In 1994 the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act barred people incarcerated in the U.S. from receiving Pell Grants. This piece of legislation effectively ended prison higher education in the U.S., as virtually all of the approximately 350 programs around the country shut down for lack of funds.

The College Program at San Quentin was founded in the wake of this disaster. Initiated by a professor from UC Davis, in cooperation with then-Patten College and members of the Education Department at San Quentin, the Program began in the fall of 1996 with two classes, a volunteer coordinator, and no budget.

In 2003, the Prison University Project was formed (fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center) to provide material, administrative, and financial support to the College Program at San Quentin. In 2006, the organization was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit.

The Prison University Project has emerged as a national leader in providing quality higher education opportunities to incarcerated people. Today, with unprecedented social, political and philanthropic interest, we play a central role in new efforts to expand access to higher education within California’s prison system and nationwide, while continuing to enhance our programs at San Quentin. In recognition of our impact and our leadership in supporting educational opportunities for the incarcerated, the organization was awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal by President Obama.

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