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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

THE VILLANOVA PROGRAM AT SCI PHOENIX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90+

Alumni with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts

Since 1972, Villanova University has offered the only degree granting program in Pennsylvania for incarcerated individuals.

The Villanova Program at State Correctional Institution – Phoenix (SCI Phoenix) is one of the oldest continuously running degree-granting prison education programs in the United States. Eligible individuals have a chance to attain a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, gaining the same critical thinking, life-long learning and moral reflection skills that are hallmarks of a traditional, on-campus Villanova education.

The program has a transformative impact on the students it serves. Alumni who return to their families and communities often flourish—obtaining jobs and using their education to give back to the community. In addition to low recidivism, Villanova researchers and professors at SCI Phoenix cite community building, social capital and political participation as additional benefits of the program, allowing alumni to develop relationships and become engaged democratic citizens—whether they remain incarcerated or re-enter society.

ABOUT THE DEGREE

To obtain a degree, prospective students must apply, pass an enrollment exam, and then successfully complete 120 credits for a bachelor’s. 

The application process can be initiated at any time and the only prerequisite is a high school education or GED. If you or a friend or family member would like information on how to apply, access the pre-application form and email the program.

Eight classes are held twice a year—in the fall and spring—in a wide variety of disciplines, including arts, theology, sciences, languages and sociology. The coursework is rigorous, and classes are taught by professors from Villanova University and adjunct professors from other institutions. Core curriculum requirements for students at SCI Phoenix are consistent with those required of students taught on main campus. The goal of the program is to create a genuine college experience for each student.

Many individuals who are released prior to completion of their degree will be eligible to continue their education with Villanova University for no charge. If a student is released after attaining at least 60 credits, they can continue to take courses with Villanova to earn a bachelor’s degree. These courses are currently offered through Villanova’s remote learning, which also lends students a laptop computer to use for their schoolwork while taking classes online.

  

Kate Meloney, Director, SCI Phoenix Prison Program

  

ALUMNI NETWORK

Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. All alumni of the Villanova Program at SCI Phoenix are part of the Villanova alumni community and considered members of the Villanova University Alumni Association. Graduates have access to networking and career services through the Career Center, and there is a SCI Phoenix chapter in VUAA with its own board of alumni—creating a shared space for graduates of the program even during their incarceration.

WHO WE ARE

MARCO MALDONADO

Marco Maldonado was convicted at age 19 of a crime that he did not commit. While he was incarcerated at SCI Graterford, he participated in the Villanova Program and earned a BA in Liberal Studies in 2013. During his incarceration, he also earned an MA in Humanities from California State University – Dominguez-Hills, with a focus on Historiography. Maldonado successfully litigated his own wrongful conviction in both federal and state courts in Pennsylvania, resulting in his release after 28 years. He was also the president of the Villanova Alumni Association within the prison, the existence of which is unique to this program. Marco now utilizes the knowledge he gained working as a legal apprentice for a law firm in Philadelphia.

AKEIL ROBERTSON-JOWERS

Akeil Robertson-Jowers enrolled in the Villanova program in 2013 and discovered a passion for art through classes and workshops at SCI Graterford, and later, SCI Phoenix. Since his release in 2019, Robertson-Jowers has worked for Mural Arts Philadelphia, the nation’s largest public art program, which seeks to inspire change in people, places and practices through the power of art. He currently works as a staff photographer and is the assistant coordinator for the Guild Program in the Restorative Justice Department of Mural Arts Philadelphia.

GEORGE TRUDEL

George Trudel was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1988; however, Governor Tom Wolf commuted his sentence in 2019. He participated in the Villanova Program during his incarceration at SCI Graterford, receiving a BA in Liberal Studies in 2012. Individuals sentenced to life without parole are not considered eligible for many postsecondary education programs; however, Villanova considers all students for enrollment and will accept those serving life sentences. Since his release, Trudel was appointed to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, working as the commutation specialist for Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman. Using the skills he developed with Villanova, he worked directly with men and women across the state to assist them with preparing applications for potential commutation of their sentences.