Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison and SUNY New Paltz Announce Innovative Partnership to Expand Access to Educational Opportunities at Green Haven Correctional Facility

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison and SUNY New Paltz are proud to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison (OHEP) to increase access to higher education for incarcerated people. This partnership marks a significant step forward in promoting educational equity and empowering the students behind the wall at Green Haven Correctional Facility.

Beginning in the fall 2025 academic year, this innovative program will launch with an inaugural cohort of seven students who will work with New Paltz faculty in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in sociology. All participating students have successfully completed their Associate of Applied Science in Individualized Studies through Columbia-Greene Community College, a program launched by Hudson Link in 2023 that has since graduated 46 students. Through this new initiative, these students will have an opportunity to continue their higher education with 21 additional credit hours leading to a four-year degree.

“My prayer for higher education was finally answered in 2022 when Hudson Link and Columbia-Greene came to this facility,” said Jose R, a New Paltz student currently at Green Haven. “By spring of 2023, I graduated as valedictorian of the first graduating class, and I’m excited and honored to now be accepted into the SUNY New Paltz bachelor’s program. I am looking forward to the academic challenges ahead and to being an undergraduate enrolled in one of the finest post-secondary institutions in the state. Thank you, Hudson Link and SUNY New Paltz, for the opportunity. I look forward to earning my degree and proudly calling New Paltz my alma mater.”

“SUNY New Paltz is committed to providing access to high quality public education for all New Yorkers,” said SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler. “I want to thank our partners at OHEP, Hudson Link, Green Haven Correctional Facility, Columbia-Greene Community College, and the many faculty and staff here on our campus who have leveraged time and expertise to expand educational opportunities for these motivated and accomplished learners.”  

To prepare for the fall semester, the dedicated faculty team at New Paltz engaged in comprehensive training and orientation, working alongside partners from OHEP, Hudson Link, and Columbia-Greene Community College.

“Our University brings a long history of student-centered teaching to the statewide Prison Education Program,” said SUNY NewSUNYNew Paltz Provost William McClure. “With support from SUNY and our program partners, our academic faculty have enthusiastically stepped into this work, providing a clear example for how public higher education directly serves the public good.”

Hudson Link, based in Ossining, NY, is a nonprofitorganization committed to providing college education, life skills, and reentrysupport to currently and formerly incarcerated people. The organization aims toempower these individuals to make positive impacts on their lives, families,and communities.

"Educationis a powerful tool for transformation, and we are privileged to witness theremarkable resilience and scholarly zeal of our students in the Green HavenProgram," stated Dr. Lila McDowell, Executive Director of Hudson Link. "The chance to earn a bachelor's degree from SUNY New Paltz is setto make a lasting impact on their current and future lives as they reentersociety."


“This opportunity toearn a B.A. from SUNY New Paltz through Hudson Link, represents a chance toelevate me both mentally and spiritually, a beautiful prelude to the day Ileave these walls,” said student Albert S., also currently at Green Haven. “Whenthat day comes, I plan to turn this education into a meaningful contribution to our community to express my gratitude to Hudson Link and SUNY New Paltz.”

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