Cooperative Education is an arrangement between schools and businesses that allows high school and college students the opportunity for paid employment and course credit while they are attending school. The school provides qualified student applicants to participating businesses to fill entry-level positions. Employers hire the student(s) at entry-level wages and provide on-the-job training for higher-level positions. There are two major types of Cooperative Education programs:

• Traditional or alternating programs allow the student to alternate between full-time work and full-time classes, usually on a semester-to-semester basis. Alternating programs are common at the university level, and may also include summer jobs programs.
• Parallel or work-study programs allow the student to work part-time at the same time they are attending classes. Most high school and community college co-op programs are parallel, but may also include full-time work during the summer.

Most co-op students will possess general job skills. As with any new employee, co-op students will require supervision and training by the employer. Many companies have discovered that employing co-op students is a cost-effective way to meet their staffing needs. Cooperative Education programs are also a low-risk way to preview permanent employees. Employers are not obligated to retain the student after the co-op period is over, and may terminate the employee at any time. Of course, employers may always extend the co-op period or offer the student permanent employment.

 

Cooperative Education can be beneficial to companies in many ways. A co-op program may be right for your company if:

• You are having difficulty recruiting qualified employees to fill your company's entry-level positions. Cooperative Education offices at the schools keep up-to date databases of available students, which include their educational levels and job skills. Schools strive to match appropriate student candidates with participating employers.
• Your extended business hours require you to cover many work shifts. Companies that are open outside of regular business hours can often utilize co-op students to fill the gaps in their work schedules. Co-op students work a minimum of 15 hours per week, which may include weekends. There are some night hour limitations, as well as restrictions on some types of work for high school students, which are tied to child labor laws. Cooperative Education coordinators can provide specific details.
• Your business can benefit by hiring part-time and temporary employees. Many businesses with seasonal or cyclical staffing needs can maintain flexibility by hiring co-op students during busy periods. Because co-op students have a variety of job skills, they can be a cost-effective alternative to temporaries.
• You need employees with specialized job skills. Many co-op programs are tied to Career and Technology Education programs, which teach students the job skills in their chosen careers. Not only do these students want to work in your industry, but they already possess basic job skills. Examples include:

Health Science Technology

Administrative Support/Office Technology

Accounting

Drafting Technology

Electronics/Microcomputer Technology

Metal Trades

Automotive Technology

Culinary Arts/Food Service Technology

Heating//Air Conditioning/Refrigeration

Education/Child Development

• Recruitment of qualified employees is very competitive in your industry. Companies can "try out" student employees before they graduate, and recruit the best candidates for permanent employment. By offering soon-to-be graduates training opportunities in demand occupations, a company can gain access to a large pool of prospective employees.
• Your company doesn't have the resources to perform human resource functions like testing and qualifying prospective employees. Schools can provide several qualified applicants for an employer to choose from.
• You want to start a training program for new employees. Schools can help businesses set up and implement their training programs in conjunction with a co-op program. Schools may also be able to provide specialized training for participating employers.
• You are looking for enthusiastic, motivated professionals. Most schools teach professionalism and interpersonal skills in addition to job skills, so employers can be confident that their new employees will know how to interact with colleagues and customers, as well as dress and behave in a professional manner.

Businesses that participate in Cooperative Education programs are protected from many of the potential problems associated with hiring employees "off the street", because they have the educational and disciplinary support of the school. Co-op students are supervised by a coordinator at school, who keeps in contact with the employer to help solve any problems that may be encountered. Although the coordinator should be contacted before problems reach this stage, businesses may terminate or replace a co-op student without any repercussions.

Employers will be asked to develop a training plan in conjunction with the student and coordinator, and will be asked to periodically evaluate (grade) the student.

The best positions for co-op students are supervised entry-level positions that provide practical experience to complement the student's education. For example, a co-op student in an Office Administration or Information Systems program may be hired as a receptionist, accounting clerk or data entry clerk. The school may send several applicants to be interviewed, but the business always decides which student(s) to hire.

• Co-op students are paid employees of your company. Salaries for co-op students may begin at minimum wage and increase with the requirements of the job and industry standards.
• Co-op students should be treated as any other employee, including coverage under Worker's Compensation and eligibility for applicable employee benefits.
• Determine what age and educational level your position will require. The nature of your business may require students over 18 years old. If you choose to include 16-17 year-olds in your co-op program, be sure to review the U.S. Department of Labor publication, Understanding and Applying Child Labor Laws to Today's School-to-Work Transition Program. Your Human Resources Department or local Texas Workforce Commission office may have a copy, or you can request the publication and additional information from:

Good communication between the business and the school is important to a successful co-op program. Provide the school with the information necessary to meet your needs and expectations.

• When contacting your community college or university, call the Career Placement Office or the appropriate departmental office. When contacting high schools in your area, ask to speak with a Cooperative Education coordinator or a teacher in charge of Career and Technology Education programs.
• Contact schools that are reasonably close to your business. You'll be helping your immediate community and saving your co-op students travel time that could be spent at your company.
• Send a job description to the coordinator when you request a co-op student. Be sure to include skills required, days and hours the employee is needed, appropriate dress and starting salary. You should also include a statement indicating that the co-op student is required to furnish his/her own transportation, as well as information about any special equipment required, such as safety glasses or steel-toed boots, or items such as parking decals, etc. It's a good idea to furnish application forms and general information about your company. Set a start date and end date for the position.

Many Cooperative Education programs are so popular that you may need to request students 3-4 months in advance. Call the coordinator in your area for details.

The school coordinator may select several applicants for your consideration. Treat a co-op student just as you would any other job applicant. It's a good idea to send the co-op student(s) you select through your company's new employee orientation program and provide a copy of your Employee Handbook or Policies and Procedures Manual.

Your school coordinator will keep in contact with you during the co-op period, and is available to provide support if you have problems or questions.