The Cooperative Education Philosophy



The Cooperative Education Philosophy

The three basic objectives of this cooperative education program are:

➢ Career Exploration – Anyone who intends to buy a car will take it for a “test drive.” Co-op experience allows students to explore their career interests without long-term commitment. In the same vein, employers can examine the abilities of potential career employees.

➢ Learning – Students get a chance to apply classroom concepts to solving real-world problems. Employers get a fresh perspective that invigorates lifelong learning for regular employees.

➢ Partnership – Co-op education fosters collaboration between the college and participating employers. Cooperation in other endeavors can more easily be facilitated.

Advantages of Cooperative Education – Student

➢ Experience – Students gain valuable “real world” experience directly tied to their field of study. Students can utilize state of the art equipment and facilities that are not available in a college environment. Most importantly, students become much more marketable to potential employers by gaining experience.

➢ Exploration – Students can explore different career opportunities prior to making long-term commitments. This leads to better career decisions, an understanding of career interests, and higher motivation in the classroom.

➢ Reinforcement – Students apply classroom concepts to workplace projects. This reinforces concepts already learned in the classroom and motivates future learning.

➢ College Credit – Two credit hours are awarded for a semester long full time co-op experience. One credit hour is awarded for each semester of part time co-op experience. A maximum of two semester hours can be earned per semester.

➢ Money – Employers interview and hire co-op students just like regular employees. Obviously co-op students can not expect to make as much as students that have already graduated. Pay rates are usually less than for full time employees, but more than students employed outside of the field. Money is not the primary objective of cooperative education. It can be quite helpful, however in defraying the costs of going to school.

Advantages of Cooperative Education – Employer

➢ Recruitment – Cooperative Education is a very effective and very inexpensive way to recruit technical employees. Co-op employers will have an edge in recruiting since students can commit to full time employment BEFORE they graduate. Co-op programs across the country report more than 60% of co-op students go on to full time employment with their sponsoring company. No other recruitment tool can claim this level of effectiveness.

➢ Pre-Trained Employees – If co-op students become full time employees, they start with exactly the background experience desired by the employer.

➢ Labor – Co-op students often fill vital needs for short-term labor. Employers can hire one or several co-op students each semester depending on the employer’s needs.

➢ Fostering Career Employees – Co-op programs at other colleges and universities consistently report that employees who started as co-op students are much more likely remain with an employer for a longer period of time. Supervisors of these employees also state that these employees express more loyalty and concern for the welfare of the company.

➢ Boost Morale of Regular Employees – Co-op students often bring “new blood” into an organization. Often, supervisors of co-op students learn as much from the student than they impart to the student.

How To Get Plugged In

Cindy Barnes directs the Laser and Photonics Technology program at San Carlos High School . Any questions about the cooperative education should be forwarded to her. Contact information is given below:

Cindy Barnes

Cooperative Education Teacher

San Carlos High School

P.O. Box 207

San Carlos, AZ 85550

Telephone: 928 475-2378 x 1310

Fax: 928 475-2378

E-mail: schs_business@

Copies of the “Employer’s Guide to Cooperative Education” and the “Student Guide to Cooperative Education” can be obtained by contacting Cindy Barnes using any method shown above. These documents contain policies, procedures, and forms necessary for participation in cooperative education. If requests are made by e-mail, these documents can be sent electronically

What is Cooperative Education?

Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a program that forms an educational partnership between an employer and a college. It allows students to apply ideas learned in the classroom to experiences on the job site. Students are employed in entry-level jobs while the employer pays an appropriate wage directly to the student.

This pamphlet describes the philosophy of cooperative education and outlines some of the advantages to students and employers. For detailed information for prospective co-op students, refer to “The Student Guide to Cooperative Education.” For detailed information for potential employers, refer to “The Employer’s Guide to Cooperative Education.” Both of these documents can be obtained by request. Read further in this brochure for contact information.

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