Frequently asked questions about the San Quentin College Program (aka “Patten University at San Quentin” or “Prison University Project”) – July 2012
1. What is the College Program at San Quentin?
The College Program at San Quentin is an extension site of Patten University. The Program offers college preparatory courses in math and English, as well as college credit classes leading to an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts. All classes take place in classrooms (mostly in the evening), and are led by instructors. All instructors in the San Quentin College Program work as volunteers. Most are graduate students or faculty from local colleges and universities such as UC Berkeley, Stanford, San Francisco State University, or the University of San Francisco. All lead instructors for credit classes hold at least a Master’s Degree in the field in which they teach – just as would be required at any other college or university.
2. What is the Prison University Project?
The Prison University Project is the non-profit organization that was founded in 2000 by a group of volunteer instructors to provide material and financial support to the College Program at San Quentin, PUP’s off-site office, school supplies, and other program expenses. PUP receives no funding from the state or federal government.
3. Who is eligible to participate in the San Quentin College Program?
Any person who is part of the mainline (level II) population at San Quentin and holds either a high school diploma or GED is eligible to enroll in the College Program.
4. What does it cost?
It costs nothing to participate in the College Program. The College Program charges no fees or tuition, and students are lent the textbooks they need for their classes, and given the necessary school supplies (such as notebooks, folders, pencils, etc.)
5. How do I sign up?
Please send a note expressing your interest in participating in the College Program via institutional mail to “Patten University at San Quentin, Education Department.” Be sure to include your name and CDC#. We will add you to the Program waitlist, and notify you of the date of the next New Student Orientation as soon as space becomes available. If your housing changes, don’t worry! We will make sure we have your most up-to-date housing information before we mail you any information about the College Program, so long as you provide your CDC# when you write to us.
6. How long will I have to wait before I can enroll?
Currently, new students are waiting an average of two semesters (eight months) from the time they sign up for the program before being enrolled into classes. Fall semester begins in September; spring semester in January; and summer semester in May. Orientation sessions are typically held the month prior to the start of the new semester. All students must attend an orientation session before being enrolled in classes.
7. If I am not currently housed as San Quentin but want to participate in the College Program can I be transferred there?
Yes, as long as you currently hold either a high school diploma or GED, and are eligible for a level II mainline. To start this process, you should communicate to your counselor that you would like to be transferred to San Quentin for this purpose. If you would like us to send a letter to your counselor, explaining the College Program and expressing support for your transfer request, please write to us at “Prison University Project, Post Office Box 492, San Quentin, CA, 94964.” In your letter, please provide us with contact information for your counselor. Be sure to include your full name, CDC#, and current address, and indicate whether you have a high school diploma or GED.
8. I have credits from another college – can I transfer them in?
All students in the College Program must complete English 99A, English 99B, English 101A, English 101B, and English 204 at San Quentin, unless they place out of one or more of these by taking a placement exam offered after attendance at a New Student Orientation. Only once students have completed (or have placed out of) these English classes, will the College Program evaluate transcripts from other colleges to see whether any courses taken previously might fulfill requirements for the Associate’s degree. However, students are encouraged to take all required courses with the Program, since all students benefit academically from the additional experience. In particular, students whose previous experience was with distance learning courses generally report that the College Program offers a completely different level of educational experience.
9. Is there a way of getting to the top of the waitlist without waiting all that time
No. All prospective students are added to the waitlist as soon as they contact us directly (either in writing or in person) expressing interest in enrolling in the College Program.
10. I got transferred to SQ specifically to participate in the College Program – do I still have to wait?
Yes. If you transfer to San Quentin, we will add you to the waitlist as soon as you contact us to say that you have arrived (see instructions above in question 5).
11. I got my GED/HSD in another institution/state but don’t have a record of it. What should I do?
You do not need to possess a copy of your high school diploma or GED certificate to enroll; verification in your C-file is sufficient. If you do not have either, please speak with us at the New Student Orientation to request a HSD/GED Verification Form. Through this form, we can obtain verification from the institution that originally granted the diploma or certificate.
