ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM…

The Cooperative Education Program was initiated at The University of Akron in 1914. The first such program was started in 1906 at the University of Cincinnati by professor Herman Schneider. Although the field of engineering was the first to use co-ops, the concept has spread into many other fields, extending professor Schneider’s theory that “it is a good thing for man to sweat his way toward the truth.” Thus, the co-op program is a basic, dynamic plan of education, and today there are many colleges and universities across the country with similar programs. The designs of programs at these schools may differ somewhat from one another, but each is directed to the same objective, a balanced education for the student where theory is blended with practice.

The College of Engineering has found over the years a great deal of merit in the old saying “experience is the best teacher,” and has incorporated practical work experience into its curriculum in the form of the Cooperative Education Program.

The co-op program is an educational plan whereby a student, after completing the first five semesters of study, begins alternating a semester of paid employment in his/her major field of interest with a semester of classroom study, until reaching the senior level. This program enables the student, during a college career, to integrate classroom instruction with practical and valuable on-the-job work experience with industry, government agencies or other employers.

At the end of approximately five years, the “co-op” student is usually ahead of the “regular” student in that he/she not only has a degree, but also has accumulated 12 or more months of work experience in his/her area of professional interest and, in many cases, seniority, retirement, vacation and other fringe benefits.

The co-op program is optional to all undergraduate engineering students. Each student entering the program has several interviews with a member of the cooperative education staff who will serve as his/her coordinator. They discuss the student’s career objectives and review possible areas of employment. In addition, the coordinator helps the student plan a projected schedule of work assignments and study in order that the student will know his/her approximate date of graduation.

The coordinator then helps in arranging interviews with prospective employers for the student. After an offer of co-op employment has been accepted, an agreement for placement with that employer is signed by the student.

During the training period, the campus coordinator visits the place of employment to talk with both the student and the employer concerning the work assignment and any situations that may have arisen. A work report is required of each student at the end of each work period. In this report the student discusses duties, salary, living arrangements, likes and dislikes of the position, and indicates possible suggestions on how the training could be improved. A portion of the report is devoted to technical information concerning some aspect of the training. The employer likewise submits an evaluation of the student’s work performance. The coordinator in turn correlates his own observations with the employer’s and student’s reports to determine the value of the assignment.

On return to the campus following each work period, the student has an interview with the coordinator. During the interview, the student is given the opportunity to discuss likes, dislikes and any difficulties he/she might have had during the past work period. A grade of credit is then assigned for the past work period, and it is recorded on the student’s permanent record in the Office of the Registrar.

Although some of the job opportunities are in the Akron area, placement could take the co-op student into other states. The applicant should remain as flexible as possible to permit the best possible placement. If the student is successful in the program, he/she may expect to receive an offer from the employer for full-time employment after graduation. In most cases, this will be at a salary greater than a similar degree student who has not participated in the Cooperative Education Program.