Accelerating Education and Experience to Fill Tech Job Shortages

To secure a talent pipeline in the fields of information technology and advanced cybersecurity, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) approached East Tennessee State University (ETSU). Beginning in 2019, they began developing what would become the BlueSky Tennessee Institute, which would embrace all emerging best practices in the information technology and data science fields. The health plan provider intended for an accelerated degree pathway to address the workforce availability challenge it has confronted in these fields. When BCBST first approached the university, it employed 930 tech workers and outsourced 120 jobs. Fifty positions were open at the time, and in recent years, BCBST consistently had 50 or more vacant positions in this part of its organization. The BlueSky Tennessee Institute found that the Tennessee universities were not producing enough qualified graduates. In 2018, the universities graduated only 900 in-state students for 4,500 job openings for graduates with less than two years of experience, according to the Tennessee Labor Department.

Through extensive collaboration, BCBST and ETSU created curriculum and organized the internships and job-embedded experiences for the BlueSky Institute. They further leveraged the insurer’s brand strength and the university’s credibility to attract students. This opportunity was extended, in particular, to potential students in underserved populations who might not otherwise attend college. To make the program affordable, scholarships and other aid are offered to qualified students, making this opportunity of little to no cost to the student.

The institute’s inaugural cohort began in the summer of 2022 with the first graduating class expected in December 2024. In less than two and a half years, students in the BlueSky Institute graduate with bachelor’s degrees in computing with a concentration in information systems, as well as hands-on experience working in real-world business environments. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are offered employment at the health plan provider in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is no obligation for the students to accept this offer.

The Methodology

To plug labor shortages in the information technology and data science fields, ETSU developed BlueSky Tennessee Institute with BCBST. This 27-month accelerated pathway awards an ABET-accredited B.S. in computing with a concentration in information systems to successful graduates. Students must be admitted to the university and then be accepted into the institute, which involves a separate application process. All courses relating to their computing major—including information systems, information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, and modern networks—are taking place at the institute’s campus at BCBST headquarters in Chattanooga. On-site, university faculty and a student support manager work with BCBST personnel to support this program. General education courses are offered online.

Students also participate in work-based learning internships as BCBST trainees, supporting business projects. BCBST employees companywide—including the CEO and all members of the president’s executive team—mentor BlueSky students, teaching them to build trust and develop productive working relationships. Upon graduation, students will have a portfolio demonstrating what they’ve learned and created during the program.

Making this program affordable, particularly for students from underserved populations, involved scholarships and other student supports from Chattanooga area educational foundations and BCBST covering the cost of program delivery.

Key Takeaways

For nearly three years, ETSU collaborated with BCBST in creating the coursework and job-embedded experience for the BlueSky Tennessee Institute. BCBST shared the skills it needed and research on the extent of the labor shortage in the area. The university aligned these skills with its courses and programs and worked with BCBST to develop internships and work-based learning activities. This candid partnership also blossomed into a solid trust between the two organizations in preparing students to excel not just at BCBST but at any high-tech contemporary organization. In addition, the skills and outcomes in the BlueSky Institute informed curriculum revisions in the university’s other programs.

This initiative targeted students from underserved communities who may not otherwise have attended the university. Scholarships and other financial assistance were made available to qualified students based on their financial need, academic preparation, high school involvement and curriculum, interest in computing, and other information provided on their application. Through this aid, the program is little to no cost to the student and their family.