Tulane University Approved to Offer a Bachelor’s Degree Program at a Local Women’s Prison

The School of Professional Advancement at Tulane University in New Orleans has been approved to offer a full bachelor’s degree program for women at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women through the university’s College-in-Prison program.

The Tulane University School of Professional Advancement launched their College-in-Prison program in 2018 in partnership with Operation Restoration, a nonprofit organization supporting incarcerated women and girls, and the Newcomb Institute, Tulane University’s women’s college. Since its inception, the program has provided students at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women with for-credit course offerings. Tulane University faculty facilitate the program’s curriculum and academic services, while Operation Restoration assists students with funding and operational services.

Last month, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, approved the Louisiana State Institute for Women as an accredited off-campus instructional site. With official accreditation, the program can now offer women at the correctional facility with a full bachelor’s degree program in social science.

The first cohort of the new bachelor’s degree program at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women is expected to complete their studies in the summer of 2025.