Tufts University has announced the suspension of its landmark prison reentry program and initiated a comprehensive audit of all its prison-based educational offerings. The decision follows the arrest of a former program participant in connection with a shooting that occurred in Cambridge, Massachusetts, earlier this year. The move has sparked a debate over the balance between institutional safety and the mission of rehabilitative education, highlighting the precarious nature of programs designed to bridge the gap between incarceration and civilian life.
The university confirmed that the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) is currently undergoing a rigorous internal review. The audit was prompted by a May shooting incident involving an individual who had previously been enrolled in MyTERN (Education and Reentry Network), a specialized branch of the TUPIT program designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they transition back into society. The shooting took place approximately 20 minutes from the Tufts campus, sending shockwaves through the university community and leading administration officials to reassess the program’s oversight and structure.
University leaders characterized the audit as a necessary measure to ensure that all participants—both those currently incarcerated and those who have been released—are receiving adequate support while maintaining the university’s safety standards. According to a statement from a university spokesperson, the objective is to "safeguard the well-being of all students, faculty and staff," while ensuring that the program continues to meet the high academic and administrative benchmarks expected of a Tufts-affiliated initiative.
A Model for Higher Education in Prisons
Established in 2016, the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College was founded on the belief that high-quality higher education should be accessible to those behind bars. It joined a growing network of dozens of similar programs across the United States that allow incarcerated individuals to earn college credits and degrees, often through "inside-out" models where they study alongside traditional, non-incarcerated university students.
The concept of prison education is not new, with roots stretching back over a century. However, the field has experienced a significant resurgence in recent years. This growth was accelerated in 2023 when the federal government lifted a nearly 30-year ban on Pell Grants for incarcerated students. This policy shift opened the door for thousands of individuals to access federal funding for tuition, leading to an expansion of degree-granting programs in correctional facilities nationwide.
Advocates for these programs point to decades of empirical research indicating that education is one of the most effective tools for reducing recidivism. According to data from the Vera Institute of Justice, incarcerated people who participate in postsecondary education programs have 48 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. Beyond the statistics, proponents argue that education fundamentally alters a person’s trajectory by improving self-esteem, fostering critical thinking skills, and providing the credentials necessary to secure living-wage employment upon release.
The Philosophy of Reentry and the MyTERN Mission
The specific program currently under suspension, MyTERN, was added to the TUPIT portfolio six years ago to address the "reentry cliff"—the period immediately following release when individuals are often left without the resources needed to succeed. MyTERN was designed as a one-year certificate program that provided more than just academic instruction; it offered a holistic support system.
Before the pause, MyTERN participants received access to laptops, academic tutoring, and training in essential life skills such as technology and financial literacy. Recognizing the immediate financial hurdles faced by those leaving prison, the program also provided monthly stipends and assistance with finding stable housing and employment.
Lee Perlman, a co-founder of The Educational Justice Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a veteran educator in the prison system, described the Tufts program as a "national model." Perlman, who taught a course titled the "philosophy of love" within the Tufts program as recently as last spring, emphasized that the strength of MyTERN lay in its ability to create a community for people with shared lived experiences.
"Reentry is just really, really, really hard," Perlman said, reflecting on the challenges his students face. "I know guys who get out of prison with a college degree and get a good job, but I know others who are loading UPS trucks. You get out of prison with nothing and all the systems for reentry are inadequate. People are just struggling for the basics."
Perlman argued that education does more than just build a resume; it changes a person’s internal narrative. "I’ve experienced my students in prison as falling in love with thinking and understanding and analyzing," he said. "They get to see themselves in a very different light."
The Decision to Pause and the University’s Rationale
Despite the program’s reputation, the university administration determined that the May shooting necessitated a temporary halt. Patrick Collins, the university’s executive director of media relations, explained in a statement that the pause is intended to be a constructive period of reflection and restructuring.
"Our shared goal is to ensure TUPIT receives the administrative support and resources it needs so that current and future participants can continue to benefit from its academic opportunities and coursework," Collins said. He added that the university is focused on ensuring the program operates in strict alignment with university-wide policies and protocols, particularly those involving "non-academic supports."
In a recent update, Tufts Provost and Senior Vice President ad interim Joe Auner informed the community that a faculty and staff workgroup had been convened over the summer to evaluate the program’s operations. The findings of this review are expected to be released soon, and the workgroup will be responsible for evaluating recommendations for the future of prison education at Tufts.
However, the future of the MyTERN reentry component remains uncertain. When asked by Inside Higher Ed whether the program would resume after the current academic year, Collins declined to provide a definitive timeline. In the interim, the university has stated it is working to connect current participants with external partners and alternative sources of support to ensure they are not left entirely without resources during the suspension.
Institutional Risk vs. Educational Mission
The decision to pause the program has met with significant pushback from faculty, students, and criminal justice advocates. For many, the suspension feels like an overreaction to the actions of a single individual. Lee Perlman expressed frustration with the university’s stance, suggesting that the decision was driven more by a fear of reputational damage than by a failure of the program itself.
"It makes zero sense to pause the reentry program or audit the entire program based on the offense of one student," Perlman said. "Prisons are risk-averse and so are universities. I’m sure they’re thinking about their reputation and questions like, ‘What if he’d done this on campus?’ But he didn’t shoot people because he got an education. The fact that the program couldn’t stop somebody with underlying mental health issues is not an indictment of the program."
This sentiment has resonated on campus. Since the start of the fall semester, students and faculty members have organized "speak-outs" and protests to voice their opposition to the MyTERN suspension. According to reporting by The Tufts Daily, the student-run newspaper, protesters have argued that the program provides a vital lifeline and that its absence leaves vulnerable students in a precarious position.
The controversy highlights a broader tension in the field of correctional education: the inherent difficulty of working with a population that has been impacted by systemic trauma and the "harm" of the carceral system.
Sergio Grossi, a professor of criminology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, noted that education in prison settings is inherently complex. "There are people inside that have committed harm and also that we know that many of these people also get harmed by the system, then they still continue to do harm," Grossi said. He maintained, however, that empowering incarcerated people through education remains a fundamental necessity, despite the complexities and risks involved.
Looking Ahead
As Tufts University awaits the final recommendations from its internal workgroup, the broader prison education community is watching closely. The outcome of the audit could have implications for how other elite institutions manage their own outreach programs in the face of external controversy.
For now, the TUPIT program remains in a state of transition. While some elements of the initiative may continue, the MyTERN reentry network—once hailed as a beacon of support for those returning from the margins of society—remains dark. The university maintains that the pause is a step toward a more sustainable and supported program, while advocates worry that the delay may result in a loss of momentum for a mission that they believe is more critical now than ever.
The findings from the university’s review are expected to be released in the coming weeks, a development that will likely determine whether Tufts continues to lead in the field of prison education or scales back its involvement in the face of institutional risk.
