Program Administration

The Cooperative Education Program‘s mandate is to facilitate the work placement process by providing students with a framework within which their program of study is linked to real world applications.           

 i.       Entrance Requirements

The department undertakes the following measures to assist in the process:

• Resume preparation

• Team building skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Objective setting on the job
• Job search techniques
• Career advising & placement services

The department commits to the following responsibilities:

• Develop & deliver programs to effectively prepare students for work placement
• Provide effective program management
• Develop academically relevant employment opportunities for students
• Ensure that co-op students are academically eligible maintaining a 3.0 GPA - to continue in the co-op department

• Liaise with the community at large to enhance awareness of Cooperative Education
• Conduct work placement evaluations with co-op students each term
• Ensure that there is a continuous and ongoing link between the course of studies undertaken and the work placement
• Additionally, the department provides placement opportunities for students by directing students to specific companies that would optimize their program of study. While the university makes every effort to assist each co-op student in securing a work placement, it cannot guarantee it.
  

The following requirements must be fulfilled for the UoNA Cooperative Education Program:

All students are required to have a minimum of one year of directly-related professional experience as one of the requirements for the Master’s or Doctoral Degree.  The only exceptions to this requirement are:

• The student’s SEVP status precludes participation.

• The student has a minimum of two years of prior professional work experience in a position or positions directly related to the student’s field of study.  The relevance and applicability of a student’s work experience will be evaluated by the Director of Co-operative Education or the student’s program dean.

• The student is enrolled in a Degree Completion program requiring one year or less for accomplishment.

• The student has a minimum of one year of professional work experience in a position or positions directly related to the student’s field of study.  The relevance and applicability of a student’s work experience will be evaluated by the Director of Co-operative Education or the student’s program dean.

             ii.      Academic Requirements

Co-op students must satisfy the academic requirements of their program of studies by:

• Satisfying academic GPA requirements.
• Registering for COOP 510 each term while on work placement.
• Adhering to all university and Co-op policies and regulations.
• Completing the Final Reflective report – each term - while on work placement.
• Submitting – each term – their performance appraisal while on work placement.
• Completing the Foundation for Academic and Professional Integration course (COOP 500) prior to the start of their work placement - if applicable.

                         iii.     Coop Course Descriptions

Once registered in the Co-op Program, students must enroll in specific courses as part of their co-operative education experience: COOP 500 and COOP 510. 

COOP 500            Foundations for Academic and Professional Integration                    3 credit hours

This course is designed to provide a foundation for success in the integration of the cooperative work experience within the academic program of the student.  The purpose is to provide guidance for success in both the workplace and in academic settings.  Included are an awareness of work expectations in U.S. industries, the development of basic interpersonal communication skills expected in the workplace, and exercises building cultural awareness and sensitivity.  Students will develop a professional portfolio and establish the process for maintaining its currency.

Satisfactory completion of this course is required to participate in the co-op program. The course evaluation will be Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

COOP 510            Professional Development                                                             1 credit hours

This course is designed to assist students in the ongoing integration of professional work experiences gained through a co-op position with their academic work. The intent of the course is to enhance the student’s career success upon graduation from the program by building on COOP 500. Students will complete a report documenting the nature of the work experiences and how they relate to the courses undertaken as a part of their program.

This course must be repeated each semester that the student participates in the co-op program. A performance appraisal from the work placement and satisfactory completion of a Final Reflective Report is required each term to ensure continuance in the co-op program. The course evaluation will be Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

COOP 520            Work Experience Search                                                              1 credit hours

This course will help direct and monitor students with their program related job search. The main purpose would be an employment offer letter while at the same time, ensuring that the job is integrally related to the course of studies undertaken. Students will meet on bi-weekly, in a class setting, with the Director of Cooperative Education and review companies and positions applied for. A “job” log must be kept by the student that documents all of their job search activities. 

The course must be repeated each semester that the student does not start a program related work experience. Course evaluation is either Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

COOP 600            Foundations for Academic and Professional Integration                    3 credit hours

This course is designed to provide a foundation for success in the integration of the cooperative work experience within the academic program of the student.  The purpose is to enhance and add to the transferable job skills and program specific skills of the co-op student.  Included are an awareness of work expectations in U.S. industries, the development of basic interpersonal communication skills expected in the workplace, and exercises building cultural awareness and sensitivity.  Students will develop a professional portfolio and establish the process for maintaining its currency.

Satisfactory completion of this course is required to participate in the co-op program. The course evaluation will be Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

COOP 610            Professional Development                                                             1 credit hours

This course is designed to assist students in the ongoing integration of professional work experiences gained through a co-op position with their academic work.  The intent of the course is to enhance the student’s career success upon graduation from the program by building on COOP 600. Students will complete a report documenting the nature of the work experiences and how they relate to the courses undertaken as a part of their program.

This course must be repeated each semester that the student participates in the co-op program.  A performance appraisal from the work placement and satisfactory completion of a Final Reflective Report is required each term to ensure continuance in the co-op program. The course evaluation will be Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

COOP 620            Work Experience Search                                                              1 credit hours

This course will help direct and monitor students with their program related job search. The main purpose would be an employment offer letter while at the same time, ensuring that the job is integrally related to the course of studies undertaken. Students will meet on bi-weekly, in a class setting, with the Director of Cooperative Education and review companies and positions applied for. A “job” log must be kept by the student that documents all of their job search activities. 

The course must be repeated each semester that the student does not start a program related work experience. Course evaluation is either Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U).

             iv.     Course Load Requirements

Students are required to take a MINIMUM of six credit hours per term. Only one course per term can be delivered via distance learning. In either case all the course requirements (e.g. assignments, exams, projects, among others) must be fully satisfied to remain in status.

The University’s DSO’s Office will conduct an audit of the student’s SEVIS records to ensure that all international students are registered for a full course load.  If a student has not enrolled in classes or has not registered for a full course load, the student will be contacted to immediately report to the DSO’s Office.  If the student fails to report to the DSO’s Office and/or fails to enroll or register for a full course load, the DSO’s Office will terminate the student’s SEVIS record.

As an applied learning institution, all students - unless exempted - must register for one (1) Coop course each term.

             v.      Reduced Course Load

There are situations that may arise that necessitate a student undertaking less than a full course load (fewer than six credit hours in a semester). However, reductions in course load can only be done with the advance written approval from the DSO.

Reduced course loads – fewer than 6 credit hours per term – may be considered as follows:

• Vacation – having completed 18 semester hours in one academic year makes the student eligible for vacation and the student is not required to take academic courses.  If the student wishes to continue their CPT experience during the semester of vacation, he or she must enroll in COOP 510 or COOP 610 for one credit during that semester.

* In either case, the student must inform the DSO upon return to full time studies to avoid falling out of status.

 vi.     Withdrawal From Cooperative Education Program

There may be situations involving student withdrawal from the Co-op program or the workplace. Each of those situations identified below will  be addressed by the university on a case by case basis:

Required withdrawal - Academic

a.       Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA

b.      Failure to satisfactorily complete a COOP course

c.       Failure to register for a COOP course

Required withdrawal – workplace

a.       Student is dismissed by employer

b.      Unsatisfactory performance evaluations

c.       Student leaves employment without notifying the Co-op Department

d.       Change of work placement – company or position – without notifying the Co-op Department