As Indiana’s manufacturing sector works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vincennes University continues to introduce innovative educational and training options to retrain workers moving to new career pathways.

In February 2021, Dubois County unemployment was 3.6%, up from 2.4% in February 2020. Nearby Pike, Crawford, and Orange counties all have unemployment rates above Indiana’s average of 4.7%.

Catapult Production Training is an innovative four-week industry-led training program focused on the skills and competencies required for entry-level employment and career growth in advanced manufacturing. Students will receive face-to-face paid classroom instruction with both theory, hands-on training, and simulations, followed by direct hire or internship opportunities. All graduates will receive a certificate and academic credit hours.

Students are not required to have any previous experience to join the program. Classes will run for four weeks, eight hours a day, and students will receive a stipend of $12/hour while attending. The program will culminate with students earning a certificate of completion and participating in an exclusive hiring fair. There is no cost to the student for the Catapult Production Training program.

90% of students who complete the Catapult Production Training program leave with at least one job offer. Many students receive multiple offers before the program finishes.

"Catapult Production Training is an innovative approach to engage a whole new segment of Indiana's population with the manufacturing industry," said Vincennes University Jasper Assistant Vice President and Dean Christian Blome. "VUJC is proud to partner with several community leaders to bring this ground-breaking opportunity to Southern Indiana."

The Catapult Production Training program at Vincennes University Jasper is a collaborative effort between Vincennes University, Conexus Indiana, Radius Indiana, Dubois County Community Foundation, Grow Dubois, Indiana Furniture, Kimball Electronics, Jasper Engines and Transmissions, Farbest Foods, and OFS.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 12 launched the training program on the VU Jasper campus.

“With the ongoing challenge of finding a skilled workforce, Kimball Electronics is proud to partner with VUJC to launch the Catapult Production Training program,” said Kimball Electronics Human Resources Manager Sue Habig. “Our hope is to provide the skills necessary to secure a rewarding career at Kimball Electronics through the Catapult program to those who may have never considered a career in manufacturing previously."

Individuals interested in learning more about VU Jasper’s Catapult Production Training should go to https://www.vinu.edu/catapult.

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