Student participation agreement

I confirm that I am a participant of PACE SkillRISE.

I have achieved mastery of all course competencies that were included in my program pathway before this employer project.

I am legally eligible to work in the United States according to the relevant state and federal legislation and regulations, and will remain eligible throughout the duration of the project period.

I understand that to receive the $500 or $1000 stipend for the project, I must meet the above eligibility requirements.

I will submit all required paperwork and my final deliverables to the employer through the Riipen platform.

I will complete all program surveys by the specified deadlines.

I acknowledge and agree that I am not, and will not become, by participating in PACE SkillRISE, an employee of PACE SkillRISE, UC Merced, Riipen Networks Inc., or any affiliated education partner or project partner company.

I understand that only projects that are approved by the PACE SkillRISE team and accessed through the Riipen platform are eligible for the stipend.

I understand that I must be confirmed and added to a project team before the start date and must track progress through the Riipen platform from start to finish. Projects that are completed/tracked off the platform will not qualify for the $500 or $1000 stipend.

I understand to qualify for the stipend, that I must complete the outlined 20 or 40 hours of work within four to eight weeks on a schedule that is agreed by my participant team and the employer. Those 20 or 40 hours must be spent in a good faith effort to complete the project as defined by the employer. Working more than the outlined 20 or 40 hours is not recommended or required, and will not be compensated. Partial payments are not offered.

I understand that I must not exceed five hours of project work per week.

I understand that I must communicate with the employer before and during the project to fully understand the project scope and ensure that the work is on track.

I understand that the project timelines must align with the PACE SkillRISE schedule. Projects must be completed within four to eight weeks of project start. Participant exit surveys and employer feedback must also be submitted within two weeks of project completion.

I acknowledge that I am required to upload the final project deliverables to the employer via the Riipen platform at project submission. Final deliverables should include:

I understand that my team must provide our final submission on the Riipen platform prior to the project end date. If the employer and my team collectively agree to change the end date, I will notify the PACE SkillRISE team a minimum of five business days prior to the end date currently recorded on the platform.

I understand that payment will be made only after I have completed the exit survey and the PACE SkillRISE team has evaluated the project submission with input from the employer. A project that is not completed will not be eligible for the stipend. Payment processing is not immediate. Note: A stipend will begin to be processed when the employer provides feedback on a project submission and the participant exit survey has been received. Details of the stipend payment process and timelines can be accessed here.

I understand that during and after the completion of the employer project, I will be invited to complete follow-up surveys about my experiences with the PACE SkillRISE program and my employment journey. I acknowledge that participation in PACE SkillRISE requires a commitment to completing these surveys.

I understand that I will work only on one employer project as part of the 2025-2026 PACE SkillRISE cohort and will be paid only for that one project once completed and in accordance with the statements above.

I acknowledge that if I receive a stipend payment that I was not entitled to, I may need to return such funds. This includes, but is not limited to, situations such as:

PACE SkillRISE program is offered by Riipen in partnership with UC Merced. I understand that as part of the initiative, PACE SkillRISE may check in with me periodically to ask some follow-up questions and to provide information about future opportunities. To that end, I agree to engage in follow-up sessions.

I must conduct myself with respect and professionalism toward others at all times while participating in the PACE SkillRISE program. This includes refraining from harassment, discrimination, hate speech, threats, or any form of abusive behavior that would be considered hateful, religiously, racially or ethnically offensive, or that is otherwise inappropriate or disrespectful at Riipen’s discretion.

Violation of the above conduct may result in immediate removal, suspension, or termination of participation in the program without prior notice.

The program team reserves the right to determine, at their discretion, what constitutes a violation of respectful behavior in line with Riipen’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Any decision made by Riipen regarding the termination of my participation due to a violation of this agreement is final and binding.

I am solely responsible for my actions and behaviors while using this service, and I understand that I must adhere to this agreement to continue using the service.