Moreau College Initiative

The Moreau College Initiative (MCI) is an academic program of Holy Cross College, in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, that provides undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts to incarcerated men at Westville Correctional Facility in Northwest Indiana.

College education has the power to transform lives. For those in prison, it has the potential to break cycles of violence and incarceration and to impart to them the knowledge, skills, and virtues needed for flourishing as community leaders and upstanding citizens when they re-enter society upon release.

MCI is dedicated to bringing the transformative power of college education to incarcerated students. Through a robust partnership with the Indiana Department of Corrections, MCI students earn Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Holy Cross College. Since its founding in 2012, MCI has conferred over 135 Associate of Arts and 48 Bachelor of Arts degrees. MCI is a member of the Bard Prison Initiative’s Consortium for the Liberal Arts.

The transformative education of MCI advances the mission of Holy Cross College and the apostolic mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross: to confront “networks of privilege, prejudice and power” and “to educate and form global citizens with the competence to see [those networks] and the courage to act.” The work of MCI embodies the ministry of Jesus Christ to bring human dignity to those on the margins of society. “Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me.”

In the fall of 2012, Holy Cross College and the University of Notre Dame partnered with the Bard Prison Initiative to create the Westville Education Initiative, renamed the Moreau College Initiative in 2018 to honor the French founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Blessed Basil Moreau. Courses are taught by faculty from the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, St. Mary’s College alongside faculty from other regional colleges and universities.
MCI has grown significantly from its origins as a one-semester pilot program with 15 students and two credit-bearing courses to its current stature as a robust academic program of Holy Cross College that offers 55-60 courses per year to 80-90 students. In the next three years, with the construction of a new correctional facility in Westville, MCI will expand to offer 80 courses annually to approximately 120 students.

Students who are released from prison prior to completing their degree are able to finish on Holy Cross’s main campus. Through a partnership with Notre Dame’s Programs for Education in Prison, our students receive robust career development and reentry support that begins on the inside and continues upon release. Over 95% of our students have stable housing and employment within six months of release. And our recidivism rate for the BA is below 10% compared to the national average of 40%-60%.

In May 2025, MCI celebrated its eleventh commencement conferring eight Associate of Arts degrees and eight Bachelor of Arts degrees. To date, MCI has conferred over 135 AA and 48 BA degrees. MCI has supported eight AmeriCorps members and one Fulbright Fellow from Tunisia.

Read coverage of the 2025 commencement ceremony

In 2016, MCI became the only Second Chance Pell site in Indiana, and one of just 67 programs nationally selected to participate in the federal study of Pell support for incarcerated college students. With the full restoration of Pell for incarcerated individuals in 2023, MCI is transitioning to be a permanent Pell recipient at the beginning of 2026. Additional funding comes from grants and foundations (over $1.5 million awarded) and individual donors. MCI is currently building an endowment through a $1 million matching grant from the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.

To create an academic community within the prison, MCI has worked closely with the Indiana Department of Correction and Westville administrators to secure separate academic space and residential dormitory for MCI students. Students also have the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities including yoga, art, music, gardening, and career development. These opportunities are made possible in large part by volunteers who share their time and talent with MCI students. Volunteers supervise study halls and extracurricular clubs in the prison, tutor students in math and writing, and provide remote internships and opportunities for career development. From the Holy Cross main campus, volunteers also help by conducting research for students (our students do not have internet access) and processing donated books for the college library.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please fill out the volunteering form.

The Moreau College Initiative is proud to introduce this student-led documentary exploring the interconnectedness of land and people. The film is directed by Trace Engbrecht of Parable Films and produced by Cam Stillson. The production and distribution of this film is supported by a generous grant from Indiana Humanities.

In this video, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at out how the Moreau College Initiative is giving students hope for a better future.

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Announces Endowment for Moreau College Prison Initiative

Moreau College Initiative Film Accepted into 2024 Heartland Film Festival

Read the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities story about prison education programs, including MCI

Read the Indiana Public Media’s MCI story

Read the University of Notre Dame College of Arts & Letters story about MCI

Read the Notre Dame Magazine piece about Patrick Regan’s business that employs returning citizens

Read the Insider Higher Ed piece about questions that remain after the release of new Pell Grant regulations.

Read a piece in Scholastic about Justin McDevitt, the assistant regional director for alumni and reentry services with Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison (NDPEP) at the Center for Social Concerns.