Hammond, Ind. (March 9, 2023) – Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ) is partnering with Ascend Indiana to expand the college’s resources for career success to connect more students to good and promising career opportunities and internships in Indiana, through the Ascend Network, the initiative’s online job matching platform. In addition, this partnership provides Indiana’s leading employers with a unique platform for hiring CCSJ students.

With this partnership, CCSJ joins the ranks of Indiana Higher Education institutions including Purdue University, Indiana University, Ball State University, Ivy Tech Community College, the University of Notre Dame, and others, in the work of connecting quality, qualified job seekers to excellent job opportunities throughout the state. CCSJ will focus on job opportunities specifically in Northwest Indiana.

Since its inception in 2017, Ascend has connected more than 3,000 Hoosiers with jobs and training opportunities in all sectors across the state. More than 600 employers are currently using the Network.

The Network adds a robust resource to CCSJ’s efforts to help students and recent graduates find jobs and internships that align with their career goals and provides a lens into the variety of companies and opportunities here in the Hoosier state. As the most affordable private university in Indiana, CCSJ prides itself on its commitment to students and their success. This partnership further ensures that students have the tools and resources needed to utilize their degrees and successfully step from the academic world into their new careers.

“I’m very excited about our partnership with Ascend Indiana,” said Matt Vicars, director of Career Services at CCSJ. “As the workforce begins to become more competitive again, it’s the goal of our department, and the College as a whole, to ensure that our students have everything they need to succeed after graduation. Ascend is definitely going to be a valuable tool in all students’ utility belts going forward.”

“It is critical for Indiana to retain more college students with relevant skills and abilities to meet employer demand for talent,” said Jason Kloth, president and CEO of Ascend Indiana. “Partnering with educational institutions such as Calumet College of St. Joseph is essential to equipping students with the necessary tools to get their career started here through an internship or early-in-career job, as well as to helping employers connect to the talent they need.”

The Ascend Network is a resource offered through Career Services and at no cost to students and recent graduates. Through the Network, students receive personalized job and internship recommendations that lead to meaningful careers in Indiana. During the job search, application and interview process, Career Services will continue to provide individualized support and educational resources, in partnership with Ascend. Students can find out more information here: https://ascendindiana.com/.

For more information about CCSJ and its Career Services department, including how to get your local business or organization involved, please e-mail Matt Vicars directly at mvicars@ccsj.edu.

About Calumet College

Calumet College of St. Joseph is a private, Catholic institution of higher learning located in Hammond, Ind.  Sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the College lives out a commitment to social justice through education and community service and has provided access to education for students of the Calumet Region since 1951. To learn more, visit https://www.ccsj.edu/.

About Ascend Indiana

An initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), Ascend Indiana is committed to making Indiana a place of economic opportunity for all. Ascend connects job seekers to good and promising career opportunities through an innovative job matching platform, the Ascend Network; catalyzes partnerships and provides consulting services to meet high-demand workforce needs through Ascend Services; and conducts research through Ascend Insights to enable systems-level change that positively impacts individuals throughout the state. To learn more, visit ascendindiana.com.