USM Prison Education Program
Saint Mary Prison Education Program: Empowering Change (PEP)
The 糖心视频 is proud to be part of rehabilitating incarcerated persons. The university has a long history of providing education in prison settings.
The 糖心视频鈥檚 core curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts educational tradition. The basis of a liberal arts education is the belief that learning in a broad and deep range of fields enhances a student鈥檚 ability to think. It refines, challenges, and encourages a student's ability, regardless of background or preparedness for university learning.
As a graduate of a liberal arts education, a student will be an articulate and fulfilled human being, find meaningful and gainful employment in a particular field, and live a just and humane life.
The 糖心视频 was part of the Second Chance Pell initiative and has
offered face-to-face post-secondary education programming since the Spring of 2021.
We were selected as one of 250 higher education in prison
The Prison Education Program (PEP) was re-established by the 糖心视频 in 2021 to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals in Lansing, Leavenworth, and Fort Leavenworth. The program began in the Spring of 2021 with eight students at the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) and has since grown to offer a Bachelor of Business in Management to 40 students. LCF is the only penitentiary in Kansas to offer an in-person bachelor's degree program. The first graduate completed the program in the summer of 2023.
In Fall 2023, USM expanded its educational offerings to include a bachelor's degree in business management at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth. USM is the only Pell Granting institution in the country offering an in-person bachelor's degree in a military prison.
The program will potentially expand to the United States Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth by the Fall of 2024, making USM one of the first Pell Granting Institutions to offer in-person higher education in prison programs in a federal penitentiary.
Currently, the USM PEP provides associate and bachelor's degrees in business administration across these locations, and enrollment projections indicate over 100 students will be enrolled across all locations by Fall of 2024.
The USM Prison Education Program strives to reduce recidivism and transform the lives of incarcerated individuals and their families through post-secondary education. Equal access to education is not only just for the incarcerated but is in the best interest of the community at large.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics studies have found high rates of recidivism among released prisoners. One study, which tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison, found that about 2/3 (67.8%) of released prisoners were rearrested within 3 years of release and more than 3/4 (76.6%) were rearrested within 5 years. More than half (56.7%) of these rearrests were in the first year after release. However, there is a 43% reduction in recidivism rates for those prisoners who participate in prison education programs. Indeed, the higher the degree, the lower the recidivism rate is: 14% for those who obtain an associate degree, 5.6% for those who obtain a bachelor鈥檚 degree, and 0% for those who obtain a master鈥檚 degree.
Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF)鈥� Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Business Management
General Education Courses - required for all USM degrees 36 credit hours
Electives to reach 120 credit hours
Core Business Administration Degree Coursework
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Statistics
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Principles of Management
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Principles of Marketing
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Principles of Accounting 1
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Principles of Accounting 2
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Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics
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Principles of Finance
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Legal and Ethical Aspects of Business
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Data Analysis for Business Decision Making
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International Business
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Operations Management
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Business Learning Lab
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Strategic Management and Ethics
In addition to core courses in business administration, BA-Management majors complete additional coursework designed to prepare them to manage people and projects in organizations.
Coursework
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Leadership
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Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management
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Business Communications
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Project Management
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Human Resource Management
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Organizational Behavior
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International Political Economy
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Management Internship
United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB) 鈥� Completion degree Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Business Management
Students with an AS or AA degree are required to complete all Core Coursework and Business Courses listed below. In addition, students must take 3 credit hours of theology.
Students with an AAS degree must also complete or transfer in general education courses to meet the above requirements.
Core Business Administration Degree Coursework
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Statistics
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Principles of Management
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Principles of Marketing
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Principles of Accounting 1
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Principles of Accounting 2
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Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics
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Principles of Finance
-
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Business
-
Data Analysis for Business Decision Making
-
International Business
-
Operations Management
-
Business Learning Lab
-
Strategic Management and Ethics
Coursework
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Leadership
-
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management
-
Business Communications
-
Project Management
-
Human Resource Management
-
Organizational Behavior
-
International Political Economy
-
Management Internship
Joint Regional Correctional Facility (JRCF) 鈥� associate degree in business administration
60 credit hours
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English Composition 1
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English Composition 2
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Interpersonal Communication
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Quantitative Literacy: Math in the Real World
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Introductory Statistics
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Saint Mary Spirituality
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Gen Ed - Art: 3 credits
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Gen Ed - Science with Lab: 3 credits
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Gen Ed - Humanities: 3 credits
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Principles of Marketing
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MGT Electives: 6 credits
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Principles of Microeconomics
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Principles of Accounting 1
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Principles of Accounting 2
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Info Systems & Applications
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Principles of Management
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Principles of Macroeconomics
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Business Learning Lab
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Legal and Ethical Aspects of Business
United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth 鈥� associate degree in business administration
Pending approval 鈥� projected start date August 2024
60 credit hours
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English Composition 1
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English Composition 2
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Interpersonal Communication
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Quantitative Literacy: Math in the Real World
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Introductory Statistics
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Saint Mary Spirituality
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Gen Ed - Art: 3 credits
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Gen Ed - Science with Lab: 3 credits
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Gen Ed - Humanities: 3 credits
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Principles of Marketing
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MGT Electives: 6 credits
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Principles of Microeconomics
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Principles of Accounting 1
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Principles of Accounting 2
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Info Systems & Applications
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Principles of Management
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Principles of Macroeconomics
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Business Learning Lab
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Legal and Ethical Aspects of Business
Student qualifications
The 糖心视频 seeks motivated and academically qualified students who desire a high-quality, career-oriented liberal arts education in a Catholic/Christian tradition. The 糖心视频 admits students of any gender, race, religion, color, or national and ethnic origin. It does not discriminate based on any of the above factors in any of its policies.
Freshman Admission
Admissions process for Full or Part-Time, Degree-Seeking Students
Academic Requirements
Freshman students are degree-seeking students who have not enrolled in an accredited college or university after graduating from high school or equivalent. A cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher or proof of a GED equivalent GPA is required for admission. Admission into the 糖心视频 does not constitute admission into any particular program. For detailed information, see the main campus catalog.
USM will require admitted students to take an Accuplacer test for course placement in English and math.
Transfer Admission
Admissions process for Full or Part-Time, Degree-Seeking Transfer Students transferring from another college.
Academic Requirements
Transfer students are degree-seeking students enrolled in an accredited college or university after graduating from high school or equivalent. A cumulative transfer GPA of 2.0 or higher for all college course work that applies towards a USM program is required for admission. Admission into the 糖心视频 does not constitute admission into any particular program. A maximum of 96 credits can be transferred.
Michelle Workman
Prison Education Program Director
Michelle.Workman@stmary.edu
800-752-7043
President's Office
Michelle earned a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. After returning to Kansas City, she worked in the financial industry as a stockbroker and operations manager until 2001. In that year, she began pursuing a graduate degree in art history and religious studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Michelle was a UMKC graduate teaching fellow for non-western art history and co-authored Ren茅e Stout; Readers, Advisors and Storefront Churches (University of Washington Press).
Since 2012, Michelle has been an adjunct faculty member at various institutions, including the University of Central Missouri, Rockhurst University, and the Kansas City Art Institute. In 2020, she started teaching for a higher education in prison program at the Lansing Correctional Facility. This experience led to her current position as the Prison Education Program Director at USM.
Michelle was part of the 2022 National Cohort for the Alliance in Higher Education in Prison and was a speaker at the National Conference in Atlanta. She continues to speak at regional and national events to promote higher education in prison programs. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree.
Michael Hill, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of History & Theology
Michael.Hill@stmary.edu
800-752-7043
Provost's Office
Michael Hill is an Assistant Professor of History and Theology in the University of
Saint Mary Prison Education Program. After serving the in the US Army from 2001-2007,
Dr. Hill decided to further his education, first at Fuller Theological Seminary and
then at Adams State University. Dr. Hill then earned his Ph.D. in History from the
University of Kansas. He specializes in the 19th century American West, the US in
the world, and environmental history. His work has appeared in The Journal of America's
Military Past, Western Historical Quarterly, and Diplomatic History. Dr. Hill's current
book project, exploring how the purchase and governance of Alaska furthered US empire
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is under contract with the University of
Nebraska Press.
Leanna Brunner
Assistant Professor in English
Leanna.Brunner@stmary.edu
Humanities
Leanna Brunner, a doctoral student in English pedagogy at Murray State University, has been a college writing instructor for more than twenty-five years. In addition to her experience in the classroom, she is also an editor, writer, and curriculum designer. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three grown children.
PEP Updates
Three Lansing Correctional Facility Students Earn their Degrees
July 31, 2025
(Leavenworth, Kansas) 鈥� Three students at Lansing Correctional Facility have earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees from the 糖心视频. They were recognized during a Commencement Ceremony on July 18 at the Lansing Correctional Facility East Campus Visitation Area.
Scott Catterfeld, Aaron Claspill, and Kenneth McNelly have all earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science with honors.
鈥淎t the 糖心视频, we believe in the power of education to transform lives,鈥� University President Sister Diane Steele, SCL, PhD, said. 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of these graduates and their determination to pursue a college degree. Their achievement reflects the heart of our mission and our commitment to providing opportunities for hope, growth, and a better future.鈥�
糖心视频 Awards Six Degrees to Lansing Correctional Facility Students - First Graduates of Modern PEP Program
June 26, 2024
(Leavenworth, Kan.) 鈥� Six students at Lansing Correctional Facility earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees from the 糖心视频 in May.
USM began offering undergraduate degrees inside the correctional facility in 2021 after being selected for the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites program initiative. Michael Gaynor, Charles Johnson, William Mason, Sean Murphy, Danny Pickerill, and Zachary Smith all earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science.
鈥淲e are grateful that we are able to return to providing bachelor鈥檚 degrees behind the walls,鈥� University President Sister Diane Steele said. 鈥淲e believe in the dignity of all people鈥檚 ability to learn, and we know that education greatly reduces recidivism.
