Appropriations Requests for : Eastern Michigan University

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

No Cosponsors

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

Eastern Michigan University

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

900 Oakwood St, Ypsilanti MI 48917

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

386005986

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$289,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

PROGRAM BACKGROUND EMU seeks funding to bridge the gap between higher education and sustainable careers for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women. EMU houses the only bachelor’s degree program for incarcerated women in Michigan. Launched in 2023 through the Second Chance Pell initiative, EMU’s College in Prison Program (CIP) is based at Women’s Huron Valley (WHV) and currently supports 72 students. It is now the state’s largest bachelor-level program in a carceral setting, designed to mirror the academic rigor and co-curricular experience of our main campus. While our students excel academically (averaging a 3.87 GPA), barriers within the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) prevent them from applying their skills in real-world contexts. For example, students lack access to laboratories and the internet, leaving them untrained in modern design and CRM software. Furthermore, facility regulations limit professional experiences like internships. In the coming year, a record 20 students currently enrolled in EMU’s CIP will be released. Without a structured professional framework, the transformative power of their degree is at risk. For education to be the most effective intervention for reducing recidivism, we must provide an immersive, professionally focused reentry framework. PROPOSAL EMU seeks funding to launch the Building Economic Ability & Mindset (BEAM), which is a workforce development program for college CIP students -- both graduates and those completing their degrees post-release. This program is a strategic "first-in-state" model that merges baccalaureate education with post-incarceration technical training. While similar models exist at institutions like the State Universities of New York and Goucher College, the BEAM program is a novel incubation for Michigan’s justice landscape. This request is time-sensitive due to the upcoming release in the next year of our first large cohort of 20 students. The BEAM program will provide: • Paid Onsite Apprenticeships embedded within sites where staff are trained to mentor system-impacted individuals. Examples may include EMU offices and academic departments, the Washtenaw County/Legal Resource Center, Dispute Resolution Center, American Friends, Dawn Farms recovery non-profit, and reentry organizations such as Brighter Way. • Technical Credentialing: Bridging the "digital divide" by providing training in software and tools inaccessible at WHV. • Strategic Alignment: Serving as a designated MichiganWorks! site will ensure more coordination between MDOC Offender Success programs, and Parole.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

No previous funding received

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

The estimated time frame for completion is by the end of fiscal year 2028

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

No

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Jeff Irwin