EKU Co-op Student Handbook

"Going through Co-op helped me realize what things were important and prioritize. Co-op gets you a step above the rest." -Lee Ann Lewis, a former EKU Co-op student, graduate, and current Co-op Employer.

Introduction

     This handbook is provided as an aid to the student for successful participation in the Cooperative Education Program. Every co-op student is expected to become familiar with the contents of this handbook. You should refer to it frequently to ensure that all requirements are completed at the proper times. You should check to make sure you are familiar with any additional requirements within your department.

     From time to time, additional information and materials will be sent to you from the Co-op Office. Questions should be promptly directed to the Co-op Office and/or the Faculty Co-op Coordinator in your college or department.

     You are embarking upon an exciting and unique educational venture. As a co-op student, you stand to gain a great deal of education-related real-world work experience that will supplement your regular academic course work. Make the most of your opportunities. GOOD LUCK!

Cooperative Education Mission Statement

     The Eastern Kentucky University Cooperative Education Program promotes quality education by furnishing the most comprehensive professional preparation available to students in the colleges it serves. Cooperative Education, or “Co-op ,” (facilitates and administers) a unique partnership among employers, students and the university whereby students work in paid, planned, progressive and supervised work experiences in business, industry, education, and government, enhancing their intellectual and professional development.

     Applied Learning is also a part of the Co-op Program which offers a partnership among employers, students and the university, (which is more in line with an Internship not meeting the Co-op standards), whereby students work in supervised experiences in business, industry, education and government, enhancing their intellectual and professional development. These assignments are typically one semester assignments or an unpaid work experience.

Philosophy of the Cooperative Education Program

What is Cooperative Education?

     Cooperative Education provides the student with an opportunity to blend theory with practice resulting in a balanced education. Learning within the classroom is enhanced with practical on-the-job training in business, industry, and/or government.

Co-op Credit

     The university requires a minimum of 80 hours of career related work experience for each semester hour of academic credit, but all students must work the entire course of the semester (16 weeks Spring and Fall semesters and 12 weeks in the Summer). Academic credit will be awarded for Cooperative Education only when the student is enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University in the Cooperative Education Program. Students who successfully complete the Co-op Program, by working a minimum of 1200 work hours, will receive a certificate. Cooperative Education work plans:

1. Alternating Plan - Under this plan the student will alternate semesters of work with semesters on campus. This will be the basic pattern for co-op students and three or four work assignments will be completed during the academic career.
2. Parallel Plan - The parallel plan allows the student to gain work experience concurrent with enrollment in regular college classes.
   
   Students must work a minimum of three semesters, one semester must be either fall or spring. Many students will work part time in the fall and spring semesters and full time in the summer semester.


3. Special Plan- Special calendars may be developed to meet the needs of students and employers.
   
   A maximum of eight hours may be applied toward meeting graduation requirements for the Associate degree, sixteen hours toward the Bachelor's degree and six hours toward the Master's degree. Students should plan to co-op a minimum of two semesters with the same employer, however, if that placement is not beneficial or you would like to gain a different type of experience within your field, you may co-op with a different employer. Credit may not be awarded for past experience or for anticipated future experience. The salary for each position is negotiable, but must fall within state and federal wage guidelines.

Supervision

     You will be assigned an immediate or field supervisor by the employer to provide direction and coordinate on the job duties. Your field supervisor will be responsible for providing periodic and final evaluation reports of the student and forwarding this information to the Co-op Director. Copies of these reports will be forwarded to the Co-op Coordinator in order to assign the final grade.

     Although your employer (field supervisor) will appraise your performance, the grade will be assigned by the department in accordance with established criteria and through a comprehensive evaluation. (The Co-op Program offers both letter and pass/fail grades. However, this may vary depending on your academic department. Check with your departments for additional information.)

     To maximize your benefit in the program, your employer will make every attempt to provide you with a broad range of experiences related to your major, your goals and the nature of the training site. If you are not offered a broad range of experiences, meet with your supervisor requesting additional challenges. You should realize that you are expected to be a productive employee. Your employer, the university, and you will each sign a letter of agreement spelling out the duties and the responsibilities of each party. Occasionally, you will be allowed to work for several employers in varying situations as long as the work experience is related to your career goals and those of the program.

Eligibility & Responsibilities of Co-op

     To participate in the Cooperative Education Program, you must demonstrate above average academic performance, maintain that level of achievement after placement with an employer, and meet all other requirements of the program. An Employer Agreement will be signed by you, your employer, and a representative of the university to help explain responsibilities of each. Specifically, this means that you must:

Academic Performance

1. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0.  (Some departments may require higher GPAs.)
2. Remain on or ahead of contract schedule in the courses required for graduation.

Academic Performance

1. Satisfactorily perform the work assignments for each work period.  

CO-OP PERFORMANCE

1. Complete and submit to the Co-op Office all required reports.
2. Attend all required meetings and conferences with your co-op coordinator.

Sanctions for Noncompliance

     When evidence indicates that you are performing short of these standards, the following course of action may be taken:

     Termination-Failure to improve academic and/or work performance after being consulted by appropriate Faculty Coordinator/Co-op Director may result in a student being dropped from the program. (A student can be terminated without having been warned.)

     A student dropped from the program may, in some cases, be permitted to re-enroll. Applications for re-enrollment will be considered on an individual basis by the Co-op Coordinator and Co-op Director.

     Resignation-The Cooperative Education Program is open on a voluntary basis (some programs require co-op) to students who demonstrate ability to do above average academic work at EKU. Once you accept employment, you are expected to remain in the program until all requirements have been completed. It is recognized, however, that extenuating circumstances may occasionally arise when you find it necessary to change employment or to resign from the co-op program. In taking such action, it must be accepted that a key element in making the decision to resign from a co-op position is that re-employment is possible–if so desired–and that the employer will provide a favorable letter of recommendation. Accordingly, resignations must be handled with extreme care and with prior approval from your coordinator and the Director of the Co-op Office. When considering such action, your first contact must be with your Co-op Coordinator and the Co-op Director. A frank discussion should be conducted, which reviews all factors leading up to the intended resignation. When approved, all resignations must be in writing–addressed to your employer, with a copy to the Co-op Coordinator and the Director of the Co-op Office. All resignations from co-op employment, or from the program, should be submitted immediately. This deadline is established to ensure sufficient time to place another co-op student in the position vacated.

The Co-op Student on the Job

     There are several responsibilities that cooperative education students have during their periods of employment. You will:

1. Adhere to all policies of the employing firm.
2. Report to work promptly, and in the event of illness or emergency, notify the employer and coordinator promptly.
3. Direct your energies to the completion of work assignments.
4. Gain the most from your Co-op experience, ask for additional challenges to expand your breadth of practical experience. Each semester, your employer is expected to increase your level of responsibilities. If you receive no additional challenges, please contact the Co-op Office as soon as possible.
5. Continue to pursue academic requirements toward a degree.
6. Not apply for unemployment benefits from State Office of Human Resources due to the fact that you are a student in a co-op position.
7. Read and become familiar with the operation of the program as explained in the Student Handbook.
8. Adhere to all policies of the Cooperative Education Program.

     Status as an Employee - During the work periods, you are considered a full-time or part-time employee of the company or agency furnishing employment. As such, you are subject to the employer's rules and regulations. In some cases, co-op students are placed in a separate classification and, in others, are worked into the regular job classification used for employees doing the same type of work. In either case, the student will be advised by the employer of the policies governing working conditions, hours of work, and other matters concerning employment. It is expected that the student will conform explicitly to these rules and regulations. Failure to do so will subject the student to the disciplinary and corrective procedures of the employer and will be reflected in the evaluation completed for each work period by the employer. The evaluation is used in determining a grade for co-op. It is emphasized that personal appearance and attendance are extremely important factors.

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Assignments Co-op Students Must Complete

     Resume - must be uploaded in to the Co-op PlacePro database. Your resume must be complete prior to your appointment with the Career Counselor.   Information to assist you in developing your resume can be found on the Co-op website www.coop.eku.edu prior to scheduling an appointment with our Career Counselor.   If you currently have a co-op job, the resume is due at the time you register for co-op.

   On-Line Orientation - All students must successfully complete the Co-op Orientation located on Blackboard.  This should be completed immediately after receiving your approval from you faculty coordinator.

     Student Report - Student must answer the following questions in the PlacePro database: First semester and new Co-op assignments must answer questions 1-7. The total responses must be a minimum of 400-500 words in complete, detailed, and coherent sentences.   Any materials prepared by the employer which describe the nature, products, history, etc., of the company may also be submitted. The purpose is to encourage you to learn as much as possible about your employer. Be sure to discuss the following questions in your report:

1. Provide a brief history of your co-op employer (must include the functions, products/services provided). Your response should be at least one paragraph.
2. What were your primary work responsibilities as a co-op student and were your duties consistent with the job description on file in the Co-op Office? Your response should be at least one paragraph.
3. Identify three courses (at least one in your major) and explain how these courses prepared you for your Co-op position (example: English 102 enhanced my writing skills that helped in preparing reports.)
4. Relate how your co-op assignment enabled you to apply the theory learned in the classroom.
5. What specific “on-the-job” activities (minimum of two) do you feel helped you gain the most knowledge? (These activities may be either positive or negative. Also, please share this information with your departmental faculty.) How did this knowledge prepare you for your career field?
6. What was the most beneficial aspect of your on-the-job co-op experience and why?
7. What was the least beneficial aspect of your on-the-job co-op experience and why? (Please be honest.)
   
   - Multiple semesters (2 or more in the same job) must answer questions 8 - 11. – In order for you to gain the most from your multiple semester Co-op, your employer is required to expand and increase your job responsibilities; therefore, please respond to the questions in complete, detailed, and coherent sentences:


8. Indicate at least two of the most important things that you learned while on your Co-op assignment this semester? (Please share this information with your departmental faculty and peers.)
9. Indicate additional courses that prepared you for the increased responsibilities for your continuing co-op assignment and explain in detail? See example: (example: Computer Science 390 enhanced my computer programming skills in Visual Basic.)
10. What was the most beneficial aspect of your on-the-job co-op experience and why?
11. What was the least beneficial aspect of your on-the-job co-op experience and why? (Please be honest.)

This report is due in the Co-op PlacePro system approximately three weeks before the end of any given semester.

     Do not submit reports prepared for the employer if the information is of a classified nature and cannot be discussed freely. In such cases, a description of the general nature of the duties will be sufficient. These reports are kept on file by the Co-op Coordinator and in the Co-op Office.

     All written reports will be reviewed by your coordinator. They will not be returned unless they are unsatisfactory. These reports will be used as a means of assessing co-op experiences and employment situations.

     Student Outcome Assessment - This is an opportunity for you to evaluate your own progress in developing knowledge and skills from your co-op experience. It is important that you make every effort to be as realistic as possible in order to track your own growth as you move forward in progressively responsible assignments.

     Individual departments may require additional reports/journals prior to the end of the semester which are used to determine your final grade.

     Faculty Coordinator Visitation - A meeting with the Faculty Co-op Coordinator and the supervisor is conducted before the end of the co-op experience each school semester. This may be very brief, assuming the student has no problems at work or in school, but is nevertheless required. Generally, this meeting includes both the employer and the student individually. Also, you will meet with your Faculty Coordinator at the end of each semester for an exit interview.

     Housing and Activities - You may choose to remain in campus housing while on your co-op assignment. Although you may not be enrolled for a full academic load during the Cooperative Education semester, you will be considered a full-time student with respect to participation in campus activities if activity fees are paid.

Tips

• Do a great job! Learn all you can!
• Immediately communicate with the Co-op Coordinator and the Co-op Office if problems occur.
• Submit all assignments by deadline dates on-line.
• The assignments will be automatically available to your Faculty Co-op Coordinator when submitted on-line to the Co-op Office.

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Eastern Kentucky University
Cooperative Education Program
SSB 455, CPO 61
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
Ph: (859) 622-1296 Fax: (859) 622-1300
E-mail Address: coopoffice@eku.edu

Apply for Co-op Online: www.coop.eku.edu