CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Piedmont Valley Community College has full approval from the U.S. Department of Justice as a Prison Education Program institution, the school announced Tuesday, making it the first state college to receive this level of accreditation under the current federal guidelines.

“Our mission is to offer an exceptional higher education experience to every student committed to a better future through learning,” PVCC President Jean Runyon said in a statement. “This milestone represents a significant expansion of opportunity, access, and success for all students.”

PVCC has done work with prison education since 2006. The work started with Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, and went on to collaborate with Buckingham Correctional Center and Dillwyn Correctional Center in 2017.

PVCC said it educated 148 incarcerated students during the 2023-24 academic year. To date, it said more than 150 students have earned an associate degree through PVCC while in prison.

“I applaud Piedmont Virginia for being the first college in the Commonwealth to achieve this important recognition,” Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges Dr. David Doré said. “As educators, we’re convinced that providing meaningful learning opportunities to incarcerated people benefits both the individuals and society by reducing recidivism, increasing post-release employment and creating a safer environment within correctional facilities.

“Our colleges first began to serve this population in 1985, and eleven of our colleges, including Piedmont Virginia, have active programs for people in the justice system. Almost 500 of these individuals earned degrees, certificates or workforce credentials just last year, greatly increasing their chances of success when they return to society.”