2025 Utah Higher Education and Corrections Council Annual Report

Overview & Synopsis

This council report of programs, plans, and recommendations for higher education in correctional facilities is provided in accordance with Utah Code 53H-1-604(9). This report outlines the institutions and correctional facilities that participate in the Higher Education Corrections Council (HECC) and currently offer technical and academic programs across Utah's public higher education institutions. The 2025 work of the Higher Education and Corrections Council demonstrates what is possible when Utah's correctional and higher education partners unite around a shared belief: that education transforms lives and strengthens communities. This year, 198 incarcerated adults earned degrees and certificates from Utah's public colleges and universities--more than double the number of graduates in each of the previous two years. This milestone reflects growing access, stronger partnerships, and the measurable power of education in supporting rehabilitation and reentry. These accomplishments affirm the direction of the Council's three key recommendations: securing sustainable funding beyond the temporary telephone surcharge, expanding access through virtual learning platforms that reach county jails statewide, and developing data-sharing systems that connect education to employment and recidivism outcomes. [This report was produced by the Higher Education Corrections Council within the Utah System of Higher Education.]