We want to introduce you to our new cohort of EJP scholars for the 2025-26 academic year.  

This spring we have 21 students in our new cohort who are already diving into EJP’s curriculum. These individuals join the more than 500 who have taken courses with EJP since the program started in 2008. Every year, prospective students express excitement at the prospect of enrolling in EJP.  Many of them have come a long way on their educational journey to get here. They take on the new challenge with great enthusiasm.  

As we wrote about in an earlier blog post about EJP’s admissions process, our only requirement is 40 hours of college credit. We do not turn away people who have long-term sentences or because of their conviction record, so long as they have the 40-hour minimum number of transferable credits.  

The educational background of our new cohort is varied. Many of them have taken classes through prison education programs at other prisons, for example those offered by Lake Land College or Augustana College. Those at the Danville prison can earn credits at Danville Area Community College or Eastern Illinois University to meet the 40-hour minimum. Some of the students in the new cohort are already engaged with EJP programming as affiliate facilitators or participants in Language Partners and Community Anti-Violence Education (CAVE). 

This year, a small handful of students come to us from the prison education programs formerly at Stateville prison, which was closed down by a judge’s order, and the individuals incarcerated there transferred to other prisons across the state, including Danville. Those in this year’s new cohort arrive to EJP like all other transfer college students, with classroom experience under their belts and yearning for more education.  

Every summer a new cohort enters EJP by taking a mandatory summer reading group taught by Rebecca Ginsburg, EJP’s director. This summer, students are reading Maroon Society: Rebel Slave Communities in the Americas, by Richard Price. The class is offered on either Monday nights or Thursday afternoons. Returning students are also welcome to enroll in the class. The focus is on developing close reading skills. Students will learn about the Maroons, those formerly enslaved Africans who escaped into the mountains or swamps and formed their own communities. Students have already had lively discussions of the book so far.  

“The most exciting thing about EJP classes,” says Luis Gabino, are the “class dynamics.” Unlike some other classroom settings, there is discussion and group work. “I feel included,” Luis says. “I also like the fact that one can learn from our peers.” Being a part of EJP, “gives me hope and makes me feel I am doing something positive in my life.”   

Eric J. Watkins reflects on how he admires EJP’s understanding that “communities are impacted by the causes and effects of poverty, crime, and incarceration.” He is excited to join EJP’s network of supporters, or what we call the EJP Universe. “By encouraging communities and fellow higher education institutions to work together with people in custody — incarcerated scholars and returning community members — efforts towards healing and reduction of harm will be greater and more effective.”  

Our students have admittedly had an unfortunate set of circumstances landing them in prison. “I had a lot of struggles early on in life,” says Jamie L. Thomasson, “until one day I decided enough is enough and I have been trying to better myself ever since. I refuse to let the past define my future.”  

After successfully finishing the new student reading group, students are eligible to start participating in EJP for-credit courses in the fall and can also sign up for EJP extracurricular activities such as CAVE, Mindfulness Discussion Group (MDG), and Math and Writing Partners (WAMP).  

The week before fall semester begins, the cohort will also go through a new student orientation welcoming them to EJP. This orientation will be designed and facilitated by current EJP students with some help from outside members, and will review, among other things, EJP classroom and student expectations, extracurricular program descriptions, and an introduction to EJP student resources such as the computer lab and community library. 

Welcome to our new cohort of students! We look forward to being in community with you.