Bellevue College and Year Up Puget Sound have partnered to provide college credits to urban youth completing Year Up’s one year IT training program.

Lauded by President Barack Obama, Year Up is a national nonprofit organization that provides IT career training to urban young adults and helps them secure internships with U.S. companies. Successful completion of the intensive, one-year program enables graduates to move into full-time employment and higher education. Year Up has nine sites across the United States; their Puget Sound location opened in March 2011.

“Year Up has a stellar reputation for solid IT training, strong life skills components and outstanding employment and education outcomes,” said said Darlene Molsen, Associate Dean of Workforce Education.

At Bellevue College, Workforce Education provides training opportunities for low income, under/unemployed individuals, will lead the partnership for the college. Staff in the Workforce Education office are providing admissions, registration, financial aid and college planning services to Year Up students to assist with the transition to college once their Year Up training is complete. Year Up students who successfully complete the required course work can receive up to 20 college credits for their Year Up training and internship.

Over the next few months BC staff will bring employment related workshops to Year Up students, help students identify the next steps on their career path and begin enrolling students who are accepted into the second Year Up class.