Bridges/Projects/Experiential Learning (End-User)

Article Sections

• End-User Experience (Project Seeker)

• End-User Experience (Project Sponsor)

• Project Terms of Service Agreement

Overview

Bridges is an engaging tool that provides users with guided support as they work to complete projects. Every project post helps build the bridge to opportunity. Posts by alumni or even a parent connect your community to opportunity.

End-User Experience (Project seeker)

Through Bridges, your community’s collection of experiential learning opportunities is supported by a host of alumni and other external constituents. This will help catalyze career-skill development! Soon you will be able to view Projects from community members from other BridgesAlliance partners. The Project Sponsor and the Project Seeker will be able to message each other.

The Project Seeker steps are simple:

1. Click on Opportunities tab.
2. You'll see a pop-up asking you to list the job functions in which you'd like to gain experience. This is a great way to receive the most relevant recommendations.
3. You can also use the search bar at the top to narrow your search to certain job functions.
4. Click the title of a position that interests you.
5. (optional) You can email the Project Sponsor from the page.
6. Click Apply Now.
   1. Note: the following step with mentors only appears for PeopleGrove customers, not Stand-alone Bridges users.
   2. Below the Project Seeker will see blurred out mentor options for this project based on the mentor's Industry Experience. Once the Project Seeker is hired, the mentors' information will appear, and they can be reached directly from the project page.
7. Upload resume.  
8. Click Submit or upload another piece of information.
9. See the application as pending 

The Project Sponsor will receive the Project Seeker's information in their inbox and can review it. Once the Project Seeker has been hired (and the Project Sponsor changes the Project Status to Hired for that seeker) an email will be sent to the newly hired Project Seeker.

After a seeker has been hired they will receive an invitation in their inbox to begin a Projects Pathway that will guide them step-by-step on how to handle a professional work project. 

Seekers will have access to this Pathway through their invite email as well as through their PeopleGrove site on the Project page.

From the platform, the hired Project Seeker can view the Project and choose mentors to be attached to the project.

The Seeker can click Ask for Help from one of the three mentors on your platform who have matching job functions with this project.

They will also receive a nudge before sending the message that recommends they schedule a meeting with the mentor.

Once the message has been sent, this mentor's information along with the sponsor's information will also be attached to the right side of the project page.

The Pathway will guide the seeker along the path of eventually submitting their final project. Once the project has been completed, the Seeker can choose to change the project status in their inbox. The Sponsor must agree that it has been completed and approve it themselves. Once it has been approved the Seeker will receive a Badge on their profile. 

End-User Experience (Project Sponsor)

Through Bridges, your community’s collection of experiential learning opportunities is supported by a host of alumni and other external constituents. This will help catalyze career-skill development! Soon Project Seekers will be able to view Projects from community members from other BridgesAlliance partners. The Project Sponsor and the Project Seeker will be able to message each other.

Here are the quick steps for Project Sponsors to list and hire

1. Click on Opportunities or Projects tab.
   1. If your platform also has Opportunities, it will appear like the image below. Clicking the Explore Projects button will bring the user to the Projects page.
   2. If the platform does not have Opportunities, the user will only see a Projects tab.
   3. A pop-up will appear asking you to list job functions in which you have experience. By adding this information, you'll be able to receive appropriate project template recommendations.
   4. The Sponsor can choose three ways to post a Project
      1. Choose Post a Project on the right to post a project without the help of a template.
      2. Choose one of the three Copy Template options at the bottom of the page.
      3. Click "See more project templates or create your own" to see 12 additional template options or create without a template.
      4. Fill in the project information remembering to choose job functions as well when prompted (this information helps connect mentors to the project). Click Preview and Submit
      5. Click Review Terms and Submit - This section addresses Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, terms regarding tax documents, and intellectual property
      6. Type signature and acknowledge these the terms
      7. Wait for Approval from a platform administrator
      8. View My Projects to see your post. You can click the human icon to view your applicants
      9. Review applicants. You will receive an email when a new applicant has applied for your Project. Attachments you requested are in that email
      10. You can review the applicants by following the link in the email or the human icon on your post.
          1. You can take several actions from the applicants' link:
             1. Click on the applicant's name to see their PeopleGrove profile
             2. View the date applied
             3. View their User Type
             4. Review the uploaded documents (Click on them to open)
             5. Change the Status of their hire
             6. Click the email icon under action to email them directly 
                1. The message will go to their PeopleGrove inbox and a notification will be sent to their email
      11. Once you have chosen Hire from the drop-down menu for your appropriate candidate you will receive a message (you can hire multiple applicants for the same role if you wish. Though, your inbox will only allow for conversation threads with each individual, not the entire group as one)
      12. Message the Seeker you hired. Click the Message button. This message will go to their email as well as their PeopleGrove inbox
      13. You can change the Project Status at the top of your conversation in the PeopleGrove inbox with your Hired Project Seeker
      14. Be sure to change the Status to Completed once you have received the final project from your Hired Seeker

Project Terms of Service Agreement

Project Posting - Terms and Conditions

Thank you for agreeing to post a project and help bridge the gap between education and meaningful work experience within your community. 

Please read and understand the following terms when posting a project. By submitting your project you are agreeing to the following terms between you, (the “Poster”) and the applicant (the “Project Recipient”). You must agree to these terms to post a project. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Payment for projects

If this project is a paid project, you, the Poster, are responsible for arranging payment with the Project Recipient. If payments for the project exceed $600 in any calendar year, the Poster is responsible for any necessary tax documents such as a W9 or 1099. 

Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act

If this is an unpaid project, the Poster is representing that this project meets the requirements of an unpaid internship, as outlined here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/71-flsa-internships. In general, unpaid projects should not be for work that would otherwise be completed by a paid employee. Unpaid projects should be for the educational benefit of the Project Recipient. 

If this is a paid project, the Poster is responsible for any necessary contractor agreements between the Poster and the Project Recipient. In general, the Project Recipient should be considered independent contractors. 

Intellectual property and confidentiality

If you, the Poster, expects to own the intellectual property of this project or expects a level of confidentiality, it is your responsibility to execute any necessary documents between you and the Project Recipient. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the Project Recipient will maintain intellectual property ownership and will not have an expectation of confidentiality. 

Limitation of liability

This website is operating as a matching service between you, the Poster, and the Project Recipient. This website assumes no responsibility, and shall not be liable for, any loss, claim, damage, or any special, exemplary, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind (including, but not limited to, lost profits or lost savings), whether based in contract, tort, strict liability, or otherwise, which arises out of or is any way connected with the website. This limitation of liability shall apply regardless of whether the claim asserted is based on contract, negligence, or any other theory of recovery.