MyTERN: Tufts Education & Reentry Network

MyTERN: TUFTS EDUCATION & REENTRY NETWORK

People returning from prison often face steep challenges, including limited access to employment and education, psychological trauma, poverty, social isolation, and stigma. TUPIT’s college and reentry program, MyTERN, is a year-long, trauma-informed reentry program that combines Tufts coursework, a Civic Studies certificate (18 transferable credits), and wraparound support in housing, employment, technology, financial literacy, and social-emotional well-being. Over the course of an academic year (August–May), justice-impacted students take classes alongside Tufts undergraduates, fostering a true community of belonging while building academic, practical, and social-emotional skills that strengthen their confidence, stability, and long-term opportunities.

To meet the diverse needs of participants, MyTERN partners with local organizations that address the impacts of incarceration on individuals and communities. These collaborations expand access to housing and food security, employment pathways, and educational opportunities for people in and beyond the Boston area. Restorative Justice circle keeping experiences and certification through the Transformational Prison Project are a keystone to MyTERN’s community building work. By drawing on the expertise of community partners and the carceral system, MyTERN provides holistic support tailored to each student. Visit the Our Supporters page to see a full list of partner organizations.

MyTERN students receive:

  • Academic support and an introduction to college life
  • A laptop to support coursework and career preparation
  • Monthly stipends
  • Comprehensive assistance with housing and employment
  • Extensive training in technology and financial literacy
  • The opportunity to become a paid peer mentor as a Restorative Justice Fellow
  • Paid speaking opportunities

Courses

  • Literatures of Justice
  • Technology for Civic Impact
  • Reimagining Reentry I: Resources and Mentorship
  • Storytelling for Social Change
  • Reimagining Reentry II: Restorative Justice and Financial Knowledge
  • The Social Determinants of Health

Eligibility

  • All genders welcome
  • Must be formerly incarcerated
  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must be available to attend in-person evening classes three times a week (5:15–8:30 PM) on Tufts University’s Medford campus, from late August to mid-May
  • Must be present in-person for the orientation session in late August

ADMISSIONS & PATHWAYS

Through TUPIT’s partnership with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), all MyTERN students have a clear pathway to degree completion. Students admitted to the Tufts BA program inside complete MyTERN and may also continue at Tufts through degree completion and with a full scholarship. For other students new to TUPIT, MyTERN and BHCC provide registration assistance, financial aid advising, and academic guidance. TUPIT leadership and the wider MyTERN community continue to walk alongside students after their certificate graduation, ensuring they have the resources and networks needed to thrive in a degree program.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

Click here and we will notify you when applications are open


MyTERN is more than just an educational opportunity;
it has become a family to me, providing me with a sense of belonging that I haven’t felt in a long time. My entire life would not exist the way it does today without the continuous support and endless amounts of love MyTERN has offered me on my journey home from incarceration.

Jody, MyTERN Class of 2025; Tufts BA Class of 2027

MyTERN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FELLOWS

After completing MyTERN, distinguished alumni continue to apply their restorative justice and mentorship training as peer mentors for current students while pursuing their own career and educational goals. As experienced organizers and facilitators with extensive circle-keeping practice, these Restorative Justice Fellows also speak publicly at local events, in classrooms across Tufts University, and at statewide and national gatherings. They are available for paid speaking engagements with flexible compensation.

To connect with a speaker, please contact TUPIT@tufts.edu