Justice-Involved
Individuals

eCornell Professional Certificate programs equip previously incarcerated individuals with in-demand, career-ready skills that improve employability and economic mobility. By providing access to education and credentials valued by employers, these programs help break the prison-to-poverty cycle and reduce recidivism. With flexible, online learning and support, participants can rebuild their lives, gain confidence, and transition into meaningful careers, ultimately fostering long-term stability and reintegration into their communities.

Education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals creates a powerful economic ripple effect, addressing critical workforce shortages while opening pathways to living-wage jobs. This investment not only reduces dependency on public assistance but also helps fill crucial skills gaps across industries where employers struggle to find qualified workers. Cornell has the infrastructure to support this effort at scale through over 240 micro-credentials and unique research experiences with this audience.

Education transforms personal economic prospects, opening doors to meaningful employment and living-wage opportunities that build genuine financial independence. This path to stability enables formerly incarcerated individuals to provide for their families, pursue career growth, and create the secure future that is fundamental to successful reintegration. With access to this audience Cornell can help transform people’s lives.

Provide incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals with free access to programming that provides them with relevant skills to attain work on the outside. This can include everything from specific programs on how to interview after being incarcerated to skill-based training from leadership and business skills to coding and engineering.

Collaborate with funding partners to scale the programs for greater reach and impact. Position the program as a co-branded opportunity for corporate and philanthropic partners, highlighting their commitment to growing their workforce with justice-impacted individuals.

Provide pathways from incarceration to Cornell. While the primary goal is to provide individuals with hireability skills , this program also supports Cornell’s initiatives to engage with underserved populations, build awareness of Cornell University, and identify potential students for recruitment into the part-time Bachelors of Professional Studies.