PVCC Receives Grant to Expand Humanities Program Access for Incarcerated Students
Charlottesville, Va. – March 17, 2026 – Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) has been awarded a grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand its nationally recognized Higher Education in Prison Program, further strengthening access to liberal arts education for incarcerated learners across the Commonwealth.
In 2025, PVCC became the first institution of higher education in Virginia to receive formal accreditation as a Prison Education Program (PEP), marking a historic step in expanding high-quality post-secondary opportunities to incarcerated students. The Higher Education in Prison Program, founded in 2006, serves approximately 120 students each year across three correctional facilities.
The Mellon Foundation grant will enable PVCC to expand humanities-based learning opportunities, strengthen student support, and provide statewide leadership for institutions seeking to develop or enhance Prison Education Program models. Planned initiatives include enhanced academic support for humanities programs; a new student edited humanities journal; and a Virginia specific PEP Toolkit designed to support institutions pursuing accreditation.
PVCC provides accessible pathways to transfer education, workforce preparation and adult education. Since its founding, more than 252,000 students have enrolled in courses, and the College has awarded more than 18,700 degrees and certificates. The Higher Education in Prison Program has supported incarcerated learners for nearly two decades.
To learn more visit pvcc.edu/pvcc-higher-education-prison-program.
About Piedmont Virginia Community College
Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach her/his potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School City Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu to learn more about PVCC.
PVCC does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation or any other non-merit-based factor. Visit pvcc.edu/nondiscrimination to learn more.