Cooperative Education...
Putting America's Future to Work

What is Cooperative Education?

• A program which combines classroom theory with supervised work experience
• Student earns college credit for planned growth in career-related job
• Joint agreement is set up among employer, college, and student

What are the Benefits to the Student?

• Gains valuable experience in field of study
• Learning becomes more relevant
• Develops additional skills and knowledge
• Able to work on projects and with equipment not available on campus
• Improves self-confidence, responsibility
• Establishes contacts with employers; begins networking for future jobs
• Has chance to make informed decisions about job compatibility

What are the Benefits to the Employer?

• Offers a cost-effective screening program for recruiting highly qualified students
• Gains motivated, enthusiastic employees whose work is evaluated and translated into college credits
• Experiences less employee turnover through contact with faculty-coordinator and cooperative education office
• Provides the chance to communicate business and industry needs to the college
• May experience lower recruiting and training costs with trained co-op students who are able to move into more permanent positions

What are the Benefits to the College?

• Experiences higher retention rate since students see the relevance of education to job requirements
• Receives valuable, current input from business and industry concerning labor market conditions with implications for course content and placement opportunities
• Relationships with business community enhanced
• Utilizes skill and knowledge of outstanding individuals in business to assist in the training of students
• Uses facilities of business and industry to extend educational opportunities