The program seeks to renew minds and form new persons while transforming the prison, the college, the seminary and the West Michigan community into places where righteousness and peace embrace.

“The trumpet has sounded! The call to a college education beckons, offering me a ride out of the abyss. A Hope College education offers an opportunity to regenerate my soul, edify my spirit, and bolster my ability to be of service to others.” —Student, 2019

The Hope-Western Prison Education Program engages its students at the Muskegon Correctional Facility in an academically challenging curriculum while also focusing on moral rehabilitation and spiritual formation. Students enroll in coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree with standards as rigorous as those expected of Holland-based Hope College students.

“Most of my life has been a journey in the hope of finding something greater than myself. Getting a college education would provide me with the tools necessary to truly complete my journey… to be a better man… to be a bigger person than I once was… to contribute to the world around me in a more positive way… to be what God intended me to be: His true and faithful servant.” —Student, 2019