About

Supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in their pursuit of higher education results in tangible benefits for the public, including increased employment, reduced recidivism and increased public safety. Equally important to the role TU can play in fostering opportunities for the social and economic mobility of justice-impacted people, is the role it can play in rectifying some of the most pronounced consequences of racial and economic injustice. Increasing opportunities and supports for justice-impacted people provides further evidence of TU’s strong commitment to building an “inclusive, equitable and collaborative community where people from all backgrounds, identities, abilities and life experiences are welcomed, valued and supported” (TU 2020-2030 Strategic Plan).

FCHE’s vision is to establish Towson University as a regional and national leader in the field of higher education for justice-impacted people. FCHE weaves TU’s Strategic Plan and TU’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan together to foster a united commitment to work for social justice by countering the dehumanization of carceral settings and bringing awareness to how the criminal justice system exacerbates inequalities. FCHE believes in, and was born of, a desire to deepen and enhance inside-out work by creating the necessary support systems for justice-impacted people to pursue higher education. This plan of action builds a system to cultivate change agents and leaders both inside and outside of the justice system, unifying generations of staff, students and faculty with a common mission.

The TU Fair Chance Higher Education Initiative (FCHE) was born out of a desire to support justice-impacted people in their pursuit of higher education. The seeds for FCHE were first planted in summer 2014 when TU held its inaugural Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program course in the Baltimore County Detention Center. In the last seven years, there has been significant momentum for deepening and enhancing the university’s commitment to supporting people directly impacted by the criminal justice system. Members from across the campus community and beyond have committed to advancing the mission of Fair Chance Higher Education.

1. Create a pipeline for justice-impacted students to enter TU.
2. Build an inviting and supportive campus environment that promotes success of justice-impacted people.
3. Train and support faculty and staff who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique needs and challenges of justice-impacted people and design programming with their needs in mind.
4. Partner with local and national entities aimed at supporting successful reentry of justice-impacted people.
5. Achieve regional recognition for our innovative approaches to recruiting, supporting and graduating justice-impacted people. 

1. FCHE will explore the possibility of integration of FCHE considerations into college and division strategic plans.
2. FCHE will establish a cross-campus committee to continue to guide FCHE efforts.
3. FCHE will create a community of practice for faculty and staff for professional development and training opportunities.
4. FCHE will design and implement a prison-based, credit-bearing higher education program.
5. FCHE will identify TU policies and practices that create barriers for justice-impacted people and will advocate for revisions to those policies and practices.
6. FCHE will open a fully-staffed, physical FCHE center in a central location on campus

FCHE work is spearheaded by a standing committee within the Provost’s Office. The committee includes faculty, staff, students and is led by a faculty director and an assistant director.

• FCHE Faculty Director: Elyshia Aseltine, associate professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice
• FCHE Assistant Director: Robert Karp, manager of student advising Technology, Academic Advising, Retention & Completion Office
• Academic Affairs Lead: Michelle Manasse, professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
• Community of Practice Lead: Jennifer Potter, chair and professor, Department of Communication Studies
• Communications & Social Media Lead: Briana Snyder, assistant professor, Department of Nursing
• Grant-Writing Lead: Zosha Stuckey, associate professor, Department of English
• Inside-Out Lead: Jennifer Ballengee, professor, Department of English, College of Liberal Arts
• Student Affairs Lead: Katherine Orlando, graduate program director and lecturer, Department of Instructional Leadership & Professional Development
• Provost’s Office Liaison: Clare Muhoro, professor and associate provost for Academic Affairs, provost’s office liaison
• Graduate Student Employees: Jennifer Johnson, counseling psychology M.A.; Johannes Badejo, information technology D.Sc.
• Consultant: Thomas Anderson, University of Baltimore
• Undegraduate Student Representative: Kamryn Johnson, President, Uplifting Lives
• Legal and Legistlative Lead: Shameka Stewart, Associate Professor, Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology.