Programs

Desistance is supported by three main factors: social bonds, educational attainment, and employment.

FPEP offers impactful programs that focus on building social relationships, educating students, and preparing them for employment.

FPEP’s curriculum is aligned with the State of Florida’s General Education Program (GEP) for easy transfer of up to 45 credits through the Prior Learning Assessment Program.

FCHEP

The Florida Coalition for Higher Education in Prison is a statewide network of programs that provides high quality educational opportunities to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. We are committed to working for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice and together have served thousands of incarcerated students and their families. Our goal is to bring higher education to every incarcerated and formerly incarcerated person in Florida and to include all of Florida’s colleges and universities in these efforts.

Members of FCHEP include the Florida Prison Education Project at the University of Central Florida, the Entrepreneurial Business in Prison Program at the University of South Florida, the Institute for Educational Empowerment at Miami Dade College, the Philosophy in Prison Program at the University of North Florida, and Exchange for Change, a Miami-based non-profit that partners with the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University. Are you interested in joining FCHEP? Email [email protected] for more information.

Classes

The Florida Prison Education Project has offered classes at the Central Florida Reception Center (CFRC), Avon Park, Hardee, Hernando, Lake, Polk, and Zephyrhills Correctional Institutions for Continuing Education Certification.

ESOL 2000: English for Speakers of Other Languages (Kerry Purmensky, Anne Prucha, Courtney Jorgensen, and Lisa Franchina - CFRC)
English for speakers of other languages course to build literacy skills

ACG 2022 Financial Accounting II (Elio Alfonso -Polk CI)
Course intended to develop an understanding of the environment, role, and principles of financial accounting, primarily from the standpoint of the user of financial information

LIT 2120: World Literature II (Kathleen Hohenleitner and Heather Vazquez - Lake CI)
Designed to encourage students to know and appreciate the great literature that helps to mold their thinking and everyday living. Includes, without regard to national origin, those works of world literature, from the early modern period to the present, that reflect cultural and intellectual heritage.

EVR 3008 - Foundations of Environmental Studies (Victoria Machado - CFRC)
This course examines the scientific foundations needed for understanding the earth’s environmental systems and human impacts on the environment. Topics include basic ecology, human population growth and world food supply, land and water resources, energy resources, water and air pollution, biodiversity conservation, global climate change, and sustainability.

SYD4510: Environment and Society (Richard Plate - Polk CI)
This course examines the larger social forces that shape our natural environment; the social foundations of environmental problems; and the social responses to environmental issues, conflicts, and movements.

TPA 2200: Introduction to Technical Theatre (Kristina Tollefson - CFRC)
Course offers an introduction to the technical issues informing theatre performances

RTV 3301: Electronic Journalism I (Erica Rodriguez Kight and Rick Brunson - CFRC)
How to write for and create podcasts

ACG 2021 Financial Accounting (Elio Alfonso - Polk CI)
Introductory course intended to develop an understanding of the environment, role, and basic principles of financial accounting, primarily from the standpoint of the user of financial information

POS 2041 American National Government (Annabelle Conroy - CFRC) 
A study of the dynamics of the US national government

CRW 3120 Fiction Writing Workshop (Heather Vazquez - CFRC)
Study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry

ARH 3610 Survey of American Art (Keri Watson - Polk CI)
An inclusive introduction to American visual culture from early history to the present, relating art and artists to diverse social, political, and cultural contexts

ART 1000 Finding your Artistic Voice (Jason Fronczek - CFRC)
An introspective study of the formal and conceptual elements of visual art.

REL 2300 Introduction to Religion in America (Victoria Machado - CFRC)
The major features of world religious traditions are studied as the means for obtaining an insight into the nature and expression of people's religious aspirations.

AML 1000 The Power of Poetry (Laurie Uttich - CFRC)
An introduction to reading and writing poetry.

LIT 3192 Caribbean Literature (Heather Vazquez - Lake CI)
A study of the literature of the Caribbean and the diaspora

THE 3311 Theatre History (Wendy Lamoreaux - Polk CI)
A survey of theatre as art, as entertainment, and as a cultural identifier.

ART 2000 Advancing Art (Jason Burrell and Jason Fronczek)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

ART 1001 Elements and Principles of Two-Dimensional Design (Jason Fronczek)
An introduction to the principles of design and materials that can be used to create 2D art.

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich and Heather Vazquez)
Study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

THE 3311 Theatre History (Wendy Lamoreaux)
A survey of theatre as art, as entertainment, and as a cultural identifier.

ART 1000 Fundamentals of Art (Jason Burrell)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

ART 1001 Elements and Principles of Two-Dimensional Design (Jason Fronczek)
An introduction to the principles of design and materials that can be used to create 2D art.

ENC 1102 English Composition 2 (Nicholas DeArmas)
Analytical and argumentative writing based on a variety of readings from the humanities.

Spring 2022

ART 1001 Elements and Principles of Two-Dimensional Design (Jason Fronczek)
An introduction to the principles of design and materials that can be used to create 2D art.

ENC 1101 English Composition 1 (Heather Vazquez)
Expository writing with an emphasis on effective communication and critical thinking.

Stack of books donated to the FPEP Social Justice Library

ART 1000 Fundamentals of Art (Jason Fronczek)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich)
Study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

Two students and art professor drawing

ENC 1102 English Composition 2 (Nicholas DeArmas)
Analytical and argumentative writing based on a variety of readings from the humanities.

THE 2000 Theatre Survey (Holly McDonald)
A survey of theatre as art, as entertainment, and as a cultural identifier.

POS 2041 American National Government 2 (Annabelle Conroy)
A study of the dynamics of American national government.

POS 1000 U.S. Founding Documents (Terri Susan Fine)
A study of the US Founding Documents including the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

ART 1000 Fundamentals of Art (Jason Fronczek)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich)
A study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

Five people in a classroom in prison

ENC 1101 English Composition 1 (Heather Vazquez)
Expository writing with an emphasis on effective communication and critical thinking.

ENC 1102 English Composition 2 (Nicholas DeArmas)
Aanalytical and argumentative writing based on a variety of readings from the humanities.

THE 2000 Theatre Survey (Holly McDonald)
A survey of theatre as art, as entertainment, and as cultural identifier.

POS 2041 American National Government 2 (Annabelle Conroy)
A study of the dynamics of American national government.

PHY 2053 College Physics (Michael Chini)
Study of critical and quantitative analysis and thinking, using physics as a model.

ENC 3250 Professional Writing (Steffen Guenzel)
Study of and practice with professional writing.

5 students and a professor in a classroom in the CFRC main unit

POS 1000 U.S. Founding Documents (Terri Susan Fine)
A study of the US Founding Documents including the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

ENC 1101 English Composition 1 (Heather Vazquez)
Expository writing with an emphasis on effective communication and critical thinking.

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich)
A study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

ENC 3250 Professional Writing (Steffen Guenzel)
Study of and practice with professional writing.

Five students in a classroom in the East Unit of the Central Florida Reception Center

ARH 2500 History of NonWestern Art (Keri Watson)
A survey of art and architecture of the nonwestern world, including Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the art of Indigenous Americans.

NEA Big Read book study of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried (Keri Watson)

Box of books: Tim O'Brien The Things They Carried for the NEA Big Read at the prison

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich)
A study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

ENC 1101 English Composition 1 (Heather Vazquez)
Expository writing with an emphasis on effective communication and critical thinking. Emphasizing the writing process writing topics are based on selected readings and on student experiences.

ART 1000 Fundamentals of Art (Jason Fronczek)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

Two men drawing in the library in the South Unit of the Central Florida Reception Center

ART 1000 Fundamentals of Art (Jason Fronczek)
A study of the fundamentals of visual art.

CRW 2000 Creative Writing Form and Theory (Laurie Uttich)
A study of fundamentals of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

PHY 2053 College Physics (Mihai Vaida, Nicholas Cox, Dave Austin, Michael Chini, Stephanie Jarmak, Ahlam Al-Rawi, William Kaden, and Justin Reyes)
Study of critical and quantitative analysis and thinking, using physics as a model.

Dr. Mihai Vaida teaching Physics in the East Unit of the Central Florida Reception Center

Sharon Woodill taught Love and Faith, Family and Friendship, a philosophy class, to a class of 15 men. Read about her experience on her blog.

Nicholas DeArmas taught Introduction to Literature, an English class, to a class of 10 men.

7 Students and Dr. Nick DeArmas in a writing class in the Main unit of the Central Florida Reception Center

Creative Writing (Terry Ann Thaxton and Laurie Uttich)
A creative writing course inspired by Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven (part of the NEA Big Read)

Arts and Wellness (Keri Watson and Julia Listengarten)
A visual and performing arts class inspired by Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven  (part of the NEA Big Read)

Students and facilitators stretching in a performing arts class

POS 2041 American National Government 2 (Annabelle Conroy)
A study of the dynamics of American national government.

photo of 8 incarcerated students with faculty member at Central Florida Reception Center

Melissa Ringfield led a series of discussions and facilitated a mock trial inspired by Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo (1845) to 9 men.

Keri Watson led a series of discussions on Dinaw Mengestu's The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears (2007) to a class of 16 men as part of the NEA Big Read.

Melissa Ringfield and Laura Monroe led a series of discussions on Dinaw Mengestu's The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears (2007) to a class of 16 men as part of the NEA Big Read.

FPEP’s curriculum is based on the UCF General Education Program and the guidelines and recommendations outlined in the U.S. Department of Education’s Reentry Education Model (2012) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prison’s Education Program Assessment Report (2016).

 

It is an evidence-based and accredited curriculum that integrates a broad-based liberal arts education, the development of cognitive skills, and practical real-world skills into each course.

 

Are you a returning citizen interested in continuing your education? Here is a helpful resource guide. Are you interested in pursuing a degree? Contact DirectConnect to UCF® for assistance.