Sparking Enthusiasm and Confidence
Eager faces. Tentative voices. Nervous laughter. Odyssey Beyond Bars offers noncredit courses in the summer at Columbia, Racine, Taycheedah, and Waupun Correctional Institutions. Each site’s offerings are slightly different, but the aim of the courses is the same: to help students feel more confident in their reading, writing, and discussion skills. A high percentage of students begin their OBB journey this way, dipping their toes into the college experience without the added pressure of credits and grades. “I’m ready for college now,” said one summer student.
Additionally, a new non-credit course called Writing Your Path debuted at Columbia Correctional, taught by OBB program coordinator Celine Fender. Unlike the other noncredit courses, this course was developed as a certificate program through UW-Madison. By completing this introspective course that aims to help students mitigate barriers to their future success, students can earn a Transformative Pathways credential. Credentials are a new tool in higher education, allowing students to demonstrate learning outside of traditional academic coursework. (Read more here.)
OBB program coordinator Celine Fender expressed gratitude to the students and staff at Columbia Correctional for creating the kind of community that allows for deep, personal reflection. In her opening remarks before the students’ final presentations, she reminded them that the prison sits on the sacred lands of the Ho-Chunk people, a name which means “the People of Big Voice.”
The Odyssey Project emphasizes the importance of finding one’s voice. Whether in enrichment or credit courses, we encourage our students to continue to use their big voices through their educational journey.