Governor Tom Wolf’s office has announced that Villanova University will be one of four Pennsylvania colleges to participate in a national pilot program allowing inmates access to post-secondary education in the hopes of easier employment upon release, writes Kara Seymour for the Radnor Patch.

Villanova University is among 67 colleges and universities throughout the country that have been awarded federal grants under the $30 million Second Chance Pell pilot program being tested by the U.S. Department of Education.

“More than 90 percent of the 48,000 individuals behind bars in Pennsylvania will leave prison one day,” said Wolf. “It’s no secret that achieving basic literacy and completing high school are positive indicators of future success and reduced recidivism.”

Villanova will partner with Montgomery County’s Graterford Prison as part of the program, which is providing funding for 115 qualifying inmates nationwide to have access to college degree or certificate programs.

This program “will give individuals the skills they need to become taxpayers rather than tax burdens,” said Corrections Secretary John Wetzel.

Read more about the program from the Radnor Patch by clicking here.