Cooperative Education is a program that enables students to earn college credit for work experience related to their career goals. It allows students to practice the skills they have learned in the classroom in real job settings. Cooperative Education (sometimes called Co-op Internship or Practicum) provides the opportunity for students to gain practical work experience, make informed career decisions, and achieve the advantage in a competitive job market.

Contents

• What is Cooperative Education
• Benefits of Participation in Cooperative Education
• Cooperative Education Programs
• Enrolling in Cooperative Education
• Identifying Eligible Worksites
• Cooperative Education Credits
• Insurance Coverage
• Work Study
• Grading and Evaluation
• The Co-op Seminar
• Writing Learning Objectives
• Forms
• Student Checklist
• Instructor Guidelines (Site Visits & Grading)

What is Cooperative Education

• It is a credit course offered to students in most areas of study. Credit is given for learning which takes place at a worksite related to a student's major area of study.
• Credit can be earned regardless of whether the student is paid or volunteers.
• It is a program that helps students practice skills they have learned in the classroom in a real job setting.
• It is a coordinated effort between a student, the college, and an employer to prepare a student for employment.

Benefits of Cooperative Education

For Students
• A chance to practice skills learned in class.
• An opportunity to learn things not taught in class.
• Work experience for a resume.

For Employers
• A source of employees for part-time or short term needs.
• An opportunity to pre-screen potential employees with no obligation to hire.
• An avenue for direct input into college education and training.

Cooperative Education Programs

• Accounting
• Agricultural Mechanics
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor
• Anthropology
• Architectural Drafting
• Auto Collision Repair Technology
• Automotive Service Technology
• Biology
• Biotechnology Laboratory Technician
• Building Construction Technology
• Building Inspection
• Business Administration
• Career Development
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Computer Application/Office Systems
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Software Engineering Technology
• Criminal Justice
• Diesel Service Technology
• Drafting
• Electronic Engineering Technology
• Emergency Dispatch Operator 9-1-1
• Fire Protection Technology
• Geography
• Graphic Design
• History
• Interior Design
• International Cooperative Education.
• Landscape Technology
• Legal Assistant
• Legal Secretary
• Management and Professional Development
• Marketing
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Music (Professional) Program
• Opticianry
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Political Science
• Publishing Technology
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Technical and Professional Writing
• Technical Publications/Illustration
• Veterinary Technology
• Video Production Internship
• Welding

Enrolling in Cooperative Education

1. Check with your instructor or a Cooperative Education Specialist to see if you qualify. In some cases, prior course work or a certain GPA are required.
2. You must have an approved worksite prior to registering. Your instructor or a Cooperative Education Specialist can grant approval of a site.
3. A permission form is required for registration.
4. A Training Agreement and Learning Objective form must be completed and returned to the Cooperative Education Office, usually by the third week of the term.
5. Seminar sessions, for which credit is given, may be required.

Identifying Eligible Worksites

• The worksite must offer experience which is directly related to a student's career goals.
• The work experience should provide an opportunity for new learning and skill development.
• A worksite supervisor must be available and willing to train, supervise and evaluate the student, and to communicate with the college coordinator.
• Large, medium and small companies in the public and private sector hire Co-op students.
• Some students already have jobs which will qualify as Co-op sites.
• Employers are not obligated to hire a Co-op student following a placement. However, employment is sometimes offered after a successful Cooperative Education experience.

Cooperative Education Credits

• The amount of credit earned is based on the amount of time spent working. For most programs, 30 hours of activity in a term is required for each credit.
• Time requirements of the employer, student availability, and course requirements will determine how much credit a student will earn.
• Students may repeat Cooperative Education training at one site, or may train with more than one employer.
• Some programs require Cooperative Education; others consider it an elective course. A college advisor or the college catalog can explain how Co-op fits into the degree requirements for a particular major.
• In most cases, Cooperative Education credits transfer as electives. Students must check with the Admissions Office of the other college to find if the credit will be counted.

Insurance Coverage

• Students working at non-paid training sites are eligible for accident insurance, at no cost, provided by the college. The student must be registered, and the Training Agreement form must be completed and submitted to the Cooperative Education Office, in order for the insurance to be in effect.
• In case of an accident, students must immediately notify the site supervisor and the Cooperative Education Specialist. Accident report forms must be completed for the college.
• If the employing agency provides insurance for volunteers, this should be indicated on the Training Agreement.
• Paid employees are subject to State of Oregon Employment Workers' Compensation laws.

Work Study

Grading and Evaluation

• Students must complete the agreed upon number of hours in order to earn credit.
• Training Agreement and Learning Objective forms must be on file in the Cooperative Education office.
• The Employer Evaluation must be completed and must indicate satisfactory job performance in order for the student to receive a passsing grade.
• For most curriculums, Cooperative Education Work Experience is graded on a "pass/no pass" basis.
• Seminars are graded separately.

The Co-op Seminar

• Seminars are required for some programs.
• Seminar students have a weekly class meeting with an instructor.
• The curriculum is designed to help students develop skills which will enhance their success as employees.
• In some cases, students and the Cooperative Education Specialist plan an individualized set of assignments and there is no weekly class meeting.

Writing Learning Objectives

• Cooperative Education is a course that is tailor-made for each particular student and his or her worksite.
• The Learning Objectives outline what the student will learn.
• Students will discuss potential objectives with the worksite supervisor. The student must ask the question, "What do I want to learn?" and the supervisor will determine if it will be possible to learn it on the job.
• Instructors, Co-op Ed Specialists or supervisors may have suggestions for appropriate objectives.

Objectives may focus on various types of learning:

• Practicing skills and applying knowledge learned in class.
• Learning new skills or acquiring new information.
• Enhancing attitudes or motivation.

Objectives should be clear and specific. Consider how progress will be measured. At the end of the term the supervisor will be asked to evaluate whether the student met the objectives.

A Few Examples from Various Worksites

1	Objective:	Practical, hands on experience with Windows set-up and tuning.
	Duties:	Set up PC software, including upgrading printer drivers, setting or adjusting swap files, File Manger proficiency, application installation or activation.
2	Objective:	Improve my report writing by being more clear and brief.
	Duties:	Have my supervisor proofread and evaluate my writing.
3	Objective:	Increase client contact in the corrections field.
	Duties:	Each week perform four interviews, and make a minimum of four telephone contacts.
4	Objective:	Increase my knowledge of the prevention of child abuse.
	Duties:	Attend training sessions offered by my employer, read literature available in the office and do library research.
5	Objective:	Learn about how the agency serves the public, and its daily operations
	Duties:	Attend staff meetings and inservices, interview supervisor, observe daily activties.
6	Objective:	Gain speed and accuracy in servicing brakes.
	Duties:	Complete brake jobs under supervision of journeyman technician.
7	Objective:	Use and expand knowledge and skills obtained from Plant Propagation class to choose plants in display for spring time plantings.
	Duties:	Identify shaded and full sun areas in display spot. Become familiar with company names and contact people to buy plantings. Use negotiating skills to see if better prices can be obtained from supplier.

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Forms

• Cooperative Education Training Agreement
• Learning Objectives Cooperative Education

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Copyright 1996, Portland Community College
An Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Institution.

Last Modified: 2005.