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Texas Prison Education Initiative
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Sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin
About Us
Who we are
TPEI is a volunteer-run organization at the University of Texas at Austin offering credit-bearing college courses through UT-Extension to incarcerated youth and adults at no cost to students. Since 2018, approximately 200 incarcerated youths and students have enrolled in our pre-college, college, and enrichment courses, and 60 graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members volunteered with TPEI. We also work with local organizations including The Center for Students in Recovery, and the Travis County Re-Entry Roundtable to enable students to continue their education upon release.Our mission
Our mission at the University of Texas-Austin is to provide credit-bearing, liberal arts education to incarcerated juveniles and adults at no cost. We strive to create educational opportunities, reduce inequalities in higher education, and change the lives of incarcerated Texans and their families. We believe that the liberal arts uniquely challenges students to understand themselves within history, society, and their community. By offering liberal arts college courses, we present incarcerated students with the tools to transform themselves into scholars, leaders, and change-makers.Our history
Acknowledging the need for higher education access in area prisons, an assistant professor and two graduate students at UT Austin founded the Texas Prison Education Initiative in 2017. TPEI taught its inaugural course at Gardner Betts Juvenile facility in the fall of 2018. Since then, TPEI has expanded rapidly. We have had over 60 volunteers from across campus, including faculty members, post-docs, graduate students, and undergraduates. Our volunteer instructors have now taught more than 150 incarcerated students in multiple facilities in the Austin area.Our Leadership Team
Sarah Brayne, PhD (Co-Founder and Co-Director)
Lindsay Bing, PhD (Co-Founder)
Julissa Muñiz, PhD (Director of Pedagogy and Practice)
Max Lubell (Program Coordinator)




Our Programs
We facilitate three types of programs with the goal of preparing and supporting incarcerated students as they pursue their college education.
During the academic year, we offer credit-bearing college courses in a variety of subjects.
These courses are taught by UT-Austin faculty and advanced graduate students, bringing the same level of rigor, standards, and expectations of UT-Austin courses to students behind bars.
In order to prepare students for the rigors of UT-Austin college courses, all new students take non-credit college preparation courses in math and writing during their first semester in the program. Many of our students have experienced gaps in their formal education, and these courses help students refresh skills and build academic self-confidence.
In between academic semesters, we offer non-credit enrichment courses. Such courses are an important part of the undergraduate experience, through which students discover passions and hone soft skills that are essential for success in higher education and beyond.


Academic Programs
Credit-Bearing Courses
SociologyEnglish
Rhetoric & Writing
Communication
Philosophy
Physics
Mathematics
... and more
College Preparation
College Preparatory MathCollege Preparatory Writing
Texas Success Initiative Exam Prep
Enrichment
Introduction to ScienceCreative Writing
Debate
Drama
Learning Styles
Meditation
Get involved
Interested in learning more about our programs, staying up-to-date on our activities, or volunteering with us?
Here are several ways to get and stay involved.
Contact us
Have questions? Email us at tpei@prc.utexas.edu.Join our mailing list
Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates.Volunteer with us
To learn about volunteer opportunities, please subscribe to our listserv or email us at tpei@prc.utexas.edu.Donate to TPEI
We are seeking financial support to cover the costs of course fees, books, and other classroom materials. Although all instructors teach for free, offering an increasing number of college classes comes with costs we cannot fully cover on our own. If you are interested in donating, contributions can be made directly here. Thank you for helping us meet our goal!
How your donation helps us meet our goals
$50
Supplies one student with college basics, including a dictionary, thesaurus, writing manual, and notebook.
$125
Pays a student's course fees for a full semester.
$250
Supports the purchase of literature and fiction texts for classes.
$500
Supports course fees for FOUR students.
$1000
Ensures that instructors have the tools they need to succeed.
$3500
Covers the course fees, books, and materials for an entire class of 20 students (Great for group and corporate donors).
Media Gallery

Lindsay Bing (Co-Director) leading orientation for new volunteers

Abena Mackall discussing teaching praxis with new volunteers

Volunteer Orientation: Yorgos Stratis (Introduction to College Math), Gill Grindstaff (Introduction to College Math), and Alicia Duncombe (Debate).

Thank you card from students from Introduction to Sociology (Spring 2019).

Spring 2019 Instructors (Lindsay Bing, Elif Yucel, Nicky Reyes, Lilla Pivnick, and Daniela Salazar) enjoying Lockhart barbecue on the last day of classes.
