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Graduate Student Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Training

NPEP requires training for new volunteers. The goal of training is to familiarize you with our rules and policies and to provide you with the necessary pedagogical tools for working in a prison environment. If you have already attended a training session in the past, you do not need to attend another one.

Sheridan & Logan Correctional Centers

As of Fall 2024, there are currently 70 NPEP students at Sheridan Correctional Center in Sheridan, Illinois and 20 NPEP students at Logan Correctional Center for Women in Lincoln, Illinois. Volunteers play an integral role in ensuring that all of our students succeed in their courses and are exposed to a variety of topics. 

Graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and undergraduates can volunteer at both facilities in a number of ways:

  • Tutoring during quarterly study halls
  • Organizing and participating in reading groups
  • Leading a workshop, lecture, or short-course (advanced graduate students and postdoctoral trainees)
  • Program support and development

Tutoring at Sheridan requires roughly a 2-hour commute one-way from the Evanston campus. Tutoring at Logan requires roughly a 3-hour commute one-way. Volunteers often take the train to Logan and carpool to Sheridan. Apply to be a tutor at the link below.

TUTOR APPLICATION

To get more information about the volunteer experience before applying, please contact the Sheridan Academic Support Team or the Logan Academic Support Team. 

Cook County Department of Corrections

In partnership with the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC), NPEP offers four-week introductory college-level courses at the Cook County Jail in Chicago. NPEP runs mini-courses at Cook County Jail every quarter, and mini-courses are six weeks long with two hours of classroom instruction per week (12 contact hours). 
 
Northwestern graduate students (Ph.D., MFA/MA, JD, MD, MBA), postdoctoral fellows, faculty and advanced degree professionals are invited to apply to teach a mini-course. Past courses have been in numerous fields, including creative writing, biology, economics, philosophy, religion and psychology.
 
If you are interested in this opportunity, you can apply by submitting a proposed syllabus through the link below.
 
For any questions, including about eligibility, timing, and application deadlines, please reach out to Avital Fried and Erika Carey at npep-cookcounty@northwestern.edu.

volunteer application