Cooperative Education and Internship Programs :
Our programs combine classroom theory with career-related work experience. Both experiences are designed to enhance a student's academic training, professional growth, and personal development. At the same time, employers benefit by increasing recruitment and retention, cutting labor costs, and pre-training future employees.
Definition of Terms
Benefits for Employers
Requirements
The Hiring Process
An internship or co-op assignment is a monitored work experience in which an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what she or he is learning throughout the experience. For engineering students, traditionally co-op has been defined as full-time work during a traditional school semester which may or may not be combined with a summer. However, there are increasingly more part-time co-op positions. Internships are part-time during the school year or full-time in the summer. The bottom line is that there is a great deal of flexibility in work schedules and our top priority is to do what is best for the student and employer, regardless of the terminology.
- Reduce the cost of recruitment by previewing potential future hires.
- Pre-train future employees.
- Cut labor costs and supplement your work force.
- Instill new energy into your organization through the enthusiasm of student employees.
- Provide management development opportunities for your current employees by providing them with supervisory roles.
- Provides your organization with campus ambassadors as students return to their studies after work.
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- Employment should relate to the student's field of study and be considered a significant educational experience.
- Assignments should require creative problem solving and not be limited to repetitive or routine tasks.
- Work periods should be progressive so that students are given increased levels of responsibility as experience and expertise are achieved.
- Employers will provide student employees with quality training and a supervisor who will provide guidance and direction.
- Employers will demonstrate a genuine interest in integrating the students as team members of the organization.
- Employers will complete a written performance evaluation at the end of each work period.
- Students should receive a fair and competitive salary.
- Employers will not make any offers of employment, which would be in conflict with the students' academic obligations and commitments.
- Employers may, but are not obligated to offer students permanent employment upon graduation, nor are students obligated to accept any such offers.
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To list a position with our office, either complete our Employer Information Form; for questions, contact us at (301) 405-3863. We can also send you a packet of information describing our programs.
On the Employer Information Form, you will be able to choose from the following:
- Receive resumes electronically from students interested in your position that meet your requirements.
- Request a bundle of resumes of all students who meet your qualifications (resume referral).
Your position will be listed in our eLink database for an entire semester. At the end of each semester you will have the option of listing it again. Resumes are sent via e-mail.
We would be happy to place any of your recruitment literature in our employer files so that students can carefully research your organization before applying for a position.
Employers make all hiring decisions and determine their own salary rates and other terms of employment although guidelines are available from the Co-op Office. Check out our salary surveys online.
