Planning for the LSSU Prison Education Program commenced in 2022. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC, LSSU’s accrediting body) approved Chippewa Correctional Facility (URF) as a site for Lake Superior State University in April of 2023, after which the university submitted the Associate’s Degree in Small Business Administration program for approval by the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC). In the summer of 2023, a committee was formed comprised of representatives from departments from across campus including the Academic Deans, Admissions Office, Business Office, Library & Academic Services, Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, and Information Technology. This committee started meeting regularly to work through all of the issues that various departments would need to address in order to launch the program once all approvals have been secured.
MDOC approved the program in February of 2024. Following the MDOC approval, the university submitted the application for program approval to HLC. Once HLC has approved the program, the application to request eligibility for financial aid from the US Department of Education can be submitted. Finally, once that approval has been gained, students at URF will be able submit their FAFSAs applications as well as apply for admission to the program.