It was a proud day last week for 107 students who graduated from Davis Technical College at the Utah Department of Corrections. Davis Tech and UDC partner to provide skills to help incarcerated individuals transition back into the community.

“We’ve been providing this service for 15 years,” said Dan Powers,

Director of Rehabilitative Programs for Davis Tech. “There are nine programs overall. We’ve added women’s programs in IT and web and graphic design. Those have proven to be very popular.”

All of the programs are industry driven, he said. “We look at where the needs are to provide high paying good jobs after incarceration.”

Students have to reach a certain benchmark for prison guidelines to receive permission level, said Powers. “They have to be a high school graduate and they’re not going to be moved so that they have enough time to complete the program. We let them pick where their interests lie.”

It takes about eight to 12 months to complete the program, he said. “Everything is exactly what we have on our (Davis Tech) campus. All of the equipment we have on campus is what students expect to see.”

Students can get enough credits to go halfway through an associate degree, said Powers. “At Snow College with a certificate they can complete the rest of the associate degree online at the prison.”

The program has grown over time, he said. “The department of corrections has shifted focus. These skills go a long way to prevent individuals from going back into custody.”

Powers said Davis Tech works on contract with the UDC. “We’re funded through them. One way is an inmate phone account. That’s when an individual calls a family or friend the cost goes to fund education.”

The tuition is split between the UDC and the student, he said. “The UDC pays 50% and the students themselves sign a promissory note for 50% when they’re released. They don’t have to pay that until two years later so that they can build a life for themselves and get settled in on that.”

Interest has grown as individuals see the success of friends and fellow students to obtain a well paying position and not come back to prison, said Powers. “They see the benefit of participating. It’s only if they express interest in the program – they’re not forced.”

Instructors are from Davis Tech who teach at the prison. “It’s a labor of love,” Powers said. “It’s not the easiest or popular place to work. They’re incredibly dedicated. They see the success when people leave and that’s a big driver for them to know they’re making a difference.”
Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson delivered a keynote to the graduates. “Today’s not an end, and it’s not a beginning, but it is a significant point in time,” she said. “It has widened the road in front of you, and opened new paths. Education is a transformative force. It’s the great equalizer. The catalyst of the American dream.” 

Henderson went on to say, “It’s not our failures nor is it even our successes that define us, but it’s how we persevere. It’s how we respond to, and learn from, the obstacles

and challenges in our paths…nothing worth doing is easy.” 

Christopher Aziz graduated from the Welding Technology program and has been employed as a teacher’s assistant.  “It’s our choices in each moment that define who we are, not our past choices, but our present ones,” Aziz said to the other graduates. “So, ask yourself who you

are, who you want to be, and make the choice to face the obstacles to learn and grow. Use the time that we have been given to become the person we are here to become. Keep growing and keep going.” 

Overall, 70 of the 107 have already been released and 40 remain, most will be released within the year, said Powers. “One of the students graduated on Monday and left prison on Tuesday and already had a job in place. He’s working as an instructor for juveniles in a program to teach welding. He’s going into education as opposed to industry.”

If students have the desire, generally they have their choice of jobs, he said. “They now have the hope of moving forward.”