Photo by Karl Clifton-Soderstrom, from North Park University’s program

IL-CHEP is a coalition of programs and educators dedicated to providing quality higher education opportunities for people who are incarcerated in Illinois. We strive to support our students as they build meaningful lives and prepare for a successful future in civic life.

Equally important, we encourage public dialogue and action to reduce our state’s and country’s reliance on incarceration.

Join us at the Convening on Higher Education in Illinois Prisons, IL-CHEP’s first statewide conference. October 28 & 29, 2019 at the State House Inn, Springfield, IL. You’ll find the CFP here. The deadline for submission is Friday Sept 20 at 5pm. (Please note that there will be a separate submissions process for incarcerated people.)

Please note that this is not an academic conference. We intend this to be a convening for people doing the work on the ground, and those thinking about or in support of higher education in prison, to discuss strategies for advancing higher education in Illinois prisons and beyond.