Southern Indiana Business Report
BLOOMINGTON — A new session of Code/IT Academy is launching at The Mill in Bloomington. A partnership between the Bloomington-based nonprofit center for entrepreneurship and coworking, Ivy Tech Community College, and the City of Bloomington, Code/IT is a free 10-week upskilling program for locals seeking to transition to higher-paying jobs in the digital economy. The spring 2022 session prepares students to take the CompTIA Security+ certification exam, which is a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity jobs.
“For this cohort, you do need to have a basic understanding of computer systems and network infrastructure in order to participate,” Melissa Ward, Head of Initiatives and Partnerships for The Mill. “But that’s the only prerequisite. We’ll provide access to laptops to those who need them, and a voucher to cover the exam costs.”
The spring 2022 session launches in early March and runs for 10 weeks. Classes are held twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Participants should also expect to spend about three hours a week on work outside of class, according to Ward. Code/IT Academy will be held in person, on site at The Mill, with full COVID safety precautions.
The program also includes career counseling through Ivy Tech’s Career Coaching and Employer Connections, mock interviews, and job placement support. Participants receive a part-time membership to The Mill to ensure they have access to high-speed WiFi, a quiet place to learn, and a supportive community.
The Mill launched the program in 2020 to build Bloomington’s tech talent pool and to increase equitable access to high-paying jobs in the digital economy. Code/IT Academy is funded in part through a generous grant from the City of Bloomington. Preference is given to applicants without a college degree.
The deadline to apply for the CompTIA Security+ cohort is Feb. 25. Learn more and apply here. (While The Mill focuses on Monroe County, representatives told Southern Indiana Business Report there are no specific residency requirement for the class.) Employers interested in supporting Code/IT Academy graduates with mock interviews or job placement should contact Melissa Ward, head of partnerships and initiatives.