Teaching in Prison Conference - Fall 2026

SUNY Ulster

October 19, 2026 - October 21, 2026

Purpose, Passion, and Pedagogy:

Why We Teach in Prison

This year, SUNY’s Teaching in Prison conference explores the role of higher education in prison at a time when learning is increasingly defined by workforce preparation and measurable economic outcomes. Across panels, workshops, and discussions, the conference highlights how purpose and passion shape pedagogical approaches, how educators balance institutional pressures with commitments to critical thinking, self-reflection, and personal growth, and how prison classrooms become spaces for meaning-making.

Bringing together educators, scholars, and practitioners, the conference reasserts learning as a deeply human, relational, and transformative practice. The conference invites a broader rethinking of higher education in prison’s aims—what it should accomplish, and how pedagogy can remain grounded in dignity, curiosity, and intellectual engagement even within systems structured by limitation.

This in-person event will offer Higher Education in Prison (HEP) practitioners a unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with others teaching in prisons across New York State, share best practices, and participate in statewide conversations about best supporting students.

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SUNY OHEP Champion of Change Nomination Form 

Established in 2024, the OHEP Champion of Change Award celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing higher education in prison across New York State. This annual award honors students, faculty, and correctional facility partners, both at the facility level and within central offices, who have shown exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to driving positive change in our community.

Click here for the nomination form!