A 2-3 year experience that provides a paid job, career credentials, and college courses while still in high school.
UpSkill offers students the chance to discover career interests and pathways they cannot learn in the classroom and employers the opportunity to grow their workforce. Serving as the intermediary organization, ROI facilitates this program with high schools, employers, and higher education partners in the Indiana Uplands.
UpSkill provides a 2-3 year opportunity for both the student and the employer. Participating students gain paid employment with on-the-job and related classroom instruction. ROI provides support with student applications, interviews, placement, trainings, and ongoing guidance.
How does it work?
Students are identified in their sophomore year in high school and participate in interviews. After being selected by employers, they begin their journey in their junior year with a 10-12 hour a week placement. In their senior year, students build up to 15-20 hours per week, which can lead to full or part-time employment, advanced training, or college coursework in the third year.
Potential Career Pathways
Advanced
Manufacturing
Automation & Robotics
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Design & Technologies
National Security
& Defense
Cybersecurity
Information
Assurance
Engineering
Life
Sciences
Biotechnology
Medical Device
Development
Production Technologies
Business
& IT
Information Technology
Human Resources
Finance & Marketing
How is this different from an internship?
UpSkill is a longer experience for both the student and the employer that provides a multi-year placement and supporting instruction for a specific occupation. Activities at the worksite include on-the-job training and exposure to career possibilities. Additional training includes opportunities that align with industry requirements.
| Activities | Junior Year | Senior Year | Post Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| At The Worksite | 10-20 hours per week | 15-20 hours per week | Full or part time employment |
| Additional Training | Industry recognized certifications | Industry recognized certifications | Advanced training or college coursework |
Which schools are participating?
- Barr-Reeve High School
- Bloomington Academy of Science & Entrepreneurship
- Brown County High School
- Edgewood High School
- Mitchell High School
- North Lawrence Career Center
- Orleans High School
- Owen Valley High School
- Shoals High School
- Washington High School
The schools assist in recruitment, academic/career pathway alignment, monitoring, and scheduling. Each student also has a mentor that provides support throughout the UpSkill program.
Interested students are encouraged to fill out the UpSkill Interest Form:
Which employers are participating?
- City of Bloomington Parks & Rec
- COSMOS
- Diamond Stone Technologies
- EVEN Automation
- FiveStar Technology
- General Motors
- German American Bank
- Graber Post Building
- Indiana Safety & Supply
- In Safety
- Ivy Tech
- Mainstream Fiber
- Paragon Force
- PRD
- Regional Opportunity Initiatives
- RTC Communications
- SAIC
- Smithville Fiber
- Stone City Products
- TASUS
- TexaCon & Bedford Limestone Suppliers
- VET Environmental Engineering
- Worlds Arts
More employers will be signing on as we grow. Interested employers can contact ROI for information on how to participate.
For more information, please contact Jen Staab, Career Connections Specialist, at (812) 287-8116 or jenstaab@regionalopportunityinc.org.
Recent UpSkill News
- UpSkill welcomes second cohort with signing day
ROI conducted a signing day experience for students and employers participating in the second cohort of the UpSkill Work and Learn program. - EAGLE CORNER: Career Connected Learning offering apprenticeships to local students
Career Connected Learning (CCL) in Brown County offers students career-related opportunities such as career exploration, career engagement and career experiences that all require local industry partnerships. Our Brown County Schools students are involved in CCL activities throughout K-12, but there’s a new opportunity that’s unique to our high school students. Brown County High School sophomores… - Building bright futures: High schoolers find success with UpSkill apprenticeship program
UpSkill is a two- to three-year work and learn experience that provides selected high school students with a paid job, career credentials, and college courses. - UpSkill Work & Learn and Code/IT programs awarded READI funding; will strengthen regional talent pipeline in the Indiana Uplands
Two talent development programs have been awarded READI funding to prepare high school students and adults for regionally relevant, high-demand careers in the Uplands. - UpSkill Work and Learn welcomes students and employers
Last week, ROI conducted its second signing day and orientation for students and employers participating in our pilot high school work and learn program. - UpSkill Work & Learn Signing Day
The first cohort of the UpSkill Work & Learn program celebrated with a Signing Day! - ROI awarded youth apprenticeship funding from Ascend Indiana
Regional Opportunity Initiatives is excited to be selected for the Indiana Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator award that will serve to accelerate the implementation of ROI’s UpSkill Work and Learn Initiative and the region’s industry cluster strategies.