Odyssey Beyond Bars offers college jumpstart programs to students incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons. We are part of the UW Odyssey Project, which for 19 years has empowered students living in poverty to overcome obstacles, find their voices and reframe their futures.
“This class has already opened my eyes to a better life for myself.”
Our jumpstart programs combine noncredit and for-credit courses with wraparound supports that help our students succeed long-term, including tutoring, academic and financial aid advising, and an alumni support network.
Many program alumni use their Odyssey Beyond Bars experience as a first step toward a college degree and as a foundation for success when they leave prison and return to their communities.
Odyssey Beyond Bars won the 2021 Eisenberg Award from the Wisconsin State Public Defender.
Read more and check out our award acceptance video!
Supporting Odyssey Beyond Bars
Support Odyssey Beyond Bars by clicking the button below. All donations are tax deductible. For questions, please contact Jenny Pressman, Director of Development and Community Partnerships, at jenny.pressman@wisc.edu.
Get Involved
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Become a Student
“Odyssey Beyond Bars has given me an opportunity to examine my experiences; it provokes you to look at things in a different way and gives you the confidence to express yourself.”–Carl Lewis, OBB student
Odyssey Beyond Bars enrolls students in Wisconsin state prisons who are interested in college but not yet enrolled in a degree program. Occasionally, we enroll students who already have some college experience.
Odyssey Beyond Bars students are admitted to UW-Madison as special students, not degree-seeking students. We often help our students pursue admission to degree programs at UW-Madison and elsewhere.
In Fall 2021, we are offering English 100 at Oakhill Correctional Institution only.
In Spring 2022, we will offer English 100 at Oakhill and three other prisons–Green Bay Correctional Institution, Racine Correctional Institution, Columbia Correctional Institution. Additionally, we will offer Non-Violence and Social Change at Oakhill.
We do not operate in any county jails or federal prisons.
Milwaukee Area Technical College, Madison College and Moraine Park Technical College offer associate degree and certificate programs in certain Wisconsin state prisons. Interested students should ask the Education Director in their institution to learn which programs are available to them.
Become a Volunteer
“I can say with no qualms that tutoring with Odyssey Beyond Bars has been one of the best experiences I’ve had here at UW-Madison.”–Ivan Babanovski, PhD Candidate, English Department
We seek volunteer tutors with experience in writing and literacy skill development. Tutors must complete background checks and training, which OBB will provide in coordination with the Dept. of Corrections.
We also seek volunteers to assist with administrative work, fundraising and research.
If you are interested in volunteering for OBB, please complete and submit this volunteer form.
If you are interested in volunteering for UW Odyssey Project community-based programs (including the Odyssey Course, Odyssey Junior, and Onward Odyssey), please fill out this form instead.
Thanks for your interest!
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Become an Instructor
“I have been teaching for a long time. I’ve taught in other countries and situations, and this class will always stand out. What I’ve been most impressed by is the students’ spirit.” –Kevin Mullen, OBB instructor
Odyssey Beyond Bars offers exciting introductory UW-Madison classes to students in prison, with credits that are easily transferable to many college degree programs.
We are especially in need of English 100 instructors. Instructors must hold a master’s degree or higher and be approved to teach by the relevant UW-Madison department. We will provide training, remuneration and logistical support, including tutors, advising and any required course components.
Download our FAQ to learn more and fill out this form to express interest.
OBB in the news
Education Behind and Beyond Bars
Inside Higher Ed, May 18 2021
Wisconsin is making progress to help more inmates get college educations – ‘which can completely redefine a life’
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 24 2020
UW System receives funding for bachelor's degree program in state prisons
The Cap Times, December 1 2021
Writing a new future
Isthmus, February 20 2020
UW System Prison Education Initiative (UWPEI)
Odyssey Beyond Bars proudly co-leads the UW System Prison Education Initiative, a collaborative effort to advance higher education in prison through multiple UW universities statewide. This initiative is working to develop UW certificate and degree programs for our students so they can earn college credentials and build work-ready skills before they return to their communities. We applaud UW System for recognizing the immense potential of our students and the positive impacts they can make on the world around them when they have opportunities for transformation and success.
Check back for updates on our progress, and sign up below for our quarterly UW CHEP newsletter!
Join the UW Coalition for Higher Education in Prison mailing list
Odyssey Beyond Bars is a proud founding member of the UW Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (UW CHEP). UW CHEP was established in 2020 as a UW-based collective of programs and individuals who have come together to advance higher education in Wisconsin’s prisons.
Sign up below to get quarterly UW CHEP updates.
Questions?
Email us at odysseybeyondbars@dcs.wisc.edu
Kevin Mullen
Position title: Odyssey Project Co-Director and OBB Instructional Advisor
Email: kevin.mullen@wisc.edu
Phone: 608-890-3330
Lauren Surovi
Position title: OBB Academic Program Manager
Email: surovi@wisc.edu
Phone: 608-286-9144