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
The TRAC program has partnered with UNO’s Division of Continuing Studies to provide classes for incarcerated individuals at the Omaha Correctional Center through generous donations. The Division of Continuing Studies has a long history of serving and supporting the complex needs of adult and contemporary students. They believe that all students should be afforded educational opportunities to thrive regardless of circumstance. 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. Please consider donating, today.
- 20 classes offered between Fall 2017 and Spring 2022
- Total headcount of 226 students
- 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 Introduction to 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:
WRWS 1500 Introduction to Creative Writing, taught by Professor Peggy Jones
Art 2050 Survey of Western Art History I, taught by Dr. Bridget Sandhoff
Spring 2022:
BLST 1000 Introduction to Black Studies, taught by Dr. Nikitah Imani
Student Testimonials
“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.”
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: https://use.vg/OL89FO. Here is a flyer from the event: Gendered Aspects of Incarceration flyer.
2021 Virtual Community Symposium: Public Health, Incarceration, and COVID-19
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: https://use.vg/4O9VyK. Here is a flyer from the event: Public Health, Incarceration, and COVID-19.
TRAC Students Organization
On Campus TRAC Students Organization
TRAC Students is a student organization that 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. TRAC Students advocates 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.
Regular meetings are held at least once a semester. Members meet to have listening and support filled sessions, and host events that are designed to give support and foster educational goals. To join TRAC Students, please find the TRAC Students Organization on Presence: https://unomaha.presence.io/ or email Dustin Pendley: dpendley@unomaha.edu.
Virtual Events Hosted by TRAC Students
TRAC Students' 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: https://use.vg/i91pHJ.
TRAC Students' 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 flyer from the event: Decarcerate Nebraska: Common Sense Alternatives to Building a New Prison. A recording of the event can be found here: https://use.vg/nxhkwd.
TRAC Students at the Omaha Correctional Center
TRAC Students also meets 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 interested in teaching UNO courses at the Omaha Correctional Center, please email April Paschall: apaschall@unomaha.edu.