A foundation has awarded the University of Maine at Augusta a grant of nearly $1 million to support a prison education program.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is providing the money for the Future of Higher Learning in Prison program, which aims to reduce prisoners recidivism rates and improve their employment opportunities upon release.

The university started working with prisoners on education programs at Maine State Prison in 2006 and has since awarded more than 130 degrees.

The university said the foundation’s grant will allow the program to integrate higher education at every corrections facility in the state.