State hits major milestone with introduction of 100th SEAL program
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 22, 2020) – Indiana’s Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship (OWBLA) has achieved a major milestone by introducing its 100th certified State Earn and Learn (SEAL) program since the office was established in June 2018 as part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda.
The 100th SEAL is a Horizontal Construction program, which encompasses the building of roads, bridges and other structural projects that focus on transit. Participating students earn college credits and industry-recognized credentials while working and learning on the job, in addition to gaining a pathway to advanced degrees in civil construction. This SEAL is also aligned to the proposed Next Level Program of Study through the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Garrett High School in Garrett and Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia are the first two schools to launch Horizontal Construction SEAL programs and will have a total of 20 students participating the first year. Five more schools will follow in 2021. They are Batesville High School, Lapel High School, Madison High School, New Palestine High School and Penn High School.
“This SEAL best demonstrates how effective collaboration with industry and education partners leads to outstanding opportunities for student participants while building a pipeline of highly qualified individuals to meet the growing needs of the horizontal construction industry,” said Darrel Zeck, executive director of Indiana’s OWBLA.
In addition to comprehensive work-based learning opportunities and industry-recognized credentials, students in the Horizontal Construction SEAL will earn a Heavy Highway Specialist Certificate or a Technical Certificate in Civil Construction, both from Ivy Tech Community College.
Margi Brooks, vice president of Brooks Construction Co., said: “We are always looking for the next generation of Brooks employees and applaud Garrett’s efforts to work with employers and the OWBLA to create a practical, career-focused program that includes hands-on learning.”
To support the development of this program, the OWBLA partnered with employers, school leadership, Laborers Union representatives, Ivy Tech, trade associations and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).
Current partners in this program include: Asphalt Paving Association of Indiana, E&B Paving, Etica Group, Fluid Waste Services, Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation, Indiana Constructors Inc., Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Indiana Laborers Training Trust Fund, Ivy Tech Community College, LiUNA Local 213, Northeast Indiana Construction Alliance and Reith-Riley.
“This SEAL program has provided INDOT with an opportunity to engage with students learning practical skills that align with the workforce needs of our agency and industry,” said David Dalton, INDOT’s workforce development director.
SEALs are currently being utilized in key economic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health and life sciences, IT and business services, transportation and logistics, and agriculture.
The OWBLA works with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, education providers, employers, community and labor organizations, and Regional Workforce Development Boards to develop programs across Indiana. For more information about SEALs or the Horizontal Construction SEAL, please visit www.INwbl.com or contact the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship at WBL@dwd.IN.gov.
ATTACHMENTS:
- DWD hosted a virtual press conference of the 100th SEAL program. Click here to watch the recording. Please input your first and last name and an email address to view it.
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Click here to view an infographic of the 100th SEAL in Horizontal Construction.
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About the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship:
The Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship, located within the Department of Workforce Development and part of Governor Holcomb’s NextLevel Agenda, serves to develop and implement a framework of work-based learning pathways for both youth and adult populations with a concentration on certified State Earn and Learn (SEAL) and U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship programs.
About the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
DWD serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by providing WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information, Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training. Through these services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that enables Indiana employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside our state to relocate to Indiana.
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