University of Puget Sound and FEPPS at the White House

On May 6th, 2016, University of Puget Sound Academic Dean Kris Bartanen and FEPPS Executive Director, Tanya Erzen, visited The White House to take part in a round table discussion on criminal justice reform. Their trip is a result of a partnerships between FEPPS and Puget Sound that culminated last summer into FEPPS becoming a strategic initiative of the university. A committee of Puget Sound faculty are currently creating a curriculum proposal for a Bachelor’s of Arts program which would allow students who have achieved their associates to continue their academic pursuits.

The White House launched a pledge on June 12, 2016 representing a call-to-action for all members of the academic community to help eliminate barriers for those with a criminal record. FEPPS and the University of Puget Sound are committed to creating pathways to a second chance for formerly incarcerated people and are founding partners in this pledge. 75 University of Puget Sound faculty volunteer their time to teach incarcerated women at Washington Corrections Center for Women through the FEPPS program. We are proud to partner with academic institutions around the country in support of President Obama’s push to reform our criminal justice system.

We were pleased to find Lauren Foster’s coverage of the joint trip to D.C. in South Sound Magazine. You can read her article here.

Image description: Tanya Erzen in Washington, DC.