Cooperative education is an academic support program that assists students in gaining practical work experience related to their academic major as an optional part of their academic program. The program permits students to get involved in the practical application of academic theory learned in the classroom. Students are awarded three hours of academic credit for each successfully completed co-op work experience.
Purpose
The world of work has changed radically in recent years. The downsizing and restructuring of corporate America have placed a premium on acquiring the necessary skills and education to be eligible for desired professional employment. On cooperative education work assignments students are exposed to the dynamics of the professional work place. They have an opportunity to enhance their social interaction skills, earn money to defray the cost of their education, and narrow their career choices.
Eligibility
Students who have completed at least thirty (30) semester hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.50 are eligible for the program. Transfer students who meet the above requirements may participate in the program immediately. Students are required to furnish the co-op office an up-to-date transcript, a résumé, and a completed co-op application. Co-op orientation seminar attendance is a must. Students will be interviewed by employers during a Co-op Interview Day held once a semester. Special employer interview schedules may be held after Co-op Interview Day activities for employers with special staffing needs.
Compensation
The jobs made available to co-op students will be in business, industry, government, and social agencies. The co-op student will receive full pay for the job that he or she performs. The average salary is dependent upon the student’s major, the company involved, and the region of the country in which the position is located. Usually, a student can expect to earn no less than $7 per hour. While financial reasons are secondary to the educational benefits, the center realizes that many students will seek participation in this program in order to meet the financial needs of completing their college education.
Length of Co-op Experience
The Alternating plan requires a minimum of 35 hours of work per week on a co-op assignment for the length of a semester. A minimum of two work semesters with a school semester in between is required. Academic credit is awarded for the learning objectives completed during a co-op work assignment. All participating students are required to enroll in the appropriate co-op course prior to beginning any co-op work assignment.
The Parallel plan requires 20 to 25 hours of work per week in a co-op assignment and a maximum of 13 hours of academic courses, including enrollment in the appropriate co-op course. These local area work assignments may continue throughout the school year.
Most students participate in the program in their sophomore and junior years and return to the university for their senior year of academic work on campus.
Advantages to the Student:
Permanent job placement for the co-op student is easy because of his/her background of work experience.
By coordinating work experience with the campus education program, theory and practice are more closely integrated and students find greater meaning in their studies. This coordination of work and study increases student motivation. As students see connections between the jobs they hold and the subjects they are learning on the campus, greater interest in academic work develops.
Cooperative education helps markedly to orient college students to the professional world of work.