Dear Employer,
Thank you for your interest in PCC and Cooperative Education. Cooperative Education, or Co-op, is a credit-for-work experience program that most PCC programs include in their curriculum. Students earn credit while gaining work experience and/or training. Employers gain motivated, and often skilled, workers at entry level pay or as volunteers. The commitment required from the employer is limited, although many employers end up hiring their co-op students after training or graduation. The structure of PCC's Cooperative Education program is described below.
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Most entry level positions that provide training or require specific career-related skills will be eligible as co-op sites. Each academic department has specific requirements for eligible sites. A Co-op Specialist/Instructor will provide specific information on requirements.
Usually, only advanced students, i.e. second year students in a two year program or students close to completing a one year certificate, are eligible for co-op. The employer may request any necessary skills or qualifications required to meet the co-op job functions. Other restrictions, e.g. GPA, may be placed by the employer or the academic department.
Interested employers will be required to provide the following for each co-op site:
1) A description of the job or training site
2) A designated work site supervisor
3) Completion of Cooperative Education forms, including Training Agreement and Learning Objectives, with employer signatures
4) 1-2 site visits, on-site meetings with a PCC Cooperative Education Coordinator to review student progress, etc.
5) Completion of an Employer Evaluation form for grading purposes
Most students work part-time for 1 - 2 terms. (A term lasts approximately 10 weeks.) Typically, students work 12 - 20 hours a week, although this is negotiable based on employer needs and the students' number of credits. Students must work/train for 40 hours per credit each term. At the end of the term, employers may continue for an additional term with the student, request an additional or different co-op student, or terminate the co-op. Under special circumstances, the co-op may be terminated mid-term.
Co-op sites may be paid or non-paid. PCC will cover worker's compensation insurance for non-paid co-op students during the assigned co-op work/training schedule. Credit will be given regardless of pay.
Employers may contact a Cooperative Education Coordinator at any PCC campus to discuss needs and set up a co-op site. Once the employer has chosen a co-op student, a completed Training Agreement form and Learning Objectives form must be returned to the Cooperative Education Coordinator. Co-op positions usually can be filled throughout the term, as long as the minimum hours are met by the end of the term.
If you have questions, please contact the Co-op Specialist in your area of interest or call 503-977-4710.
