PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Prison Education Program (PEP) Coordinator

Academic Enterprise(s): n/a

Reports To : Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs

University Mission : Rochester Christian University is a Christ-centered institution that empowers students to lead lives of personal and professional significance while serving God in a changing world.

Position Summary : The Prison Education Program (PEP) Coordinator is a part-time position (20 hours per week) supporting the coordination and administration of RCU’s Prison Education Program. The Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact between the university and correctional facility partners, manages day-to-day operations, processes security clearances, supports student admission and academic progress, and helps incarcerated and recently released students access the full resources of an RCU education. This role embodies RCU’s EPIC Academic Philosophy - Exploring, Preparing, Integrating, and Calling - by ensuring that every student, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to explore their potential, prepare for a meaningful future, connect learning to life, and discover their calling.

Required Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, criminal justice, or a related field; or a record of successful higher education teaching and administrative experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, educational equity, and access to higher education.
• Ability to work inside a Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) facility, including access to reliable transportation.
• Supportive of the University mission.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience working within correctional, reentry, or justice-involved education settings.
• Familiarity with MDOC policies, security clearance procedures, and correctional facility protocols.
• Experience with higher education admissions, student records, or academic advising processes.
• Demonstrated commitment to Christian higher education and RCU’s mission.

EPIC-Aligned Competency Responsibilities :

Exploring: Access, Equity, and the Broadening of Educational Opportunity

• Champion the belief that higher education is a transformative opportunity available to all people, including those who are incarcerated or justice-involved.
• Stay current with trends and best practices in prison education, reentry programming, and higher education access for underserved populations.
• Build understanding of the academic, social, and systemic barriers PEP students face, and identify creative approaches to reducing those barriers.
• Contribute to RCU’s institutional learning about equitable access by sharing program data, student stories, and operational insights with university leadership.

Preparing: Program Operations, Student Readiness, and Institutional Coordination

• Coordinate day-to-day program operations, including security clearance processing for faculty, staff, and approved visitors to correctional facilities.
• Manage course scheduling, instructor access, and academic calendar coordination in collaboration with university departments and correctional facility staff.
• Facilitate the collection, verification, and submission of admission applications and required documentation for prospective PEP students.
• Collaborate with university departments to manage student transcript and academic records, ensuring accuracy and timely updates.
• Assist students preparing for release in navigating RCU campus resources, programs, and support services to support continued academic progress.

Integrating: Partnership, Compliance, and Applied Student Support

• Serve as the primary communication liaison between the university, correctional facility leadership, program faculty, and enrolled students.
• Maintain accurate program records and ensure all activities comply with institutional, MDOC, and applicable state and federal policies and guidelines.
• Foster productive working relationships with MDOC staff, university departments, community reentry organizations, and other partners.
• Assist with enrollment paperwork, academic advising logistics, and referrals to appropriate university support services.
• Provide timely operational updates, progress reports, and program data to the provost and university leadership.

Calling: Faith, Justice, and Servant Leadership for the Marginalized

• Model the university’s Christian mission through a posture of dignity, compassion, and genuine care for every student served by the program.
• Approach work with incarcerated and reentry students as a vocation rooted in the belief that every person bears worth and deserves the opportunity to flourish.
• Connect students’ academic journeys to a larger sense of purpose, hope, and contribution to their families and/or communities upon reentry.
• Embody servant leadership in all interactions with students, correctional staff, faculty, and community partners.

Community Responsibilities

• Participate in relevant professional development, university events, and community engagement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude

• Demonstrated ability to manage time independently, prioritize competing responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to represent RCU professionally to correctional facility leadership, faculty, and students.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across institutional and correctional settings.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with institutional, correctional, and state/federal policies.
• Commitment to the value of access to higher education and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and educational equity.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people and institutions.