About nine months after the White House launched an initiative to help young Americans find jobs in the technology sector, Syracuse University has not been asked to join the program.

In March, the White House launched “TechHire,” which is geared toward young people struggling to find jobs. TechHire aims to work through “boot camp” style classes, as well as some classes online, according to a White House fact sheet. Classes within the TechHire program can be run independently, or can be embedded in the curriculum of a local university or community college, according to the fact sheet. The White House recently launched a $100 million grant competition relating to the program.

The goal is to train people between the ages of 17 and 29 in tech-related positions, such as software development, network administration and cyber security, according to the fact sheet.

Faculty at SU’s School of Information Studies are not opposed to investigating the program in the future, but for now, it seems that TechHire may not be what the iSchool is looking for, and vice versa, said Meredith Tornabene, assistant director of the career center at the iSchool.

“They’re focused on programs that are shorter, and that’s not necessarily what the school prides itself on,” Tornabene said. “This technology is constantly changing … we want to be sure we’re not preparing our students just for what’s popular right now.”

TechHire-sponsored classes do not require a four-year degree, but instead aim to train applicants within just a few months to get them back into the workforce as quickly as possible, according to the fact sheet.

However, Sarah Weber, director of employer relations at the iSchool, said in an email that while SU hasn’t been contacted about joining the program, the university may be open to the possibility of getting involved someday in the future.

Jeffrey Stanton, interim dean of the iSchool, said in an email the iSchool “is always open to partnerships.”

As of November, 35 cities, states and rural communities have joined the TechHire initiative, according to the fact sheet, and President Barack Obama hopes to reach 40 by the end of 2015.

As part of Obama’s agenda to decrease unemployment and bolster middle-class economics, TechHire hopes to land as many struggling Americans as possible in information technology positions, according to the fact sheet. Americans in IT positions tend to earn 50 percent higher wages than the average American with a private-sector job, according to the fact sheet.

“These IT jobs, if they’re able to get the training … have the potential to double (the students’) salaries,” Tornabene said. “You could potentially bring someone into a whole new tax bracket. You could change someone’s life.”

With TechHire, the White House aims to reach out to groups that are typically underrepresented in the IT field, such as people with disabilities, people with criminal records and immigrants who may still be learning English, according to the fact sheet.

The half-million currently empty IT positions in the U.S. account for about 12 percent of the 5.5 million jobs available, according to a White House press release.

“There is an almost unprecedented need in the technology sector that is currently not being met,” Tornabene said. “There are so many open jobs in IT that, no matter what companies are doing, no matter what recruiting resources they’re utilizing, they’re not able to meet their needs.”

Stanton said IT plays an important role in helping people, communities and countries to succeed in tackling societal problems.

“There is an ongoing need for individuals who can work in exciting, high-paying tech jobs,” he said.

Published on December 2, 2015 at 8:45 pm

Contact Bridget: blmcalli@syr.edu