Hosting a RISE student, in plain language

How RISE works

RISE Caldwell–Watauga matches high school students with local employers for supervised, on-the-job learning. Toolkit §1

RISE serves every high school student in Caldwell and Watauga counties, across more than 785 square miles: public schools, private schools and homeschools alike. Students apply for one of three cohorts each year.

Students apply through the online form on the RISE website or through the Career Development or Transition Coach at their school. Homeschool students use the online form.

From application to first day

1. The student applies

   Online or through their school coach.

2. RISE interviews the student

   RISE screens for fit and career interest.

3. You interview the student

   You make the call on whether they're right for your workplace.

4. The student attends RISE Orientation

   Students get employability (soft) skills training before they arrive.

5. The student starts at your worksite

   They complete at least 120 hours of on-the-job training over the semester.

Who you'll host

RISE students are juniors, seniors or super seniors who have already shown interest in your field. Toolkit §2

Every RISE student must

• Live in Caldwell or Watauga County
• Have a career interest in your field and related coursework or credentials
• Complete at least 120 hours of on-the-job training
• Complete RISE weekly assignments
• Meet any academic or certification requirements you set
• Earn satisfactory or higher on performance evaluations
• Attend all RISE employment training sessions

Building a quality placement

Five steps take you from "we'd like to host" to a student who could become a long-term hire. Toolkit §5

1. Define your goals and policies

   • Name your main reason for hosting a student.
   • Look at current needs, upcoming projects and growth areas such as retirements or expansion.
   • Pick projects that help your business and teach the student something real.
   • Decide which roles are open and who will supervise and mentor. Ideally that's someone who enjoys teaching.
   • Decide whether the placement is paid or unpaid. See the stipends each option unlocks.

2. Create a work plan

   • Outline goals, timeline, workspace and project details.
   • Draft a job description. Both feed straight into the MOU & Work Plan.

3. Recruit with RISE

   • Your RISE Specialist works with local high schools to find a student interested in your field.
   • The student completes soft skills training before starting.

4. Supervise and support the student

   • Give clear instructions, tools and ongoing guidance. For many students this is their first job.
   • Set daily, weekly and monthly goals to build good work habits.
   • Track progress and give regular feedback.
   • Take part in required onsite visits and evaluations with RISE.
   • Review evaluations with the student every month.

5. Wrap up with an exit interview

   • Hold an exit interview and consider offering part-time or full-time work if it's a good fit.
   • Meet with the RISE team about outcomes and what to improve.
   • Consider hosting a new student next semester.
   • Consider offering your current student a long-term Registered Apprenticeship placement.

Pay & RISE stipends

You choose whether the placement is paid. RISE supports you either way, with more support for paid placements. Toolkit §5, Step 1

Paid placements can take many forms: hourly pay, stipends, travel reimbursement or performance bonuses.

Uniforms, tools & supplies for pre-apprenticeships

Pre-apprenticeship hosts can also get reimbursed for uniforms, tools and supplies in these industries:

Youth certificates

North Carolina has specific paperwork for workers under 18. Start by meeting with your RISE representative to confirm which certificates apply. Youth Certificate Directions

1. Standard Youth Certificate

Always required when the worker is under 18 and is working at, and paid by, a non-government business. Follow the step-by-step directions on the NC Department of Labor youth employment page. Once the certificate is emailed to your business, the student can start work.

2. Detrimental occupations

Students in bona fide apprenticeship or student-learner programs are exempt from the ban on youth working in detrimental occupations, but special work guidelines still apply and a youth employment certificate is still required. Through RISE, a student may work in a detrimental occupation once a Supervised Practice Youth Work-Based Learning Experience Application is completed before the pre-apprenticeship begins.

• Complete the application with your RISE representative and email it to dol.youthintern@labor.nc.gov.
• The student can work at your facility with just the Standard Youth Certificate, but cannot work in the detrimental area until the application is approved with every signature on it.
• The student should have both the Standard Youth Certificate and the detrimental certificate.

3. Hazardous occupations (HO)

Tell RISE which hazardous occupation the student will work in so RISE can create a written agreement. It includes the student-learner's name and is signed by the employer, principal, parent or guardian, and student. The school and the employer each keep a copy. It does not get sent to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The written agreement must state that:

• Hazardous work is incidental to the student's training.
• It's intermittent, for short periods, and under the direct and close supervision of a qualified, experienced person.
• The school gives safety instructions, and you connect them to on-the-job training.
• A schedule of organized, progressive work processes has been prepared.

Full descriptions: federal regulations (29 CFR 570, Subpart E), NC DOL hazardous and detrimental occupations, and the U.S. DOL child labor FAQ.

Verifying hours monthly

RISE uses TimeClock Wizard to verify pre-apprenticeship hours so students can earn credit. Your student may also clock in at your company, but monthly verification in TimeClock Wizard is still required. Toolkit §4

You'll get an email from TimeClock Wizard with your login. If you need it resent, let RISE know.

1. Log in to TimeClock Wizard
   Go to timeclockwizard.com.
2. Enter the domain
   RISECWCopy with no spaces.
3. Handle pending timesheet requests
   In the Pending Requests box (upper left of the Dashboard), click Pending Timesheet Requests. These appear when a student forgot to clock in or out.

   • Approve or deny each one.
   • Click Save at the bottom.
4. Verify the month's timesheet
   In Pending Requests, click Timesheets to Verify.

   • Select your student's name.
   • Set the date range to the whole month (for example, February 1–28).
   • Review each day. Some entries may be required pre-apprentice training sessions.
   • Click Verify for each applicable day.
5. Save
   Click Save at the bottom of the page.

Fixing a time entry

Edit it from the Timesheet tab on the left. For immediate help, use the Chat Now button in the bottom-right corner of the TimeClock Wizard site.

Forms to complete

The toolkit includes three fillable forms, plus the youth certificate paperwork above when it applies. Toolkit §6–8

Contact RISE

Questions about hosting, certificates, stipends or TimeClock Wizard? Reach out anytime. Toolkit §3