having to work with my mind, my intellect. And by doing so, I am engaging in new realms and possibilities. That for me is challenging, and I love a challenge.”
"The confidence that comes from completing a college course is another benefit of UNO's program that bears mentioning. These are college level classes, not remedial math and English. Passing one of these classes is an accomplishment that begins a ripple effect."
Faculty Testimonials
UNO Associate History Professor, Dr. Martina Saltamacchia, describes her experience teaching at OCC this way, “From the first hour of the first lesson, I was blown away by the students - by their endless questions, the vibrant discussions, the way they poured their heart into writing the weekly assignments and preparing for class. This experience has profoundly changed not only the way I teach and conceive of my work, but also the way I live and walk through my day.“
UNO Theater Associate Professor, Peggy Jones states, "I think the arts gives us a chance to show our humanity. It can show us how to understand things. I think I went in going to see if that was true. Would it help me see the humanity of my students? Would it help my students see themselves fully? And the answer is YES!”
Community Symposia
The TRAC program provides an annual symposium on UNO’s campus, and has been held virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic. Symposia are held as a way for individuals with the same passion for corrections and progress can meet to listen and discuss ideas. They are a way to educate the community on how important education is for incarcerated people.
Goals for Community Symposia
- Advocating for access to quality education in prisons
- Fostering collaborations among individuals, agencies, organizations, and community partners
- Providing a forum for shared dialogue and language, knowledge, ideas, and experiences
- Highlighting the resources, programs, services, and initiatives for current and formerly incarcerated students
2019 Community Symposium: Crowding Nebraska's Prisons
This was our first symposium. Dr. Daniel Wuebben organized the event, and all of the first-year Goodrich Scholars attended the event. The planning committee decided to name the event "Crowding Nebraska's Prisons" because volunteers and education are so important in carceral spaces. If society isn't willing to put an end to mass incarceration, at least we can bring as many people from outside into our prisons as possible.
There were two panels, and a keynote speaker. The first panel consisted of writing programs: Writer's Block (Nicholas Bell and Tyrone Harper III, Hero's Journey (Carmala Anderman), and a writing program facilitated by Alana Alexander and Steve Langan offered at Programming Life 101. The second panel consisted of students and staff from Metro Community College's 180 Re-Entry program. The keynote speaker was Dominque Morgan. Here is a flyer from the event: Crowding Nebraska's Prison.
2020 Virtual Community Symposium: Gendered Aspects of Incarceration: We All Do the Time
This was our second symposium. Professor Peggy Jones organized the event. This event was dynamic due to its amazing panelists: Jasmine Harris, Director of Public Policy at RISE; Racquel Henderson, Employment Coordinator for Black and Pink; and Diane Good-Collins, Director of Metropolitan Community College's 180 Re-entry program. The shared their personal as well as professional experiences with incarceration's gendered effects.
A recording of the event can be found here: Gendered Aspects of Incarceration. Here is a flier from the event: Gendered Aspects of Incarceration flier.
2021 Virtual Community Symposium: Public Health, Incarceration, and Covid
This symposium was organized by Dr. Nikitah Imani and Dr. Katelynn Towne. The subject matter was timely, as we were a year into the Covid-19 pandemic. This event was held virtually and had two presenters: Dr. Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado and Spike Eickholt, who presented on the effects of Covid-19 in correctional settings.
A recording of the event can be found here: Public Health, Incarceration, and Covid. Here is a flyer from the event: Public Health, Incarceration, and Covid-19.
2023 Symposium: Supporting Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Students in the Transition to College Pipeline
The symposium was organized by Dustin Pendley, Rachael Jensen and Dr. Nikitah Imani. It was held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center at the University of Nebraska Omaha. The symposium began with Dr. Megan Pendley and Derek K. discussing the importance that hope plays in the successful transition from prison to college.
The next panel consisted of community partners. Representatives from MCC 180 RAP, RISE, and the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reentry program answered the moderator’s questions on the topic of reentry. The keynote speaker of the event was Terrell Blount, who is the Executive Director for the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network. He shared his personal experience of transitioning from prison to college.
More about the event can be found here: Supporting Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Students in the Transition to College Pipeline.
TRAC Student and Community Partnerships
Our student organization provides support to formerly incarcerated UNO Students and aims to educate the community about the value that formerly incarcerated persons bring to the university, local businesses, and the community.
Higher education has an incredibly positive effect on formerly incarcerated individuals both economically and mentally. Students advocate for breaking the stigma around incarceration by empowering its members and others with the opportunity for higher education. This leads to significantly lower unemployment rates and reduces recidivism for formerly incarcerated persons.
The student organization's first event was titled: Introduction to TRAC Students. Formerly incarcerated students discussed their experience in higher education, and Jeremy Bouman, Founder and CEO of RISE, shared his professional experience helping formerly incarcerated persons navigate life post-incarceration. A recording of the event can be found here: Introduction to TRAC Students.
The student organization's second event was titled: Decarcerate Nebraska: Common Sense Alternatives to Building a New Prison. Dr. Jennifer Heineman moderated this event. A number of professionals, many formerly incarcerated, explained why Nebraska should not build a new prison, offering alternatives. Panelists included Alana Alexander, Racquel Henderson, Danielle Conrad, and Jason Witmer. State senator Megan Hunt also presented during this webinar.
Here is flier from the event: Decarcerate Nebraska: Common Sense Alternatives to Building a New Prison.
TRAC Partners at the Omaha Correctional Center
TRAC partners also meet with incarcerated students once a month at the Omaha Correctional Center. The goal of these meetings is to help students develop a plan to matriculate to UNO on campus. During these meetings, students:
- Review UNO’s core requirements
- Discuss their plans for higher education and receive feedback
- Learn how to matriculate to UNO
- Learn how to access financial aid effectively
- Learn about the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree
- Work on cultivating a growth mindset
- Learn what reentry services are available and needed
- Begin building a scholarly community with staff and students
The Community of Practice for TRAC serves as the committee of the whole for the administration of the UNO TRAC Program at the Omaha Correctional Center. Members meet monthly to discuss best practices, pedagogy, and research. If interested in participating, please email Dr. Nikitah Imani: nimani@unomaha.edu.
If you would like to join the TRAC listserv, please email Dustin Pendley: dpendley@unomaha.edu and he will add you to the list.
If you are interested in teaching UNO courses at the Omaha Correctional Center, please email Sadaf Hashimi: shashimi@unomaha.edu.
If you want to donate to the TRAC Program, please visit the University of Nebraska Foundation.