Twenty four individuals at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP) earned Southeast Community College (SCC) degrees and certificates this week. The event brought together the graduates’ families, NDCS leaders and SCC Board of Governors, president, administrators, and faculty.
“This partnership with SCC gives students real skills and real hope, and it also reflects something bigger: Rehabilitation is a shared effort across Nebraska,” said Director Rob Jeffreys. “When our colleges, communities, and corrections system work together, doors open and futures change.”
Twenty-two students earned a certificate in business after completing a six course program covering accounting, business fundamentals, management, and communication. Two additional students, who had begun their studies prior to incarceration, applied SCC classes toward the completion of associate of applied science degrees in integrated technology and welding technology.
Beginning in the spring 2024 semester, NDCS partnered with SCC to expand access to higher education across five NDCS facilities/locations through SCC’s prison education initiative, Unlocking Potential With Academic Resources and Development (UPWARD). The program provides incarcerated students with pathways to college credentials, workforce skills, and long‑term career opportunities.
- Over the past two years, UPWARD has served 929 students
- Currently 169 students are enrolled in SCC credit classes at NDCS facilities/locations
- For the fall 2025 semester, 92 UPWARD students earned a place on the Dean’s List
