Why Ban the Box (BtB) in Higher Ed?
Quite simply because we believe that everyone should have access to higher education in the US, regardless of their criminal history. Public tax dollars fund higher education and we feel that public colleges and universities should honor the commitment that they have with taxpayers to equitably provide an education to all residents of their states.
Is this a University? State? Or Federal Issue?
All of the the above. BtB in Higher Education has been advocated for at each of these levels. We have found that these efforts generally build upon each other and make the next step in the movement that much easier. State lawmakers generally follow the lead of the major universities in their states. If we can build enough states that have passed the legislation, then the efforts on the federal side become that much easier. This training is geared toward state level advocacy, but the information can easily be tailored for university or federal advocacy.
Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution
Glenn Martin famously said that “Those closest to the problems are also closest to the solutions,
but furthest from the resources and power".
but furthest from the resources and power".
We believe that any advocacy efforts should be grounded in lived experience and led by formerly incarcerated individuals. We want to maintain the core principle in all the work we do.
Unlock Higher Ed wants to help you find your voice
There is nobody better than you that understands the issues and problems specific to your state. We understand and value your expertise on these issues. Unlock Higher Ed wants to help embolden you to create, testify on, and advocate for BtB legislation in your state. We are a group of formerly incarcerated scholars and allies that have been involved in passing BtB in Higher Education legislation in our home states. We hope to provide the resources and expertise so that your state can become the next to ban the box of college applications.
dOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT
| uhe_state_level_advocacy.pdf |