Liberal Arts in Correctional Facilities Project
The mission of the Colorado College Liberal Arts in Correctional Facilities Initiative (LACF) is to address inequities in higher education by expanding access to higher education for incarcerated persons.
Through the LACF, Colorado College faculty offer for-credit courses at no cost in the Youthful Offenders System (YOS) facility in Pueblo, which serves a population of 19 to 25-year-olds. Student receive credit through Pueblo Community College (PCC), and courses are guaranteed to transfer as requirements toward associates or bachelor's degrees at any Colorado public institution of higher learning. The foundation of LACF is a 3-way partnership between Colorado College, the Colorado Department of Corrections, and Pueblo Community College (PCC).
History and Courses Offered
In 2014 the Colorado College History department received a $200,000 Social Issues and Historical Contexts grant supporting the examination of mass incarceration in the US, with a particular focus on Colorado. This grant supported a range of educational events, projects and activities, and evolved into a robust learning community of students, staff, and faculty committed not only to understanding mass incarceration – but changing that system. Over time, learning evolved into informed action.
In 2014, Professor of History Carol Neel began conversations with the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) that progressed into the core idea of the LACF. The first course was taught by Dr. Neel in the fall of 2017, and CC began to offer a semesterly rotation of math, humanities, and writing courses - courses prioritized by the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC). Moving forward, the DOC welcomes any course within the Pueblo Community College Guaranteed Transfer menu.
Course and Instructor History
2022-Present: All Disciplines
Due to changing contexts and needs, beginning in the spring of 2022 the DOC are now open to and interested in CC faculty and staff educators offering any course within the Pueblo Community College Guaranteed Transfer menu. CC will continue to offer core courses in mathematics, writing, and humanities, interspersed with other disciplines within the liberal arts.
| 2022 Spring | Psy. 101 | Introductions to Psychological Science | Dr. John Horner |
| 2022 Fall | Math 121 | College Algebra | Dr. Mike Siddoway |
| 2023 Spring | Eng. 121 | Writing for College | Dr. Tyler Cornelius |
| 2023 Fall | Geo. 1005 | World Regional Geography | Matt Cooney |
| 2024 Spring | Art 1110 | Arts Appreciation | Dr. Nancy Rios |
| 2024 Fall | Lit. 2059 | African American Literature | Dr. Heidi Lewis |
| 2025 Spring | His. 1320 | Western Civilization: 1650-Present |
Dr. Carol Neel Dr. Jake Smith |
2017-2022: Core Course Rotation
For the first five years of our partnership with the Department of Corrections, Colorado College instructors offered a three-course round of mathematics, humanities, and writing courses - courses prioritized by the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC).
| 2017 Spring | Hum. 121 | Introduction to Humanistic Study | Dr. Carol Neel |
| 2017 Fall | Math 121 | College Algebra | Dr. Mike Siddoway |
| 2018 Spring | Eng. 121 | Writing for College | Dr. Tracy Santa |
| 2019 Spring | Eng. 121 | Writing for College | Dr. Tracy Santa |
| 2019 Fall | Math 121 | College Algebra | Dr. Beth Malmskog |
| 2019 Fall | Eng. 121 | Writing for College | Dr. Tracy Santa |
| 2020 Spring | Hum. 121 | Introduction to Humanistic Study | Dr. Carol Neel |
| 2021 Spring | Math 121 | College Algebra | Dr. Mike Siddoway |
| 2021 Fall | Eng. 121 | Writing for College | Dr. Alberto Hernandez-Lemus |
| 2022 Spring | Hum. 121 | Introduction to Humanistic Study | Dr. Carol Neel |
Get Involved
If you are a CC faculty member or staff member with a background in education, and are interested in teaching in the Liberal Arts in Correctional Facilitates initiative, please fill out the Educator Interest Form, below.
If you are interested in supporting the program and have the financial means to do so, please consider a donation to the program.