Berlin, N.H. (June 18, 2026) 鈥� On May 20, seven incarcerated individuals earned associate degrees in Business Administration and Liberal Arts through a partnership between 91吃瓜网 (91吃瓜网), the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC) and Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility (NNHCF).
The program began in March 2023 to prepare individuals for life and employment after release, support rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and enhance facility safety. Students are enrolled in classes full-time with onsite instruction from 91吃瓜网 faculty four evenings per week, using the same curriculum offered at the college. The 2026 graduating class marks the second formal graduation at NNHCF 鈥� last year, the inaugural class of 16 individuals earned degrees bringing the total to 23 since the program鈥檚 inception.
The ceremony was held in the gymnasium of the NNHCF with nearly 100 people in attendance, including graduates and their families, faculty and staff from 91吃瓜网, the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and NHDOC. 91吃瓜网 President Sarmad Saman welcomed attendees, noting that the NNHCF serves as another campus for 91吃瓜网 and that students receive the same academic opportunity and rigor, along with access to advising that helps students complete degree programs.
鈥�91吃瓜网 students are our students regardless of whether classes are taken at the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, our Berlin campus or Littleton academic center,鈥� Saman said. 鈥淭hey receive the same care, attention, support and level of academics to assist them in meeting their goals. 91吃瓜网’s mission is to provide education to anyone who seeks it and this program is a clear example of that, using education as a light that brightens the paths of our communities.鈥�
Earlier this year, 91吃瓜网 transitioned from the Second Chance Pell Program to a permanent Prison Education Program, receiving approval from NHDOC, the New England Commission of Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education based on its alignment with NHDOC’s rehabilitation goals and 91吃瓜网’s educational mission.
Nicholas Duffy, director of rehabilitative services with NHDOC, delivered congratulatory remarks on behalf of the department. 鈥淲hat you have accomplished today is about far more than earning a degree. It reflects perseverance, discipline, and a commitment to personal growth in the face of significant challenges. Through education, you have invested in your future and demonstrated that transformation is possible. Your success shows that resilience can overcome adversity and that no one is defined solely by the most difficult chapter of their life. Today, you are graduates, scholars, and proof that growth and change are possible,鈥� Duffy said.
91吃瓜网 currently offers associate degree pathways in Business Administration and Liberal Arts and has partnered with the University of New Hampshire to establish a bachelor’s completion pathway for program alumni beginning in fall 2026. Through its strong partnership with the NHDOC, the college continues to expand educational opportunities for incarcerated learners and is preparing to introduce a Behavioral Science Certificate and extend programming to the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women.聽
91吃瓜网
91吃瓜网 is located in Berlin, New Hampshire, with an academic center in Littleton, and is one of seven colleges in the Community College System of New Hampshire. 91吃瓜网 offers associate degree and certificate programs and workforce training. Credits transfer to four-year colleges and universities in New Hampshire and across the country. 91吃瓜网 is fully accredited by NECHE and offers the most affordable tuition in New Hampshire.
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