Gregg met with representatives from the facility, the Iowa Department of Corrections and the college.

Business and Industrial Technology Dean Neale Adams explained their use of the Second Chance Pell Grant awarded in 2016 to fund education for the inmates.

“At the beginning we started with numerous different programs, and those have evolved over time based on what facilities were available. We’ve had tremendous success academically with our students,” said Adams.

He also stated that the facilities they are currently utilizing are limited.

Adult Education and Literacy Director Abby Underberg serves also as the Corrections Education Liaison.

“Between Neale and I, we started the program out without really knowing what we were doing. It’s really come a long way from where we started, but there is so much more that we could potentially do. That’s why we’re here today, to talk about opportunities and how we can grow and provide better opportunities and better pathways for students as well,” she said.

Iowa Central President Jesse Ulrich said he’s often asked what Iowa Central can do to help the workforce and train more workers.

“These folks here are busy and being productive and getting ready to integrate back into society. When they have a degree in hand and jobs ready to go, they’re going to be more successful once they leave the facility and hopefully not have to come back,” he said. “This program also helps our workforce with a stream of workers.”

Ulrich cited a case where a business recently advocated at a hearing for an inmate to be granted parole because he was a great worker for their company.

Iowa Central’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jim Kersten said, “The college has leveraged over $2.1 million in Second Chance Pell Grants to underwrite the cost to serve 760 incarcerated students from 2016 until now.”

In addition, thanks to a grant, Iowa Central is working on implementing several individuals across the state to serve as Statewide Correction Education Navigators. These navigators will provide guidance to inmates who are either being released or transferred to another facility and would like to continue their education.

Gregg said this program is of great interest to him as he leads the FOCUS Committee on Criminal Justice Reform.

“One of the things we’ve looked at through that committee is how we can improve the reentry process for those who are leaving prison. So programs like the Second Chance Pell Grant help us make sure that we’re setting people up for success when they leave incarceration,” he said.

Gregg was presented with ideas of an expansion at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility that would consist of an industrial training center building in order to serve more inmate students. After touring the grounds and the current education facilities, Gregg said.

“It was very helpful to understand the space that they’re working in and they’ve got some thoughts and ideas on potential expansion. That’s something I’ll bring back to the governor for her consideration as we make budget decisions and prioritize some of the federal dollars that are available to our state.”