TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
Cooperative Education Program

Information for Participating Employer

The Cooperative Education Program should be a major and integral part of any Employer's recruitment efforts and is designed to introduce interested college and graduate level students to career opportunities in their academic major-related fields. The Co-op Program will focus on attracting diverse students to seek employment opportunities in any employer's work force.

Cooperative Education is a planned learning process that integrates academic studies with supervised work experiences or projects. Students are employed for specific periods of time in positions related to their major field of study or career choice. The Co-op Program provides an excellent opportunity for students to receive on-the-job training and develop their technical skills in a professional and nurturing work environment.

I. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of Co-op Program are to:

1. Increase awareness among college students of the need for future professionals in their related careers.

2. Build an understanding of employer career opportunities among students
and college personnel, especially in educational institutions which offer degrees in engineering, computer science, business administration, busines management, finance and other technical and professional areas.

3. Foster a partnership between the university's staff, faculty and employer. Meet the department's human resources needs and to enhance the student's career needs.

4. Provide employer's management with an effective recruiting source for meeting long range staffing goals.

5. Support Employer's equal employment opportunity objectives and worrkforce diversity goals.

II. HOW A STUDENT BENEFITS FROM THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

1. Applies classroom theory to practical work experience.

2. Provides an opportunity to apply theory to work problems using the
latest technologies, equipment, software, materials, etc.

3. Serves as a method to explore options before choosing a career.

4. Provides work experience in the public sector and increases job
potential upon graduation.

5. Assists in meeting financial obligations by earning while learning.

III. HOW THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION BENEFITS FROM THE
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

1. Provides well-rounded education and curriculum enrichment.

2. Increases student enrollment and encourages retention.

3. Allows the university to form a partnership with varied employers.

4. Allows faculty and staff to gain knowledge of new employer technologies and
current work force needs.

5. Assists the university's marketing of various academic programs to previously
under represented groups such as nontraditional and physically challenged students.

6. Assists the co-op and career services offices in providing up-to-date information on types of skill sets needed for today's entry level professional positions.

IV. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

UNDERGRADUATE
Have sophomore or higher standing.
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50/4.00 on all
attempted courses.
Be able to complete a minimum of two full work semesters for
alternating plan and or two consecutive work semesters for parallel
plan.
Give evidence of being able to successfully perform in a specified work environment.

GRADUATE
Have full graduate standing.
Have at least a 3.00/4.00 cumulative grade point average on all
graduate work attempted.
Have completed nine (9) semester hours of satisfactory graduate
work at Tennessee State University.
Give evidence of being able to successfully perform in a specified work environment.

Employers will be able to interview and select students who are:

Enrolled in the University's Co-op program and who meets
the employer's GPA requirement;

Enrolled in an academic major field of study appropriate for the proposed co-op work assignment.

V. ACADEMIC INSTITUTION STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide information to prospective students concerning employer's
Co-op Program.

2. Screen and refer students to employer for potential co-op assignments.

3. Visit with employer managers and recruitment personnel, as required.

4. Review Co-op Employee Performance Evaluations, end-of-term reports, and
other academic related activities pursuant to the awarding of academic credit
for co-op assignments, if applicable.

5. Provide feedback to student, faculty, employer, co-op supervisor, and recruitment personnel about the student's work performance.

6. Answer questions or inquiries about the University's Co-op Program.

VI. COLLEGE STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Abide by all employer Co-op Program rules and regulations.

2. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers
and supervisors.

3. Adhere to established work schedules and employer policies and
procedures.

4. Notify the university's Co-op Office and employer human resources office
Branch of any changes in academic status.

5. Utilize a courteous, enthusiastic and professional approach to all work
or project assignments.

6. Report to the employer co-op supervisor and, the co-op coordinator verbally
and writing if the overall job assignment or work is significantly incompatible
with the academic degree.

7. Provide feedback to Co-op office, with completion of Student Evaluation of Work Experience form and debriefing session on co-op work assignments.

8. REGISTRATION FOR CO-OP COURSES - When a student gets
the co-op job assignment, he or she is required to enroll in the
appropriate CO-OP COURSE. The cost of a co-op class is
the same three (3) hour course. THIS REGISTRATION AND
PAYMENT OF FEES IS REQUIRED EACH TIME THE
STUDENT(S) RETURNS TO HIS OR HER CO-OP
EMPLOYER, even if the academic credit obtained is or
becomes "additive" to degree requirements.

VII. THE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

1. The student must visit the University's Co-op office or academic department's
faculty coordinator to inquire about potential co-op positions

2. The Co-op office or Faculty Coordinator will refer qualified students to employers based upon the criteria in the job description. The student's resume, degree plan (if required) and transcript will also be sent to the employer.

3. The Co-op office sponsors a Co-op Interview Day each semester. Students are required to interview with employers' representative on these specified days. Employers not participating in Co-op Interview Day activities will be given subsequent interview schedules during the semester.

4. The co-op student selection criteria may include the student's overall grade point average, major subject area, previous work experience, recommendations from faculty or another degree professional.

5. The employer representative will notify the Co-op Office of selection.

6. Placement of co-op student is coordinated by the employer recruitment representative and the Co-op office.

VIII. PROGRAM BENEFITS - OPTIONAL

College student intern employees will be eligible to receive the following benefits:

Vacation Leave
Sick Leave
Membership in the Employer's Retirement System
Life and health insurance
Training
Salary Negotiable
 COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Tennessee State University

EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

This agreement forms the basis of understanding between Tennessee State University and ______________________________.

Tennessee State University will:

1. Appoint a Coordinator to serve as liaison between Tennessee State University and the employer.

2. Provide students with the formal education for the particular professional occupation for which they are training and review the Employer's job description with the student to prepare learning objectives and a Co-op degree plan.

3. Develop a work-study schedule for each Cooperative Education student that is mutually acceptable to Tennessee State University and the employer. In addition, the University will offer the appropriate Cooperative Education course(s) each semester for student enrollment.

4. Counsel and refer student applicants assuring the employer that the student meets the criteria as established by the employer and/or the Office of Cooperative Education.

The Employer Will:

1. Appoint a Coordinator to serve as liaison with Tennessee State University.

2. Furnish the office of Cooperative Education with appropriate job descriptions and salary scales applicable to the Cooperative Education program.

3. Inform the Tennessee State University Co-op Coordinator of job openings available and respond to the Office of Cooperative Education as soon as possible regarding all student applicants proposed for training assignments.

4. Evaluate each Co-op student's performance at mid semester and at the end of the training period with the student.

5. Cooperate and agree to assist the University achieve the objectives of the program by NOT offering Co-op students full-time positions prior to graduation.

EMPLOYER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Page 2

6. Review student's co-op course enrollment form and sign student's work verification form.

The Student will:

1. Complete each training assignment (i.e., work from the beginning date to the ending date) with satisfactory performance and adhering to all employer rules and regulations.

2. Return to the same employer for a minimum of two training assignments unless released from obligation or transferred by the office of Cooperative Education or employer.

3. Enroll in the appropriate Co-op course at the beginning of the work assignment period. Complete all necessary documents, including, but not limited to:

(a) Co-op Degree Plan
(b) Co-op Work Verification From
(c) Co-op Employer Evaluation Form
(d) Student Evaluation of Work Experience Form
(e) Co-op housing and financial aid forms.

______________________________ ____________________________
Co-op Director Employer Representative

_______________________ ____________________________
Date Title

____________________________
Date

Company Name:________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________
City, State &_________________________________________
Zip code_____________________________________________
Telephone:___________________________________________
Fax Number:__________________________________________
E-Mail:______________________________________________

Back to Main Page
You may E-mail us for more information