Increasing Access to Higher Education for Justice-Involved Individuals

Posted by U.S. Department of Education on May 16, 2016

New Education Department Report on College Access and Criminal Records

The U.S. Department of Education released a new report, “Beyond the Box: Increasing Access to Higher Education for Justice-Involved Individuals,” on May 9, 2016.

The Department has compiled this report to assist colleges and universities in identifying and removing barriers that justice-involved individuals might face when applying for admission to postsecondary institutions and unlocking the untapped potential of these students. This guide was developed with input from a diverse array of colleges and universities, and informed by research and promising practices.

This report offers

• data indicating that the consideration of criminal justice information in the admissions process can create unnecessary barriers to higher education for justice-involved individuals;
• recommendations for how to modify admissions policies and practices to support a more holistic review of applicants;
• resources on how to support justice-involved students after enrollment.

This report is ideal for discussion with

• college and university presidents, admissions personnel, enrollment management staff,
• academic deans, student services personnel, and counselors;
• staff at organizations that work with justice-involved individuals.

The report is available on the Department’s website at: http://www.ed.gov/beyondthebox.