The Texas Prison Education Initiative is powered by people who believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality college education, no matter where they are. Whether you’re a faculty member, graduate student, undergraduate, educator, family member, or community partner, there’s a way to support our work.
Volunteer with TPEI
UT Austin faculty, graduate students and postdocs are eligible to teach our for-credit or enrichment courses through TPEI. Currently our courses are offered at a prison in Lockhart, Texas, and meet two days a week during the academic semester.
Each course has a lead instructor and often one or more co-teachers, and is supported by our core team throughout the semester from curriculum planning to classroom logistics
If you’re a graduate student or faculty member interested in bringing your subject area into a prison classroom, subscribe to our listserv and email us at tpei@prc.utexas.edu to learn more about teaching opportunities.
Intern with TPEI
Undergraduates can also play a role in our work, whether supporting events, helping with program logistics, or assisting behind the scenes.
We’re always looking for help with:
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Event planning and outreach
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Fundraising and donor communication
- Social Media
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If you are an undergraduate at UT Austin and would like to help out, send us a note at tpei@prc.utexas.edu with a note about your interests and availability.
Stay Connected!
Want to hear about public events, volunteer opportunities, and student stories? Subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We occasionally host campus info sessions, events, and fundraisers open to all.
For Families and Loved Ones
If you’re reaching out on behalf of someone currently incarcerated in Texas: We’re honored by your trust. TPEI currently teaches courses only in the Coleman Unit in Lockhart, Texas. We do not offer virtual or correspondence courses at this time. We’re happy to answer any other questions about our program, provide educational materials if possible, and suggest other resources when available. Please feel free to contact us at tpei@prc.utexas.edu.
Donate!
Your gift helps us provide free college-level courses, books, and materials to incarcerated students across Texas. All donations go directly toward classroom costs.
Visit our Donate page to make a one-time or recurring gift.