Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, many institutions have faced struggles filling service positions. In an effort to address workplace shortages, Bismarck State College Human Resources has found innovative solutions by partnering with a local correctional center.
BSC is working with Missouri River Correctional Center in an effort to fill a number of entry level positions around campus. BSC Human Resources is hoping this program can help them address shortages in the departments of Buildings and Grounds and Food Services.
BSC Human Resources Manager Meagan Miller is leading the charge for this program. Her idea to partner with MRCC came about thanks to her eight years of experience working in the North Dakota Department of Corrections before coming to BSC. She says inmates are a good group of people for the types of jobs BSC is trying to fill on campus.
“This group of people are very able bodied, they are willing to work–working is a privilege for them,” Miller said.
She started working on this program last fall. At that time, Miller started speaking with the Deputy Warden at MRCC to come up with a proposal to present to the executive committee on campus.
“There was a lot of work on the front end, and we really took our time putting the proposal together and really looking at it holistically,” Miller said.
Miller says that BSC will only consider “low-risk” inmates, which are inmates that have a shorter remaining length of their sentence, such as six to twelve months and who are convicted of less serious crimes. Both BSC and MRCC have lists of requirements candidates must fulfill to apply for a BSC job. All candidates go through the standard BSC hiring process which includes a background check.
Miller says the program will start small. Applications first became available to inmates back in March while students were on spring break. So far, three residents have applied for jobs through the program and can start as early as this month. Part of starting small is to allow the campus community to become comfortable with the program, which gives it the best possibility of success.
“Ultimately, when those guys get out, our ultimate goal is to retain them as employees and have them work–if there is an opportunity full time,” Miller said.
Retainment is a major goal, but it’s not the only focus of the program. Miller says this program carries many benefits to campus and the community at large. She says BSC and MRCC share a similar mission of strengthening communities, supplying support and allowing people to be successful.
“It’s really a win-win for us,” Miller explains. “We get skilled workers; we get those positions filled, we can provide more services and better services to the students, staff and faculty. And [the residents] have meaningful, hopefully long term work.”
Some on campus have raised concerns to Miller, which has allowed her to show others the benefits of the program. She also said that if anyone, MRCC resident or not, is not following campus protocols, to report it to HR. All employees at BSC are held to the same standards and code of conduct.
“We are working to provide better neighbors. We’re helping to set these guys up for success, and we're able to be successful on campus as well,” Miller said.
Anyone with questions or concerns about the program can reach out to Miller or Chief Human Resource Officer Nicole Mikkelsen, or stop by the Human Resources Department located in the Meadowlark Building.
(Find on Page 3 of Mystician 84.7)