The Office of the Provost’s Equal Opportunity Programs launched the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Program through the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC). This program connects service members and spouses to industry partners who provide valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of military service. SkillBridge gives service members an opportunity to work and learn in civilian career areas and helps industry partners leverage a highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost. Service members participating in SkillBridge receive their military compensation and benefits, and industry partners provide the training and work experience. Some Skillbridge opportunities within the national laboratories can include pay for military spouses.
During OMAC’s six-month SkillBridge Program, service members and their spouses can intern across various academic and administrative areas in the University at no cost to the unit. Through a partnership with University of Chicago Professional Education (UCPE), eligible participants who hold an approved undergraduate degree and who successfully gain admission into the Graduate Student At-Large (GSAL) and Graduate Student At-Large-Business (GSAL-B) programs can take advanced undergraduate and/or graduate courses at the University. Participants who do not hold undergraduate degrees can register for courses at City Colleges of Chicago.
OMAC will place new interns every quarter. If your unit is interested in hosting SkillBridge interns beginning in October 2021, please contact Terrell Odom at todom@uchicago.edu
Note: For participants interested in the GSAL and GSAL-B programs, please check the deadlines for each quarter here. All application materials (including transcripts) must be submitted before the deadline. All applicants will be invited for a remote admissions interview soon thereafter.
Those interested (service members and their spouses) in applying to the Skillbridge Program should complete the applicant inquiry form by clicking here.
Department
Provost Equal Opportunity Programs, Office for Military-Affiliated Communities
About the Department
The Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) within Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP), part of the Office of the Provost, has University-wide responsibility that includes coordinating compliance and programs in the areas of Equal Opportunity (EO), Affirmative Action (AA), unlawful discrimination and harassment prevention, accessibility, veterans and military-affiliated programs, and Title IX. To achieve its goals, EOP works closely with the Office of Legal Counsel, Human Resources, and Campus and Student Life in collaboration with academic and administrative leaders throughout the University. We also work closely with our national laboratories to facilitate direct employment and Skillbridge opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses.
Argonne National Laboratory
For interest in positions and internships (including Skillbridge) with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), please visit their website for more details.
Interested parties should contact Gina Johnson by clicking here.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
For interest in positions and internships (including Skillbridge) with Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), please visit their VetTech and VALOR websites for more details.
Interested parties should contact Cortez Watkins by clicking here.
Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility
The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the University of Chicago advances groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research on the origins and nature of contemporary inequalities.
By bringing together an interdisciplinary community of scholars to exchange ideas, integrate approaches, and confront empirical challenges, the Stone Center generates the rigorous research necessary to guide effective policy solutions to ameliorate socioeconomic inequality, promote mobility, and improve economic well-being.
Interested parties should contact Grace Hammond by clicking here
Positions are hybrid (remote and in-person).
The OMAC Skillbridge Program welcomed the first intern participants on October 1, 2021. Applicants are accepted throughout the year.
Job Summary
The Skillbridge Intern reports directly to the Director of the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities. The intern will work with the Director of OMAC to assess, identify and implement strategies and programming for transitioning service members and their families, as they are entering the University. Internships are unpaid and consist of a 40 hour work week.
Responsibilities
- Partners with military-affiliated student groups, federal VA work-study participants and military-affiliated programs to support initiatives within the groups.
- Works with Director for OMAC to coordinate programs for the military-affiliated community.
- Participates in workshops and courses developed by OMAC and campus partners to enhance the intern’s communication, writing and research (qualitative & quantitative) skills.
- Research and draft grant proposals which support the military-affiliated community.
- Under the direction of the Director for OMAC, provide mentoring to student veterans in the College.
- Participate in research projects related to transitioning of student veterans and military families.
- Collaborate with offices within EOP on projects relating to military-affiliated communities.
- Interns are also placed throughout various academic or administrative units within the UChicago community. Training plans will be geared towards the intern's career goals.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include:
- Approval from the DoD to participate in a Skillbridge program
- Bachelor’s Degree (for participants who wish to take graduate courses while performing the internship)
Work Experience:
- Currently be serving on active duty in any branch of the armed services (Officer & Enlisted) and receive approval from the Department of Defense to participate in a Skillbridge Program.
Preferred Competencies:
- Knowledge of the military, VA and DoD, including education benefits.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to demonstrate understanding in groups of people and one-on-one.
Skillbridge interns will conduct a 40-hour work week consisting of the following daily tasks:
- 4 hours of internship work daily,
- 1.5 hours of research workshops, transitional support services, and programming for the military-affiliated community, and
- 1.5 hours of class time (for those wishing to enroll in GSAL or GSAL-B courses.
- If interested in taking GSAL and GSAL-B courses, you must also apply to these programs for admission consideration.
- Applicants can find more information on our graduate programs at UChicagoGRAD.
In addition to interning with OMAC, interns can be placed in various academic or administrative units throughout the University. Please view "Meet Our Interns" to see where others have been placed.
Please complete the applicant inquiry form by clicking here.
- Receive written approval to participate in Skillbridge from the Department of Defense (Some commands may request Skillbridge acceptance first and we will work with providing your command with the requested information)
- Resume/CV (Please indicate your discharge date and desired time to start Skillbridge internship)
- Statement of service (can be obtained from your military personnel office)
- A writing sample (a one-page paper on why you would like to join Skillbridge and your career goals)
- A copy of the Service Member's MilGears report
- Completion of University compliance and unit-specific trainings (completed upon acceptance into the program or unit)
Applications are accepted throughout the year and service members can apply at any time.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
If you have any immediate questions of concerns about the program please contact OMAC at veterans@uchicago.edu
