Prospective co-op students who are eligible should contact the Cooperative Education Office (321 Brackett Hall) at the beginning of the semester prior to the one in which he/she wants to start an assignment. Students are provided with program information as well as directions on how to get started.
Not only is cooperative education an academic engaged-learning program, but it is also an opportunity for students to begin professional career development. The co-op process includes an individual resume review session and an interview workshop to help students prepare for interviews.
Throughout the course of the semester students will meet frequenty with their co-op advisors. Advisors are determined by academic majors. During these sessions, students have the opportunity to express what they hope to gain from the co-op program as well as review the co-op assignments offered by different employers. Together, the student and advisor build an interview schedule for the upcoming "interview days" event.
The majority of student-employer matches are made during the "interview days" event held twice a year (generally in mid March and late October). This event is on campus and offers students the opportunity to participate in professional interviews for co-op positions. After "interview days," employers will make co-op offers directly to students. Students are required to meet with their advisors to discuss opportunities and final decisions.
Throughout the co-op assignment, students are required to maintain contact with advisors. To ensure the quality of the experience, advisors routinely visit students at work, and at the end of each rotation, students are required to complete an assignment evaluation and report.