TUPIT Update: August 31, 2026

Dear colleagues,

I am looking forward to the start of the fall semester and teaching in the TUPIT program in the months ahead.

Thank you again to those who have shared your perspectives and insights on the TUPIT program with the working group. Your input has been invaluable in helping to inform and advance the working group’s efforts.

I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few updates.

• TUPIT Leadership: After an audit of the TUPIT program this summer, the university better understands the enormous amount of work that it takes to run a successful Prison Higher Education program. We will therefore be transitioning to a different administrative model, one that offers the program more support. Former Executive Director Hilary Binda will serve as Advisor to the TUPIT Working Group during this transitional period, in addition to maintaining her role as Teaching Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences. During this time, Melanie McFarlane will serve as Interim Director.
• TUPIT Governance: Some faculty and students have expressed confusion about the relationship between the School of Arts & Sciences, Tisch College, and TUPIT. TUPIT (including MyTERN) is a Tisch College program that engages faculty and students across the university but is managed, led, and governed within Tisch College. Tisch College is an autonomous school at Tufts, with its own leadership structure, and budget.
• AA Degree Pathway: We will continue to support an AA degree pathway for incarcerated students in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College. Incarcerated students who have completed their AA degrees will be able to take classes over the next academic year at their facilities. TUPIT AA degree students are Bunker Hill students, and Bunker Hill awards the AA degree. The Bunker Hill admissions process for the next AA degree cohort will begin in Spring 2027 as planned.
• BA Degree Pathway for Currently Incarcerated Students: The BA degree pathway for currently incarcerated students is paused. My intent is to reconvene the deans of the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering, and Tisch College to build on past efforts to explore potential approaches to a BA admissions pathway for currently incarcerated students.
• BA Degree Pathway for Formerly Incarcerated Students: Formerly incarcerated students who are already enrolled, matriculated, and currently finishing their BA degrees on the Tufts Medford-Somerville campus will continue with their degree programs. Admission into a BA program on the Tufts Medford-Somerville campus for formerly incarcerated students will continue to be available through the REAL program.
• MyTERN Program: The MyTERN program remains paused for this academic year. During this interim period, alumni of the MyTERN program may contact TUPIT staff via phone and virtual meetings to seek resources and referrals to our partner organizations. MyTERN applications from prospective students will remain on file until we have determined the next steps for the program. We are committed to supporting the re-entry community and continue to explore approaches for potential reentry support for recently released students.

I recognize that there are still many unanswered questions, and many matters and decisions that are time-sensitive and with multiple ramifications. I want to reaffirm our commitment to TUPIT and assure you that we are actively working through open matters, engaging with the appropriate partners to gain understanding, and charting the next chapter for TUPIT in a way that best supports our faculty, staff, and, above all, our student community. We will continue to provide updates as they are available.

Please address any questions you may have to TUPITWorkingGroup@tufts.edu.

Sincerely,

Joe Auner
Provost and Senior Vice President ad interim
Austin Fletcher Professor of Music