Welcome to the HCC Cooperative
Education Program Guide!
Here you will find
answers to your questions about:
What
is Cooperative Education?
Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a method of instruction which combines classroom/laboratory study
with supervised internship work experiences. This planned and progressive,
career-related student employment program is the capstone (or exit experience)
of the college curriculum. Through these experiences, students can apply
what they learn at school on the job, and they are exposed to new skills
and knowledge at work. In addition, students also receive academic credit
and a grade. Seventy-five hours of work per semester are required for each
credit. Guidelines are listed below:
- The practices and procedures used must provide the student
with directed learning experiences in an actual employment situation
that is correlated with classroom instruction in college.
- The primary objective of Cooperative Education is instruction.
The instruction offered must focus upon the student's current level of
career development. Since the method of instruction is built around each
student's needs and interests, the concept of individualized instruction
must be established as a qualifying criterion.
- Participating students must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in a field of study related to the
assigned work.
- Maintain good academic standing in their major
courses at the college.
- Be recommended by the program instructor.
Who
is Eligible for Cooperative Education?
To enroll in Cooperative
Education students must:
- Be enrolled in a related program at HCC.
- Be recommended by the program instructor.
- Have already completed at least one semester in the
program.
- Develop an internship placement site with the Co-op coordinator.
- Be able to complete a minimum of 75 hours of related
work experience during the semester.
- Maintain positive work habits and an academic record
that is always predictive of graduation.
Who
can I contact for more information?
Students begin by contacting
the Cooperative Education (Co-op) Coordinator:
What
is the Cooperative Education Process?
After the Coordinator gives approval to enroll in a Cooperative Education
course, the student registers for the class and pays the tuition. Then,
the student views the course syllabus (available by major below). The student
submits a Student
Information Sheet. The Cooperative Education Coordinator helps the student to develop a suitable training
sites. In order to do this, the student must submit a resume.
Students identify suitable employers and contact them to establish
a Cooperative Education training site. Placement options are determined
by the student's interests, needs, abilities, and the opportunities available
with cooperating employers. Each student will complete the employer's application
process by submitting a resume/application and completing an interview. The employer makes all hiring and employment decisions,
but the Cooperative Education process is controlled by the College. The
student and the employer will arrange the college and work schedule each
semester. The student submits a resume, cover letter, and employer contact
list to the Co-op Coordinator.
The employer, the student and the Co-op Coordinator outline
the expectations, conditions and learning objectives for the training site
via the Cooperative Education Agreement. The student will work throughout the semester to accomplish those goals and there
will also be assignments that the student is required to submit to the
coordinator as part of the Co-op course.
The student is also required to keep a Time
Sheet which the employer will verify before the student submits it to the Co-op Coordinator
at the end of the semester. Half way through the 16 week semester,
the student will submit a Midterm Activity Report to the Coordinator. Finally, the employer will provide feedback to the
student and the coordinator at the end of the semester using the Supervisor's Evaluation of Student's Performance form. The student will also provide feedback by submitting the Student Evaluation of Cooperative Education Experience.
How
can I get a Cooperative Education Course Syllabus?
Once enrolled, students can view the Cooperative Education
Syllabus, complete and submit the forms online.
What
are the Cooperative Education Student Learning Outcomes?
Upon completion of the Cooperative Education Course
students will be able to:
- Secure an appropriate Cooperative Education Job Training
Position
- Carry out a career self-assessment
- Identify potential employers
- Conduct a job search
- Apply for a position
- Write a cover letter
- Write a resume
- Interview for a position
- Perform all duties required at the cooperative education
work site according to industry standards
- Demonstrate positive work habits
- Use appropriate work procedures, tools, and equipment
- Follow all safety procedures
- Apply classroom/laboratory skills to solve work related
problems.
- Assess personal abilities and skills in relation to
job duties
- Evaluate personal performance in relation to
job duties
- Demonstrate willingness to learn
- Listen to criticism and change behavior
What
are the benefits of Cooperative Education?
Employers who participate in Co-op have access
to bright, well-trained students who are successful at the college and
eager to work in their chosen field. Studies show that Cooperative Education
Students are likely to remain with the employers longer. This program enables
employers to work with prospective career employees and base long-term
hiring decisions on performance rather than prediction. At graduation,
the employers have an inside track to hiring these well-prepared students.
They benefit not only from increased productivity, but also through savings
in training and supervisory costs. Lower training costs often allow for
further growth and development, and in some cases, employers can qualify
for a Tax Credit. The long term investment in Cooperative Education students
insures that there will be a supply of entry-level, skilled workers to
fill employer needs.
Do
students receive compensation?
The student may work on a voluntary basis, may
receive hourly wages, or may receive a stipend. Students who receive compensation
are considered regular employees and are eligible for all employer benefits
including worker's compensation and liability insurance coverage. The U.S.
Fair Labor Standards Act does impose restrictions on the kind of tasks
that unpaid interns or apprentices may legally perform.
- An employer may not derive any "immediate
advantage" from using volunteers. If the employer does, then the minimum wage law will apply
to the relationship and the employer must pay at least the then-prevailing
minimum wage for work performed.
- The volunteer's training may include tasks that will
benefit the business, but the primary beneficiary of the training must
be the volunteer. In addition, this training must offer a learning experience
comparable to that found in a vocational or specialized school program.
- The law provides that unpaid interns or apprentices
may not displace a regular employee. Another precaution employers should
consider is that volunteers might not be covered by Worker's Compensation.
If a volunteer is injured on the job, the employer may find that it is
responsible for the cost of that injury. Therefore, employers interested
in participating should check with their Insurance carrier to determine
if volunteers or interns are covered.
Do
students receive academic credit?
Academic excellence is also necessary since instructor
approval is required. Students establish performance objectives in conjunction
with the work supervisor and the Co-op Coordinator, and overall performance
is evaluated. One (1) college credit is given for every seventy-five (75)
hours of work experience and the student receives a grade for the course.
What
is the role of the Cooperative Education Coordinator?
The primary duty of a Cooperative Education/Internship
Coordinator is to enrich student learning through integration of on-the-job
experience with classroom and laboratory instruction. This is accomplished
when students enroll in a Co-op course. The Co-op process involves
the following steps:
- Establish work training stations in the community by
contacting employers to determine staffing needs/training opportunities,
and to provide an orientation to the Co-op process.
- Meet with instructors in the programs related to the
job duties to identify eligible students.
- Enroll students who are accepted/hired for the position
in the appropriate Co-op course.
- Follow up through regular meetings with students, instructors
and employers to introduce available options, establish performance objectives,
and evaluate student performance.
- Discuss and assess the potential employer's needs.
- Promote the potential employer's opportunities campus-wide.
- Refer qualified students who have been recommended by
the program instructors.
- Follow up with the employer to insure that participants
have a successful experience.
What
is the role of the Employer?
The Employer meets with the student to complete
the application process: reviews student resume/application and conducts interviews with recommended students. The employer makes all hiring
and employment decisions, but the Cooperative Education process is controlled
by the College. The student and the employer will arrange the college and
work schedule each semester.
The employer, the student and the Co-op Coordinator outline
the expectations, conditions and learning objectives for the training site
via the Cooperative Education Agreement. The student will work throughout the semester to accomplish those goals and there
will also be assignments that the student is required to submit to the
Coordinator as part of the Co-op course.
The student is also required to keep a Student
Time Sheet which the employer will verify before the student submits it to the Coordinator
at the end of the semester. Finally, the employer will provide feedback
to the student and the Coordinator at the end of the semester using the Supervisor's Evaluation of Student's Performance form.
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