CEC - Co-op

Co-op

Employers Co-op Student Evaluation Form (word file)

Co-op Weekly Log (excel file)

Co-op Log Guidelines (word file)

Co-op Log Cover Sheet (excel file)

Co-op Log Presentation (powerpoint file)

Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a structured program that students may participate in to gain work experience in jobs related to their academic backgrounds. Co-op students gain skills and experience which prepare them for the future job market and give them the “added plus” of work experience as part of their credentials upon graduation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CO-OP:

• Objectives
• Benefits to Students
• Benefits to Employers
• Employer Responsibilities
• How to List a Co-op Position
• Career Employment Center Responsibilities
• Participation & Eligibility
• Student Responsibilities
• Application Process - NEW! Downloadable Application
• Questions & Answers
• Contact Us

Objectives of the Cooperative Education Program

1. To develop professional and social skills and promote personal growth.
2. Enhance academic performance by providing opportunities for students to apply practical experience and bridge the gap between theory and practice.
3. To merge students from co-op entry level jobs to full time position upon completion of their program and graduation from Nashville State Community College.
Benefits

Cooperative Education provides both benefits to the students and the employers.

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Benefits to Students

• Hands-on work experience
• Clear picture of the real work environment, which allows them to refine their career plans and transition from school to the workforce
• Gain confidence in their abilities and acquire competence in their field of study
• Improves their opportunities to obtain permanent employment and increased marketability upon graduation
• Improved decision-making, interaction, and communication skills
• Provides them with financial earnings
• Academic credit

[top of page]

Benefits to Employers

• Business (large corporations, mid-size, and small companies) as well as industry and government benefit. As co-op employers they tap into an excellent, cost-effective system for recruiting and training students engaged in a high-quality education process
• Access to a pool of well trained and highly motivated student employees to fill entry-level positions
• Increased retention
• Observation prior to permanent job offer
• Establishes an opportunity to participate in the total educational development of students

[top of page]

Employer Responsibilities

Employer Responsibilities – Employers provide challenging positions which students are able to develop professional competence and gain experience working. It is only through the support of employers that Cooperative Education works. The employer is also expected to:

1. Assign work that best uses the talents of the student and helps the student in
accomplishing the objectives of the learning agreement.
2. Assists the student in completing the Learning Agreement.
3. Review the job description and the learning agreement objectives at the beginning of each semester.
4. Conduct employer evaluation of co-op student upon completion of a work semester.
5. Communicates with program director regarding the co-op student’s job performance.

[top of page]

How to List a Co-op Position with the NSCC Career Employment Center

Job descriptions along with company contact information may be provided by:
• Email: cec@nscc.edu
• Fax : 615-353-3254

Information to Include:
• Position Title
• Full or Part-Time Position/Hours
• Job Description/Duties
• Qualifications/Education/Experience
• Company name, address, and contact information
• Any additional relevant information

[top of page]

Career Employment Center Responsibilities

It is the Career Employment Center’s responsibility to:

1. Informs all students of the Co-op Program and its benefits.
2. Screen and select students to participate in the Co-op Program.
3. Provide the student’s with work experience opportunities that are consistent with their academic program.
4. Provides the employer with student’s co-op application and transcript.
5. Monitor relationships between students and employers.
6. Actively recruits employers to participate in the Co-op program.
7. Serve as a liaison between College and the employer.
8. Forward copies of reports and evaluations to student’s departments for review.
9. Award Co-op grades and credits.

[top of page]

Participation & Eligibility

Students who wish to participate must meet eligibility requirements and complete the application process.

In order to qualify for the Co-op Program you must meet the following criteria:
• Be enrolled in a degree program or technical certificate at NSCC
• Minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Must have completed at least three courses in their major (this does not include general education requirements such as; math, english, social sciences, etc…)
• Must be enrolled in at least one course in your major each semester you apply for Co-op

[top of page]

Student Responsibilities

When job placement is secured, students are expected to follow the guidelines in the Learning Agreement, adhere to company regulations that apply to all employees and meet all school and work time schedules. Throughout the co-op experience, their grade point average and co-op program requirements are monitored to ensure their continued eligibility. If you fail to meet the requirements you will be ineligible to participate in the Co-op program.

[top of page]

Application Process

Students should submit their completed application with a copy of their college transcript to the Career Employment Center. Applications are reviewed to determine eligibility. At the end of each semester, you will need to update your application adding the courses you have completed. Co-op applications are active for one semester.

When an applicant is determined eligible to participate in the Cooperative Education program their application is processed and important points will be discussed including reports, evaluations and the co-op registration process.

Instructions for Application: Download application. Open in Microsoft Word. Fill out application, save to a disk. Bring disk to Career Employment Center.

Download the Cooperative Education Application (doc file)

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Questions & Answers

Do I submit a resume for Co-op?
No, you complete a co-op application. We have a Co-op application on diskette, which you can pick up, in the Career Employment Center or download the application from this website. Once you have completed the application, please bring it back to the Career Employment Center with a copy of your college transcript.

Once I submit an application for Co-op, what happens next?
Once you have submitted a Co-op application, a Center employee will review it. Once your Co-op application is approved, a file is created. As job opportunities come in, we will send out your application directly to employers seeking Co-op students in your major. You will need to stop by the Center every few weeks to check the status of your application.

Am I guaranteed a Co-op Job?
No, we only refer you to potential employment opportunities. Factors determining whether you get a job will be your qualifications, your ability to compete with other students from NSCC, and your job preparation skills (resume writing and interviewing), and the economic conditions at the time of your availability are all factors of employment.

Is there anything I need to do to keep my application active?
Your Co-op application is active for one semester. At the end of each semester, you will need to update your co-op application adding the courses you have completed.

What happens when an employer contacts me regarding a Co-op position?
If an employer is interested in setting up an interview, the employer will contact you directly. You will then schedule an interview to meet with the employer to find out about the Co-op position.

What should I do if I am not interested in a particular Co-op job I have been contacted for?
If you are not interested in the particular Co-op position, you must return the phone call of the employer and let them know that you are not interested. We ask you to be honest with the employer as to why you are not interested (i.e., not interested in working evenings, cannot coordinate school schedule around work schedule, not interested in traveling, etc...)
It is extremely important for you to contact an employer whether or not you are interested in a position. It reflects a professional attitude of our students and of the Center. If you are contacted by an employer and you do not return their call and our office is notified, you will be ineligible to participate in the Co-op program.

After I have been hired on Co-op, what do I need to do?
Once you have accepted a Co-op position, you will need to pick up a learning agreement from the Career Employment Center and complete it.

What is a learning agreement?
The learning agreement is the contract between the college, your employer and you. You will complete the learning agreement with your supervisor and write your learning objectives based on what you will learn for the semester. Once you and your supervisor have signed the learning agreement, you will bring it back to the Career Employment Center.

How soon do I have to return the learning Agreement to the Career Employment Center?
Your learning agreement needs to be submitted to the Career employment center within one week of being hired.

How do I get registered for my Co-op class credit?
Once you have submitted your learning agreement to the Center, we will assign you a course number for your co-op class. You will then take the learning agreement immediately to the records office to register for this class. After registering, you will go directly to the business office to pay for your course.

How many credits will I earn per semester in Co-op?
1.5 credit hours per semester for part-time (Below 20 hours per week.)
3.0 credit hours per semester for full-time employment (20 plus hours per week.)

How much does the Co-op class cost?
Credit hour prices are listed each semester in the schedule. You would multiply either 1.5 credits or 3.0 credits times whatever the current rate per hour is.
During fall and spring semesters, if you are registered full time for 12 credit hours or more, and then register for a Co-op class, there is no additional charge. If you are registered below 12 hours, you will pay by the credit hour for your course. During the summer semester, regardless of the number of hours you register for, you pay by the credit hour.

Once I am hired on Co-op, do I have to continue to take classes each semester?
Yes, in order to be eligible for the Co-op program, you must be enrolled in courses related to your major each semester you are on Co-op.

What happens if I am on Co-op and I graduate?
Once you graduate from Nashville State Community College, you are ineligible for the Co-op program. You must be enrolled in a degree program or technical certificate to be eligible for co-op.

How do I earn Academic Credit for the Co-op class?
At the end of the semester you will have two items to submit to receive credit for the co-op program.

• 3-5 page report detailing your learning objectives
• Your employer evaluation completed by your supervisor

Your grade is based on these two items. There are deadlines for submission, so please check with the Career Employment Center for due dates.

What if I already work in a job related to my field? Can I earn Co-op credit?
If you already work in an area related to your program major, stop by the Career Employment Center to see if Co-op credit is possible for you. We have worked with many employers and students to allow them to earn valuable co-op credit at their current positions.

[top of page]

Contact Us

For more information regarding the Co-op Program Please contact:
Career Employment Center
Nashville State Community College
120 White Bridge Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
Phone: 615 353-3248
Fax: 615 353-3254
Email: cec@nscc.edu

[top of page] [Return to CEC Homepage]



		Co-op Employers Co-op Student Evaluation Form (word file) Co-op Weekly Log (excel file) Co-op Log Guidelines (word file) Co-op Log Cover Sheet (excel file) Co-op Log Presentation (powerpoint file) Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a structured program that students may participate in to gain work experience in jobs related to their academic backgrounds. Co-op students gain skills and experience which prepare them for the future job market and give them the “added plus” of work experience as part of their credentials upon graduation. LEARN MORE ABOUT CO-OP: • Objectives • Benefits to Students • Benefits to Employers • Employer Responsibilities • How to List a Co-op Position • Career Employment Center Responsibilities • Participation & Eligibility • Student Responsibilities • Application Process - NEW! Downloadable Application • Questions & Answers • Contact Us Objectives of the Cooperative Education Program 1. To develop professional and social skills and promote personal growth. 2. Enhance academic performance by providing opportunities for students to apply practical experience and bridge the gap between theory and practice. 3. To merge students from co-op entry level jobs to full time position upon completion of their program and graduation from Nashville State Community College. Benefits Cooperative Education provides both benefits to the students and the employers. [top of page] Benefits to Students • Hands-on work experience • Clear picture of the real work environment, which allows them to refine their career plans and transition from school to the workforce • Gain confidence in their abilities and acquire competence in their field of study • Improves their opportunities to obtain permanent employment and increased marketability upon graduation • Improved decision-making, interaction, and communication skills • Provides them with financial earnings • Academic credit [top of page] Benefits to Employers • Business (large corporations, mid-size, and small companies) as well as industry and government benefit. As co-op employers they tap into an excellent, cost-effective system for recruiting and training students engaged in a high-quality education process • Access to a pool of well trained and highly motivated student employees to fill entry-level positions • Increased retention • Observation prior to permanent job offer • Establishes an opportunity to participate in the total educational development of students [top of page] Employer Responsibilities Employer Responsibilities – Employers provide challenging positions which students are able to develop professional competence and gain experience working. It is only through the support of employers that Cooperative Education works. The employer is also expected to: 1. Assign work that best uses the talents of the student and helps the student in accomplishing the objectives of the learning agreement. 2. Assists the student in completing the Learning Agreement. 3. Review the job description and the learning agreement objectives at the beginning of each semester. 4. Conduct employer evaluation of co-op student upon completion of a work semester. 5. Communicates with program director regarding the co-op student’s job performance. [top of page] How to List a Co-op Position with the NSCC Career Employment Center Job descriptions along with company contact information may be provided by: • Email: cec@nscc.edu • Fax : 615-353-3254 Information to Include: • Position Title • Full or Part-Time Position/Hours • Job Description/Duties • Qualifications/Education/Experience • Company name, address, and contact information • Any additional relevant information [top of page] Career Employment Center Responsibilities It is the Career Employment Center’s responsibility to: 1. Informs all students of the Co-op Program and its benefits. 2. Screen and select students to participate in the Co-op Program. 3. Provide the student’s with work experience opportunities that are consistent with their academic program. 4. Provides the employer with student’s co-op application and transcript. 5. Monitor relationships between students and employers. 6. Actively recruits employers to participate in the Co-op program. 7. Serve as a liaison between College and the employer. 8. Forward copies of reports and evaluations to student’s departments for review. 9. Award Co-op grades and credits. [top of page] Participation & Eligibility Students who wish to participate must meet eligibility requirements and complete the application process. In order to qualify for the Co-op Program you must meet the following criteria: • Be enrolled in a degree program or technical certificate at NSCC • Minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA • Must have completed at least three courses in their major (this does not include general education requirements such as; math, english, social sciences, etc…) • Must be enrolled in at least one course in your major each semester you apply for Co-op [top of page] Student Responsibilities When job placement is secured, students are expected to follow the guidelines in the Learning Agreement, adhere to company regulations that apply to all employees and meet all school and work time schedules. Throughout the co-op experience, their grade point average and co-op program requirements are monitored to ensure their continued eligibility. If you fail to meet the requirements you will be ineligible to participate in the Co-op program. [top of page] Application Process Students should submit their completed application with a copy of their college transcript to the Career Employment Center. Applications are reviewed to determine eligibility. At the end of each semester, you will need to update your application adding the courses you have completed. Co-op applications are active for one semester. When an applicant is determined eligible to participate in the Cooperative Education program their application is processed and important points will be discussed including reports, evaluations and the co-op registration process. Instructions for Application: Download application. Open in Microsoft Word. Fill out application, save to a disk. Bring disk to Career Employment Center. Download the Cooperative Education Application (doc file) [top of page] Questions & Answers Do I submit a resume for Co-op? No, you complete a co-op application. We have a Co-op application on diskette, which you can pick up, in the Career Employment Center or download the application from this website. Once you have completed the application, please bring it back to the Career Employment Center with a copy of your college transcript. Once I submit an application for Co-op, what happens next? Once you have submitted a Co-op application, a Center employee will review it. Once your Co-op application is approved, a file is created. As job opportunities come in, we will send out your application directly to employers seeking Co-op students in your major. You will need to stop by the Center every few weeks to check the status of your application. Am I guaranteed a Co-op Job? No, we only refer you to potential employment opportunities. Factors determining whether you get a job will be your qualifications, your ability to compete with other students from NSCC, and your job preparation skills (resume writing and interviewing), and the economic conditions at the time of your availability are all factors of employment. Is there anything I need to do to keep my application active? Your Co-op application is active for one semester. At the end of each semester, you will need to update your co-op application adding the courses you have completed. What happens when an employer contacts me regarding a Co-op position? If an employer is interested in setting up an interview, the employer will contact you directly. You will then schedule an interview to meet with the employer to find out about the Co-op position. What should I do if I am not interested in a particular Co-op job I have been contacted for? If you are not interested in the particular Co-op position, you must return the phone call of the employer and let them know that you are not interested. We ask you to be honest with the employer as to why you are not interested (i.e., not interested in working evenings, cannot coordinate school schedule around work schedule, not interested in traveling, etc...) It is extremely important for you to contact an employer whether or not you are interested in a position. It reflects a professional attitude of our students and of the Center. If you are contacted by an employer and you do not return their call and our office is notified, you will be ineligible to participate in the Co-op program. After I have been hired on Co-op, what do I need to do? Once you have accepted a Co-op position, you will need to pick up a learning agreement from the Career Employment Center and complete it. What is a learning agreement? The learning agreement is the contract between the college, your employer and you. You will complete the learning agreement with your supervisor and write your learning objectives based on what you will learn for the semester. Once you and your supervisor have signed the learning agreement, you will bring it back to the Career Employment Center. How soon do I have to return the learning Agreement to the Career Employment Center? Your learning agreement needs to be submitted to the Career employment center within one week of being hired. How do I get registered for my Co-op class credit? Once you have submitted your learning agreement to the Center, we will assign you a course number for your co-op class. You will then take the learning agreement immediately to the records office to register for this class. After registering, you will go directly to the business office to pay for your course. How many credits will I earn per semester in Co-op? 1.5 credit hours per semester for part-time (Below 20 hours per week.) 3.0 credit hours per semester for full-time employment (20 plus hours per week.) How much does the Co-op class cost? Credit hour prices are listed each semester in the schedule. You would multiply either 1.5 credits or 3.0 credits times whatever the current rate per hour is. During fall and spring semesters, if you are registered full time for 12 credit hours or more, and then register for a Co-op class, there is no additional charge. If you are registered below 12 hours, you will pay by the credit hour for your course. During the summer semester, regardless of the number of hours you register for, you pay by the credit hour. Once I am hired on Co-op, do I have to continue to take classes each semester? Yes, in order to be eligible for the Co-op program, you must be enrolled in courses related to your major each semester you are on Co-op. What happens if I am on Co-op and I graduate? Once you graduate from Nashville State Community College, you are ineligible for the Co-op program. You must be enrolled in a degree program or technical certificate to be eligible for co-op. How do I earn Academic Credit for the Co-op class? At the end of the semester you will have two items to submit to receive credit for the co-op program. • 3-5 page report detailing your learning objectives • Your employer evaluation completed by your supervisor Your grade is based on these two items. There are deadlines for submission, so please check with the Career Employment Center for due dates. What if I already work in a job related to my field? Can I earn Co-op credit? If you already work in an area related to your program major, stop by the Career Employment Center to see if Co-op credit is possible for you. We have worked with many employers and students to allow them to earn valuable co-op credit at their current positions. [top of page] Contact Us For more information regarding the Co-op Program Please contact: Career Employment Center Nashville State Community College 120 White Bridge Road Nashville, Tennessee 37209 Phone: 615 353-3248 Fax: 615 353-3254 Email: cec@nscc.edu [top of page] [Return to CEC Homepage]