Ascent borrowers are granted the unique opportunity to engage in employer-led project-based internships, in partnership with Riipen and wrap around support. With specialized career development resources and personalized coaching provided by AscentUP, this collaboration will equip learners with the skills, confidence, and experience necessary to thrive in their careers.

By taking part in the AscentUP program learners are able to enhance and showcase their skills, form employer networks, and connect with long-term employment opportunities. Completed remotely over 3-6 weeks, employer projects provide authentic experience and support career clarity to pave the way for success in the dynamic job market.

AscentUP is an exclusive program for Ascent Funding Borrowers. If you are interested in joining AscentUP, you can apply here. If successful and invited to an employer project, you can find out more on getting started in the Riipen platform here.

Learners can only complete 1 AscentUP project. Each project is 30 hours in length and can be completed over the course of 3-6 weeks.

All AscentUP projects must be completed over 3-6 weeks and by August 31st 2024. Each learner is expected to contribute 30 hours to the project. A project timeline can be adjusted, as long it still meets those requirements and if both the employer and the learner team are in agreement to do so. To adjust the project timeline that is recorded on the Riipen platform, the employer can make a request from the settings page on the match. Instructions for how to do this can be found here. The AscentUP team will review and approve new date change requests within 2 business days.

While completing your employer project, you will have continued access to the AscentUP training platform which is inclusive of career support training modules and there is a live career coach available for ongoing one-on-one support.

Final submissions may include multiple files. Your deliverables must include files of your work or a comprehensive written summary of the work completed, and a completed work log on the Riipen platform Your final submission upload should demonstrate that 30 hours of work has been completed for the project. If our team is unable to ascertain that a good faith effort has been made to complete the project as defined by the employer we will have to follow up with yourself and the employer. This will cause your payment to be delayed.

Once you submit your final project submission, employers will have the chance to leave feedback on their experience working with you - both public (on your Riipen profile) and private feedback. They will also be asked to approve the deliverables, confirm that the project adhered to the AscentUP Terms and Conditions, and that the project deliverables were completed within 30 hours per learner.

We encourage you to keep open lines of communication with the employer during the project to ensure you are both in agreement about the desired project outcomes.

The AscentUP team will also review your final deliverables. If our team is unable to ascertain that a good faith effort has been made to complete the project as defined by the employer we will have to follow up with you and the employer. If 14 days have elapsed and the employer has not provided feedback, please reach out to the AscentUP team. We will contact your employer again and if we do not hear back we will review your final deliverable on behalf of the employer.

Each Learner will be paid for the project in the form of a stipend, with payments processed via Tipalti. You will submit your banking information when you join the program. Each learner is required to complete 30-hours of work and the program exit survey to receive their $300 stipend.

AscentUP operates on a 21 day payout period for learners completing AscentUP projects. Your stipend will begin to be processed when the AscentUP employer you worked with provides feedback on your project submission. If 14 days have elapsed and the AscentUP employer has not provided feedback, please reach out to the AscentUP team. We will contact your employer again and if we do not hear back we will review your final deliverable on behalf of the employer, which may cause your payment to be delayed. You can find further details about our payments process here.

In an effort to create a good AscentUP experience for all parties, we have Terms and Conditions, which can be found here. Please take a moment to read through them. You will be asked to sign the T&Cs agreement before you can apply to an employer project. We've also created a three strike system. This means that if any AscentUP user goes against the Terms and Conditions, they will receive a strike. You will be notified via e-mail when/if you've received a strike. If you receive three strikes, you will be removed from the program and will no longer be able to participate and receive a stipend.

Unfortunately not. Learners will be paid once the project is submitted and exit survey is completed, in the form of a stipend. For that reason, learners who do not fully complete the project, will not be paid. Additionally, if you do not clearly communicate to the employer and the AscentUP team that you are unable to complete a project, you will receive a strike (see three strike system).

If you’re struggling to get in contact with a member of your team, be sure to let the employer know straight away. You should also let the AscentUP team know via email (ascentup@riipen.com), or via live chat on the platform. The AscentUP team will then reach out to the team member and the employer, with the aim to re-engage the team member and to understand if there’s additional support we can provide.

Continued unresponsiveness or a lack of commitment is a breach of the program’s T&Cs and is considered a strike (see three strike system). This may lead to a team member being removed from the project. If that happens, you should work with the employer to readjust the project deliverables and continue your 30 hour internship project.

If you’re struggling to get in contact with an employer you should also let the AscentUP team know as soon as possible via email (ascentup@riipen.com), or via live chat on the platform. The AscentUP team will then reach out with the aim to re-engage them and understand if there’s additional support we can provide. Continued unresponsiveness or a lack of commitment is a breach of the program’s T&Cs and is considered a strike (see three strike system). This may lead to the employer being unable to post additional projects on the platform.

No. Learners are neither employees of the organization they do a project for, nor of Riipen (who will pay their stipend). As such, learners do not qualify for any benefits and will not obtain any record of employment from either organizations. Upon joining the AscentUP program, Riipen will require learners to submit their legal name, social security number and mailing address so that we can issue the appropriate tax form(s).

All learners engaged in the AscentUP program for the 2024 tax year will be issued a 1099. You can expect to receive this in February 2025. This will be available on your Riipen account in your user settings under "issued documents". You will receive an email notification when it has been uploaded.

If you need a verification letter to confirm your participation in the AscentUP program you can request one by sending an email to people@riipen.com and we can verify the dates of your participation.

Yes. It is the responsibility of the organization to provide software license/access to learners if required to perform the work.