“OSU Faculty Partner with Catholic Charities to Provide High School Equivalency Program at Payne County Jail”

In a groundbreaking partnership between Oklahoma State University College of Arts and Sciences faculty and Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, inmates at Payne County Jail are now able to work towards earning their high school diplomas. The High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) program, which started in August 2022, brings OSU faculty into the facility to teach courses in language arts, math, science, and social studies to female inmates.

Capt. Reese Lane, the Payne County Jail administrator, highlighted the positive impact of education on inmates, stating that it boosts morale and self-esteem in the short term and provides better opportunities for employment and life skills in the long term. The program, led by OSU teaching associate professors Dr. Kathryn Weinland, Dr. Melissa Mills, and Dr. Eric Howerton, has already shown significant progress in student learning and confidence.

Funding from CCEOK, a CAS Community Engagement Grant, and other donors has supported the program, allowing the jail to become an official testing site for the HiSET test. This development has brought excitement and motivation to the students, who now have the opportunity to earn their diplomas while incarcerated.

Sister Catherine Martinez from CCEOK emphasized the importance of serving underserved populations and providing opportunities for a better future. The program has expanded to include faculty and graduate students from various departments at OSU, furthering the university’s land-grant mission of enriching the lives of Oklahoma residents.

Overall, the initiative to educate and empower incarcerated individuals at Payne County Jail is seen as a meaningful fulfillment of OSU’s mission to improve the lives of community members and contribute to the betterment of society.