On Dec. 20, SCI Dallas hosted the commencement for the first graduating students from the University of Scranton housed at SCI Dallas. The first semester started in Fall 2021 with a starting class of 15 students. The graduating class was comprised of nine students who attained their Associates of Arts degrees in Liberal Studies and earned the right to call themselves University of Scranton alumni.
The students all maintained a full-time courseload with some making the Dean’s List every semester. They had classes through the summers and during some regular semester breaks to keep on schedule for graduation. They completed classes including, but not limited to: Theology, World Religions, Astrology, American History, Introduction to Sociological Theory, Spanish 101, Psychology, Business Statistics, Philosophy and more.
Each of the graduating class members have served at least 15 years incarcerated, and half of the graduates are serving a life sentence. They all received the support of the University faculty and SCI Dallas staff, and some had the opportunity to have loved ones come to watch them in the commencement ceremony. Three members of the graduating class have been accepted into the Villanova University program at SCI Phoenix and will be continuing there to pursue their bachelor degrees.
Both the University and SCI Dallas look forward to the continuing relationship, as the students of the second cohort have reached their “halfway point” and are scheduled to graduate in December 2024.