Shepherd University - Career Devel

Faculty Handbook

Co-op positions

Co-op positions are to be professionally-oriented, paid positions related to a student’s career interests. Students need to receive training and supervision by an employing organization. Students need to be considered an employee of that organization (at least on a temporary or part-time basis).

Learning agreements

Every student will be completing a co-op learning agreement for each semester of credit. This document is where a department can indicate approval of site, course assignments, and credit hour allocation.

Student course assignments

Since co-op is more than a job and involves both learning and academic credit, some type of student assignment is required. The actual assignments may be negotiated between the faculty coordinator and student. Typical assignments include: journals, summary papers, portfolios, research projects, and presentations.

Credits

Students must meet eligibility standards to receive co-op credit (see co-op brochure).
The approved co-op course for all departments is xxx-392 (i.e. ACCT 392, BADM 392).
Students may earn between 1 to 9 credit hours per semester.
Number of hours worked per credit can be determined by each academic department (minimum requirements = 50 hours worked per credit; 150 hours worked per semester).
Co-op positions are generally at least 15 hours per week over a minimum period of eight weeks.
Credits can count toward major, minor or general electives (or combination). This is indicated on the learning agreement.
Students may enroll during the Fall, Spring and/or Summer terms (Summer I & II treated as a single term).
Students must enroll in a co-op course at least twice to fulfill co-op program requirements (a new learning agreement needs to be completed for each semester of co-op).
Students need to enroll for credit concurrently with their co-op assignment.
Students may not enroll for credit until co-op position is obtained and approved via learning agreement.
Students return completed learning agreement to Co-op office; this generates a blue approval form which students take to course registration.

Co-op faculty coordinator responsibilities

Hold conferences with co-op student.
Conduct on-site visitation/telephone contact with employer.
Give feedback to co-op student regarding progress and course assignments.
Determine grade (based on course assignments and employer evaluations).
Relay grade to Registrar’s Office.

Stipends

For faculty supervision, a stipend is processed for each student enrolled in a co-op course per semester. Refer to Credits #8 statement.

Site visits

We strongly encourage visits to be conducted to sites within a 100-mile radius. In addition to the faculty stipend, travel funds are available from the Co-op program. Travel paperwork and authorization will need to be processed for each trip. The Co-op staff will assist with the typing of these forms.

Thank you for all of your cooperation in aiding the growth of the cooperative education program.