The work-study schedule for students participating in the Engineering Cooperative Education Program is as follows:

Cooperative Program Schedule

A. Orientation

Early in the spring Semester of the Sophomore year, an orientation program will be conducted for all students interested in the Cooperative Education Program. This will consist of one large meeting, departmental group meetings, and conferences with the Cooperative Education Staff.

B. Admission to the Program

If a student desires to participate in the Cooperative Education Program, the first step is to fill out a personal Data Sheet, and submit it to the Cooperative Education Office. Submitting this form constitutes a declaration of intent to participate in the program.

During the Spring Semester each student will schedule a personal interview with a member of the Cooperative Education Staff to discuss the interviewing process and prospective employers. During this interview, the student will sign the Grade Release Statement and an Agreement Form which will become effective upon employment.

C. Initial Placement

Students find employment in a number of different ways. The Staff is responsible for monitoring the placement of students who qualify for the Program. In all cases, employment must be coordinated by and have the approval of the Director. The Co-op office does not guarantee employment for all students.

Every attempt will be made to place a student in the job of his/her choice that is commensurate with personal, educational, and career goals.

During the Spring and Fall Semesters, representatives of a number of employers which participate in the Cooperative Program may visit the campus to interview students. A number of employers may conduct orientation meetings the evening prior to their scheduled on-campus interview dates. After employers prescreen our students, the co-op office assists in arranging his/her on-campus interviews.

In many cases, the student will be asked to interview at the site of the employer's facility. The Cooperative Education Staff will assist the student in arranging such an interview visit. If the employer is located outside the Akron area, the employer will normally reimburse the student for travel expenses.

In some cases, employment is arranged by the Cooperative Education Staff after consulting with the employer and student. In these instances, an interview visit does not take place.

In order to provide a progression of experience and responsibility, students are expected to honor their commitment and remain with their employer for all co-op work periods as set forth in the Cooperative Education Agreement.

D. Registration for Co-op

While no academic credit hours are assigned, each student must register for Cooperative Work Periods in the same manner that he/she registers for any other University Course.

4100:300 Cooperative Education Work Period (Summer/2nd yr)
4100:301 Cooperative Education Work Period (Spring/3rd yr)
4100:302 Cooperative Education Work Period (Fall/4th yr)
4100:403 Cooperative Education Work Period (Summer/4th yr)

A registration fee for each work assignment is charged to verify full-time status at The University of Akron. Upon completing a work period, a statement will appear on each student's official transcript listing the course number title, and the name of the employer. In the place of a grade, "credit" or "no credit" will be given depending upon the student's satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of the following:

1. Satisfactory work performance as evaluated by the employer.

2. Submission of a written Work Report (Sections I and II) and its approval by the Cooperative Education Staff.

3. Submission of a Cooperative Work Period Summary Form.

4. Submission of a Student Evaluation of Cooperative Position Form.

5. Completion of an interview with a Cooperative Coordinator after returning to the campus.

Normally, work progresses satisfactorily on the job and a grade of "credit" is assigned at the end of the semester. In the event that all of the above conditions are not met, a change of grade to "no credit" will be submitted.

If the student fails to register for his/her engineering work period, the engineering co-op office shall place that student on "academic hold" until the registration is completed.

E. Signing Out

Prior to leaving the campus for every work period, the student must do the following:

1. Sign the "sign out sheet" in the Co-op Office. this confirms that the student is going to work for a particular employer and gives the contemplated starting date.

2. Fill out a "Work Address" card.

3. Pick up a "Cooperative Work Period Summary" form.

4. Pick up a "Student Evaluation Cooperative Position" form.

5. Pick up the "Cooperative Education Work Report" title pages.

The student is required to start the Cooperative work periods on the scheduled starting date for the given work period and remain on the job through the scheduled completion date. The work periods in industry or Government will be approximately eighteen, nineteen, and fifteen weeks long. (Schedule of work periods is available from the Co-op Office). In some cases, students have been able to arrange to begin work before the scheduled start date and/or work beyond the scheduled completion date. Such special arrangements are strictly between the employer and the student; however, in no case will the student be allowed to work beyond the start of the next semester or miss any classes due to travel.

No student is to expect any special consideration as a Co-op student form his/her employer. While employed, he or she is required to obey all the rules and regulations established by the employer. In addition, the student is subject to the current labor laws and conditions. Any student who is discharged for cause by his employer or fails to maintain his academic or work performance at the required level may be brought before the Cooperative Program Academic Committee for appropriate action.

Co-op students are considered full-time students by the University while on Co-op assignment; however, University vacations and holidays will not pertain to students during their work period.

Each student shall submit a written Work Report to the Director/Coordinator for each work period. The Technical Section of the report must be submitted to the employer at least two weeks before the end of the work period for approval and signature, and turned into the Co-op Office the first day of classes. No credit will be given for the work period unless the Work Reports are turned in on time. Also, the reports must be acceptable to the Director/Coordinator.

Reports which are deemed unsatisfactory must be rewritten and resubmitted for approval.

In the Work Report, the student is requested to comment regarding living arrangements, if living out of the Akron area while on job assignment. This is for the benefit of other students who may be in need of housing in the future.

G. Evaluation

During the training period, a member of the Cooperative Education Staff may visit the place of employment to talk with both the student and the employer concerning the assignment and any problems that may have arisen.

At the end of the work period, the student must submit to the Co-op Office a Cooperative Work Period Summary Form and a Student Evaluation of Cooperative Position Form which are brief summaries and frank evaluations of his/her work assignment.

These reports are confidential between the Co-op staff and the student. The contents are not revealed to the employer.

The employer also submits an evaluation of the student at the end of the work period. This is confidential between the Co-op staff, the student's advisor, the employer, and the student. The contents will not be available for distribution to the Career Placement Office or to potential employers as reference material.

Upon returning to school, the student is to make an appointment for an interview with his/her Co-op Coordinator. During the interview, the student's Work Report, the Employer's Evaluation of the student, the Student Evaluation of Cooperative Position Form, and the Cooperative Work period Summary Form are reviewed. At this time, the student is given an opportunity to discuss his/her likes, dislikes, and any difficulties he/she might have had during the recent training assignment.

If the student submits a satisfactory Work Report, receives a satisfactory Employer Evaluation, completes the interview with the co-op Coordinator and has completed all necessary forms, he/she will receive a grade of "credit" which will be recorded on his/her transcript of grades.

Upon satisfactory completion of all academic and Cooperative Program requirements, the student will be permitted to graduate as a Co-op student and will receive a Cooperative Education Certificate.

Students are required to register and pay the Co-op Work Period Fee for each training period. Students have been permitted, with authorization from the Co-op Director and the consent of the employer, to work additional work periods.

Students must register, pay fees, and submit reports for these optional periods in the same manner as they do for the three regular required work periods in the Spring of the third year and the Fall and Summer of the fourth year. The possibility of working optional work periods does not eliminate the responsibility to register for and perform the regularly required work periods.