About the Remote Online Initiative

During the 2018 legislative session, House Bill 327: Rural Online Initiative was passed and signed into law by Governor Gary R. Herbert. Funding was appropriated to Utah State University Extension for program development and delivery across 15 targeted rural counties. Official training to rural residents began on October 1, 2018. Since then, the ROI program has expanded to serve 21 rural Utah counties.

The Remote Online Initiative (ROI) covers several training programs that empower rural communities and businesses to take advantage of remote work opportunities. The initiative began with the Certified Remote Work Professional (CRWP) course and later expanded to include the Certified Remote Work Leader (CRWL) course. Over the 4-year period, the ROI piloted four courses related to remote work and recently partnered with MarketStar to offer a career pathway course.

About ROI’s flagship courses:

● Certified Remote Work Professional (CRWP): a 1-month course that teaches participants the skills required to find a remote job and function successfully in a remote work environment. Participants learn everything from effective communication techniques for team collaboration to specific software tools commonly used in telework settings. The course also assists participants in their preparation to search and interview for legitimate remote jobs, bid on online freelance jobs, or start an ecommerce business. Scholarships for additional skills training are available at the end of the course to enhance participants’ professional skill sets.

● Certified Remote Work Leader (CRWL): a 1-month course that was piloted in February 2020. This course was designed for businesses located along the Wasatch Front. It provides training to organizational leaders on the best practices and core skills for effectively creating remote work environments in their organizations, and leading hybrid-remote and fully distributed employees. Throughout the course, participants create remote work plans that could be transitioned into remote work policies within their organizations.

● Certified Tech Sales Professional (CTSP): a new collaboration with Utah System of Higher Education, Talent Ready Utah, and MarketStar. The CTSP is designed for Utah graduates of the CRWP. These graduates are eligible for an opportunity to become certified tech sales professionals via a 1-month, 45-hour, specialized training course. CRWP graduates will benefit from a streamlined career path that starts with professional training and ends with a guaranteed job interview with MarketStar. The first cohort began January 2023.

SINCE 2018, ROI EXPANDED TO PILOT OTHER COURSES

Ecommerce for Rural

Businesses helps new and existing entrepreneurs create, market, and manage their online websites.

Entrepreneurship helps participants navigate new remote business ventures.

Remote Job Search: Skills for Success educates MRWP graduates and other jobseekers on the tools needed to successfully navigate the remote job search process.

4-H Remote Skills Camp: For College and Career Readiness educates high school students on remote work as a career readiness option.

Negotiation for Remote Work teaches employees how to evaluate their current job for compatibility with remote work and how to prepare for a successful negotiation with their supervisor for approving remote or hybrid work arrangements.