University of Maine at Augusta receives $100,000 Davis Family Foundation grant to support justice impacted students
New England Council member, University of Maine at Augusta recently announced the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation to support student success initiatives and re-entry services for justice impacted students.
A UMaine Augusta student, Victoria Scott helped lead the push for more support for justice-impacted students by working to write a grant proposal with UMA Prison Education Partnership staff and the University of Maine System Research Development staff. The grant from the Davis Family Foundation will help to hire a full-time Student Services Coordinator for formerly incarcerated students, who will work with them from before facility discharge to after re-entry into their local communities. Computers and school supplies will also be given to students via the grant, to ensure they have all the necessary resources to complete their education.
“You’ve heard the statistics, 5% recidivism rate for residents earning their degrees. That’s real change. Nothing is more powerful than education. The strong relationship with the University of Maine at Augusta ensures lives are changed, from one generation to the next,” said Randall Liberty, Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner.
The New England Council would like to congratulate the University of Maine at Augusta and Victoria Scott for their commitment to making education more accessible.
Read more from University of Maine at Augusta.