2014 -- S 2159

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LC003683

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE BRIDGE.JOBS PROGRAM BE EXPANDED TO

INCLUDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THAT IT PARTNER WITH THE STATE

APPRENTICESHIP COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Crowley, Metts, DiPalma, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     WHEREAS, Internships are a proven way for students to obtain practical work

experience, strengthen their resumes, and learn important soft skills such as punctuality and

teamwork. College students who participate in internships are more likely to receive a job offer

after graduation, while businesses and organizations are able to access a pipeline of emerging

talent; and

     WHEREAS, bRIdge.jobs is a web-based internship resource that matches Rhode Island

employers with talented students looking to gain professional experience; and

     WHEREAS, An initiative of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority’s College

Planning Center of Rhode Island, bRIdge.jobs brings together the combined resources of

academia, business, and the community. Through bRIdge.jobs, Rhode Island’s businesses,

institutions of higher education, and other organizations can introduce college students to career

opportunities in specialized fields such as business, science, IT, technology, health, design,

engineering, and manufacturing; and

     WHEREAS, Through the bRIdge website, employers can post paid or unpaid internships

online and directly reach out to a vast and talented pool of students in Rhode Island. This

outstanding resource allows college students and recent graduates in the state to sign up and start

looking for an appropriate professional learning opportunity in minutes; and

     WHEREAS, Internships such as those that are communicated through bRIdge.jobs are

valuable for students who have not yet entered into college. Motivated high school students who

want to explore potential careers and understand the opportunities in different industries also

stand to benefit from the networking that is made available through bRIdge.jobs; and

     WHEREAS, To create a robust workforce pipeline in Rhode Island, as many career

resources as possible need to be provided to our talented high school students; now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests that bRIdge.jobs expand its program to allow interested high school

students to access its resources; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate also respectfully requests that bRIdge.jobs partner with the

Department of Labor and Training’s State Apprenticeship Council to ensure collaboration and

increase job-embedded opportunities for our youth; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is directed and authorized to send

a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rhode

Island Student Loan Authority.

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