Are you ready to meet the challenges of the working world? Co-op can help

Transcription

1 Marion Technical College Engineering Technologies Co-Operative Education Student Guide

2 Are you ready to meet the challenges of the working world? Co-op can help What is Co-operative Education? Our close partnership with business and industry is one factor contributing to the success of MTC Engineering students, and we believe Co-operative Education (Co-op) is an important key to that success. We keep a database of employers looking for qualified candidates and we try to send at least two to three applicants to all Co-op positions so that the employers can choose the best for their needs. If you find your own potential Co-op employer, that employer and the project must be approved by the dean to ensure that the experience is applicable to your degree. Co-op is a learning experience enabling you to apply your learning in a real work situation. You get paid too, so you can earn while you learn. You will typically work for approximately 10 weeks during you experience. You may work as little as 10 hours per week and as many as 40 hours per week. The actual number of hours is determined by the specific project and the employer. Once the project and hours are identified, college credit hours will be recommended by your Faculty Advisor that can be used toward your degree. Each credit hour requires a minimum of 100 work hours. Check your degree requirements to determine the number of Coop credit hours required. MTC is committed to assisting you during the Co-op learning experience. Your Faculty Advisor will meet with you and the employer to identify the scope of the project and determine learning outcomes. Your Faculty Advisor will also meet with you and the employer periodically to evaluate your performance during the experience. As part of the overall learning experience, we will ask the employer to evaluate your performance and, at the end of the experience, share this evaluation with you and forward a copy to the College. The employer evaluation represents part of your final grade for the Co-op experience. The remainder of your grade will be based upon a final paper concerning your Co-op experience. Why should I be interested in Co-op? Many employers are looking for individuals with work experience that directly applies to the position they have open. Based upon input from our advisory committees, the Co-op experience is one of the best ways for students to get directly applicable work experience. The goals we have for your experience are: Develop and demonstrate the application and integration of technical skills Develop and demonstrate employability and essential skills Better understand your chosen career path and what is expected of you in the industry Develop and expand your Portfolio

3 How much will I get paid? The dollar amount you will be paid is set by the employer when the Co-op position is listed. Dollar amounts vary from employer to employer, but we typically recommend to employers that they offer somewhere between $12 and $13 per hour. The amount, however, is entirely up to the employer. We ask all employers that they provide an entry level salary based on skill requirements. What if I get hurt during the Co-op experience? We hope that this never happens, however, students are to be covered by the employer s Ohio Worker s Compensation Program during the Co-op experience. Can I file for Unemployment Compensation after I leave the Co-op experience? No, based upon the Ohio Revised Code, Section Work Relief or Work Training Program Exclusion. Does Co-op affect my Unemployment Compensation, WIA, or TAA funding? Everyone s situation is slightly different. We recommend that if you have funding from one or more of the sources listed above, talk with your counselor, program manager, or caseworker of the program immediately. We have talked with all of the agencies and they are very willing to work with you to prevent any negative impacts on your funding, but you need to let them know that you are in a program that requires a paid learning experience. What specifically do I need to know? While participating in the Co-op experience, you are an ambassador of not only the Engineering Technologies Department, but also your fellow students and Marion Technical College. Therefore, you are expected to: approach the placement experience with the attitude of one who is ready to work, eager to learn and willing to co-operate serve as a good ambassador for the College attend all information sessions, complete all necessary forms, and follow procedures and processes for finding and completing a Cooperative Education experience work in a safe manner, in accordance with the employer s policies and procedures Accepting a Co-op position is a contract you have signed committing you to work for the duration of the placement. If you wish to leave employment before the experience is over, consult your Faculty Advisor before taking any action. If you are terminated by your employer, contact your Faculty Advisor immediately. You will receive an unsatisfactory grade for the Coop course. Misconduct will be reviewed by your workplace supervisor and Faculty Advisor. It may result in disciplinary action and/or termination of employment from the Co-op program and may result in an unsatisfactory grade in the course.

4 Transportation to and from your work place and living accommodations are your expense. If you need time off work for special events, you need to arrange approval with your employer in advance, preferably before accepting the job. In the event of a strike or work stoppage, whether you should cross a picket line and work, or observe a picket line and choose not to work, is a decision you must make. Your faculty advisor can discuss the potential results of either decision. You may also want to discuss it with your employer if applicable. What if I get offered a full-time job at the end of the Co-op experience? Obviously it is great if you would be offered a job, however, keep in mind that you came to MTC to finish a degree. We recommend to all employers that if they offer a full-time position that it be contingent upon the student completing their degree. How do I get started? Even though you must have at least 60 credit hours of coursework in your degree to qualify for a Co-op assignment, you can begin the process as soon as you have attained at least 50 credit hours in your degree program or request approval from the dean. Transfer students with at least 60 transferrable credit hours must also have completed at least one academic quarter at MTC. You must also have a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) from courses in your degree program. Complete the application form on last page of this guide and submit it along with a recent resume to your Faculty Advisor who will review your application and forward it to the dean for approval. Once approved by the dean, Deb Murphy, Career Services Specialist in the Center for Workforce Development murphyd@mtc.edu will contact you to set an appointment. She will work with you to polish your resume and prepare for interviews. What happens next? Once you meet the minimum 45 required hours of coursework, you will be placed in a database of students looking for Co-op experiences. You will then be matched electronically during your desired year and quarter to Co-op positions that are available. You will be contacted by Deb Murphy to determine if you are interested in any of the positions available. Once you indicate an interest, you will be asked to sign a release so that we can send an unofficial transcript to the company. Your resume and unofficial transcript will also be forwarded to the company for review. If they are interested, an interview will be scheduled for you. Once you are chosen for a position, you, your Faculty Advisor and the employer and you will meet to determine the learning outcomes for the experience. Once the outcomes have been identified, the Faculty Advisor will recommend to the dean the number of credit hours for the experience. The course will be properly recorded in our system with the appropriate credit hours and you must follow college registration procedures to register for the Co-op course. Since Co-op positions may develop at any time, you might start your employment before the beginning of the

5 next term. You must pay for the course by the last day to pay to receive college credit. Talk to your Faculty Advisor for more details. Your Faculty Advisor will meet with you and your employer three times during the Co-op experience to evaluate your progress toward the learning outcomes. Occasionally during the academic year, employers will come to campus to explain their Co-op positions and application procedures. Please make sure you participate in these events. This will help show your interest in employment.

6 STUDENT INFORMATION MARION TECHNICAL COLLEGE Engineering Technologies Cooperative Education Application Name Date MTC Student ID# Contact Phone Program/Major Student Faculty Advisor What year and quarter do you expect to enroll in a Co-op course? Year: Quarter: Fall Winter Spring Summer Have you completed more than 30 credit hours or more? Yes No Number of MTC credit hours completed? Resume attached? Yes No I agree to: 1. Comply with the employer s safety policies and procedures. 2. Comply with the employer s dress code, grooming standards and honor code. 3. Provide transportation to and from the work assignment. 4. Report any serious problems, including safety and personnel problems, to the Faculty Advisor and the Employer. 5. Sign a release of information form in order for the employer to provide information to Marion Technical College pertaining to the student s progress. 6. Complete the entire co-op work term and not terminate employment without consent from the Faculty Advisor. 7. Write a formal written report according to the guidelines set forth in the syllabus. Student Date For Office Use Only Recommendation: Approved Denied Faculty Advisor Date Approved Denied Dean Date