INDIANAPOLIS (May 20, 2021) – The Certified State Earn and Learn (SEAL) program exemplifies what is possible with strong community collaboration. The objective of this program with the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy is to empower and upskill local adult education students for in-demand life science careers with Cook Biotech. The program was officially recognized at the Academy on May 14.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with multiple community organizations on the SEAL program,” said Ivy Tech-Lafayette Chancellor Dr. David Bathe. “This effort will move more students from secondary education to higher ed certifications, and on to careers in high demand fields. The SEAL program is a visionary opportunity to develop and retain our most valuable resource – a trained workforce – and build our communities for the future.”
Students who complete the program earn their high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, four industry-recognized certifications, nine college credits at Ivy Tech-Lafayette, and participate in paid work-based learning experiences at Cook Biotech.
At the onset of the SEAL program, students will be offered paid employment at Cook Biotech for up to 28 hours a week as they work towards achieving their HSE and industry-recognized certifications. Ivy Tech-Lafayette and YWCA Greater Lafayette will offer free career coaching and professional development services to prepare students for success in the workplace.
“We are excited to utilize the SEAL program, which includes educational benefits for both employees and employers,” said Cook Biotech President Umesh Patel. “The SEAL program provides opportunities for Cook Biotech to attract skilled individuals who can build rewarding careers with a company that provides additional educational programs. The SEAL’s role in helping students earn their high school equivalency diploma is the first important step in this journey.”
Upon completion of their HSE, industry certifications and three-month work-based learning experience, students will be qualified for full-time positions at Cook Biotech in West Lafayette. Students will then have access to Cook’s tuition assistance program that provides financial support for employees to pursue additional post-secondary training and career advancement opportunities.
“The SEAL program has proven to be a valuable part of YWCA Greater Lafayette’s mission, creating a pipeline to employment, and providing opportunities for continued growth to our participants, as well as supporting our local businesses, organizations, and the economy,” said Kelly Hampton, Director of Empowerment Services at YWCA Greater Lafayette. “We are so thankful for the SEAL program, and what it is doing for our community.”
Amy Wood, Executive Director of the Lafayette Area Resource Center, said, “The SEAL program empowers those in our community who are underskilled or without a high school diploma to gain credentials and secure employment with a great company like Cook Biotech while also encouraging participants to seek continued career advancement through additional education attainment.”
SEALs are Indiana’s state-level pre-apprenticeship programs. They are designed to deliver work-and-learn experiences for participants along with the skills and certifications that employers’ value. These programs are geared toward both adult and youth populations, and they satisfy Indiana’s high school graduation pathway requirements.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development projects Indiana employers will need to fill more than 1 million additional jobs in the next 10 years, half of which will not require a four-year college degree, but some type of certification or credential beyond a high school diploma.
For more information about the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy SEAL, or SEALs in general, visit the OWBLA website at www.INwbl.com or email the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship at wbl@dwd.in.gov .
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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.
About the Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship (OWBLA)
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.
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