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Cooperative Education Policies and Procedures

INTRODUCTION
Cooperative Education (co-op) is a unique plan of education designed to integrate the theory of classroom study with the practicality of the work world. Co-op is an optional program that involves either full- or part-time work periods as follows:
-Full-Time (Alternating): students work 40 hours a week for 3 to 6 months; or
-Part-Time (Parallel): students work 15-20 hours a week for a minimum of 6 months.
All co-op assignments are paid experiences -- salaries are determined by employers and vary among industries.

BENEFITS
While there are many immediate benefits to completing a co-op, many of the benefits are fully realized later, during a student's job search and when contemplating career decisions. Co-op's major objective is to give students a broader education through practical experience. Although the co-op assignment is a work situation, learning is involved. The student receives experience that is directly related to his/her major and/or career objectives. Other benefits a student receives are:
· money to help pay for college expenses,
· valuable work experience that will enhance opportunities for postgraduate employment,
· academic credit towards degree,
· reinforcement of career goals,
· the possibility of receiving a full-time offer prior to graduation,
· learning more about the "real" work world -- outside the classroom, and
· the maturity, confidence, and experience necessary to secure full-time employment.

CO-OP CALENDAR
Although in some situations co-op may postpone graduation, a major advantage of La Salle's Co-op Program is the possibility of completing one or two co-op assignments and all degree requirements within the traditional four-year cycle. By enrolling in summer courses, students can make up the missed credits and graduate within four years. Full-time co-ops offer several work periods:

January to June - May to August - July to December

Since La Salle is on a semester system, an employer may extend the six-month work periods to cover the summer months. Students are also often hired on a seasonal basis for a three to four month period -- such as Spring "tax season" for CPA Firms or the Fall "busy season" for retailers.

ELIGIBILITY
Co-op is available to all majors with the exception of Education. For a La Salle student to participate in the Co-op Program, he/she must meet the following criteria:
· be a full-time Day Division student,
· have completed 60 credit hours (transfer students must complete 15 credit hours at La Salle),
· maintain a minimum overall and major GPA of 2.25 prior to and during all co-op assignments,
· have an officially declared major, and
· where required, complete specific coursework.

ACADEMIC CREDIT
Each student who participates in the Co-op Program will receive 3 academic credits for each successfully completed co-op assignment. These credits are taken as free electives and apply towards degree requirements for graduation. With the exception of Accounting, all majors will allow students to register up to 4 co-op placements/courses. Thus, Accounting majors can earn a maximum of 3 co-op credits and all other majors can earn a maximum of 12 co-op credits. Each assignment must receive approval from the Career Services Center and the appropriate Faculty Co-op Advisor. Additional placements with the same employer must be significantly different from the previous one (i.e., increased responsibilities, transfer to another department/function, etc.). Subsequent assignments can also be with another employer in a similar position. Once you have accepted a co-op position, you will be required to register the appropriate course.

CO-OP GRADES
A pass/fail (S/U) grade is issued by the Faculty Co-op Advisor for each co-op course -- letter grades are not given. In order to receive a passing grade, you must successfully complete your co-op assignment as well as all academic requirements discussed and set between you and your Advisor. These requirements may include some or all of the following:
· Daily or weekly journal of your experiences
· Progress reports
· Midterm reports
· Final reports
· Individual/group meeting with Faculty Co-op Advisor
· Onsite visit during co-op assignment

Additionally, an evaluation form will be sent to your employer and given to your Advisor upon completion. Advisors must submit a grade for all students in all courses within 3 weeks after the end of semester final. Normally, co-op students will receive an Incomplete (I) at this time, which could automatically be converted to a Fail Grade (U or F). Once you have completed all requirements to the satisfaction of your Advisor and your evaluation is turned in, the proper grade will be submitted. This is a pass (S) grade in 99% of the cases.

TUITION POLICY
As you do for any registered course at La Salle, you will be required to pay tuition for each enrolled co-op course. The tuition for an alternating co-op course is based on the current academic year's tuition rate -- specifically, the Day Division part-time/overload rate per credit hour (i.e., the rate charged to credits taken in excess of 15 credits or less than 12 credits per semester). Other courses taken concurrently with a co-op course shall be assessed the tuition rate in effect for the division in which they are registered (i.e., day courses at Day Division rate, Evening/Summer courses at Evening Division rate.)

If normal progress has been made towards your degree, a Summer co-op course will put you ahead by three credits. In this situation, you will have the option of taking a reduced load (12 credits) in either the following Fall or Spring semester. The tuition paid for the Summer co-op will then be deducted from the full tuition charge for that 12-credit semester. This option is available for the Fall and Spring semesters immediately following the Summer co-op only. In order to receive this deduction, you will be responsible for notifying the Office of Student and Accounts Receivable. When paying for the Fall or Spring tuition, simply indicate that you took a co-op during the preceding Summer. The appropriate adjustments will be made at that time.
For those students on a parallel co-op assignment, the co-op course is usually registered as part of the full load (15 credits) for the semester. In this case, tuition will be assessed at the normal full-time rate. Please refer to the Application Form for the official Tuition Policy. This form should be signed to indicate understanding of and compliance with this policy

FINANCIAL AID GUIDELINES
Co-op applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor prior to registration to discuss any effect that co-op may have on their total financial aid package. Students in the parallel mode will not have their financial aid affected, provided they have at least 12 credits registered during the co-op term. Students on the alternating mode can retain their Stafford Loan for the co-op semester. It is important that you notify the Financial Aid Office if you enroll in summer courses on a full-time basis or if you plan to extend graduation by one or more semesters. Contact your Financial Aid officer at 215-951-1070 to discuss your specific situation.

APPLICATION, INTERVIEWING AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Application to the Co-op Program should be completed by midterm of the semester prior to the intended work period. Although application to the Program does not guarantee a placement, the Career Services Center will make every effort to locate suitable assignments for those who comply with the eligibility requirements and regulations. Placements are dependent upon the availability of job openings and the student's qualifications as they relate to each assignment. The following procedures should be adhered to when applying to the Co-op Program:

Application
1. Meet with the Career Services Center to discuss your intentions.
2. Complete an Application Form (available in the Career Services Center) and sign the Tuition Policy on the reverse side.
3. Consult with your departmental Faculty Co-op Advisor where appropriate. Some academic departments require approval from the advisor that must be obtained before you can be referred to any co-op employer.
4. Prepare a resume to be submitted to participating employers. the Career Services Center should review a rough draft of your resume and two copies of the final draft should be submitted to the Career Services Center.
5. Referrals to prospective employers will be made based upon the student's qualifications and work preference as compared to employer's requirements and availability of assignments. Participating employers indicate their requirements in terms of major, academic level, GPA, aptitudes and other special skills needed for the assignment.

Interviewing
1. Interviewing is a critical step in obtaining a co-op position. the Career Services Center and all resources of the Center are available to assist you in preparation for your interviews. Resources include information on interviews, company literature, and student evaluations of assignments from previous co-ops.
2. Employers will select the students they wish to interview. As most interviews are held at the company's site, employers will make these arrangements directly with the student. Any interviews held on campus will be arranged through the Career Services Center.
3. Students are expected to be present at ALL scheduled interviews -- necessary cancellations should be made well in advance of the interview day.
4. Selection of students for co-op assignments is done on a competitive basis, with the final decisions being made by the employers. The employer may make offers for co-op employment either through the the Career Services Center or directly to the student.
5. Acceptance of a co-op assignment is the student's responsibility. It is recommended that you discuss your decision with the Career Services Center prior to accepting employment. Acceptance of a co-op offer should be done both verbally and in writing. Verbal rejection of any other offers is also recommended.
6. Learning objectives and departmental requirements should be discussed with the Faculty Co-op Advisor within your academic department.

Registration
1. Registration of the proper co-op course must be completed at the Registrar's Office once you have accepted the assignment. Obtain a Registration Form from the Career Services Center. This form notifies the Registrar that you have accepted an approved co-op assignment and in which semester the appropriate course should be registered. Registration of the co-op course is the student's responsibility. This can be done any time during pre-registration or after the pre-registration period and prior to the beginning of the next semester
2. Payment of tuition is also the student's responsibility and is necessary to receive proper credit. Tuition for co-op courses registered in the Fall and Spring semesters should be paid at the beginning of those semesters. Summer co-op tuition is payable on those dates required for the second summer session (check with the Office of Student and Accounts Receivable for the specific dates and times.)
3. The final order of business is to inform the Career Services Center of your work telephone number and/or email address.
ON THE CO-OP ASSIGNMENT

Adjustment
As with any change, there will be an adjustment period to endure before you will feel comfortable on the job. This period may last several days or several weeks. If you have any questions or problems when beginning the assignment, you should first discuss these with the Career Services Center or your Faculty Co-op Advisor. DO NOT VOLUNTARILY LEAVE THE ASSIGNMENT unless released by the Career Services Center.

Employment Status
Most co-op employers consider their co-op students regular full-time (or part-time, as the case may be) employees. You will be expected to abide by the policies and regulations of your employer. If you are not advised of these policies, you should discuss them with your manager or the Human Resources department. Appearance and manner of dress should be appropriate for and conform to the employer's policies.
Duration of the CO-OP

When you accept a co-op assignment, you will be expected to remain with that organization throughout the entire work term. The length of your assignment will be determined prior to or during the interview process. Your exact termination date should be negotiated with your work supervisor.

Time Off and Absences
You must be at your co-op assignment regularly and punctually. Time off for important academic or University business should be approved by your supervisor and kept to a minimum. Holidays will be observed in accordance with company policy and will NOT follow the University calendar. In case of temporary absences such as illness or emergencies, your supervisor should be notified by telephone immediately. Extended absences for more than two days should be reported to your Faculty Co-op Advisor and/or
the Career Services Center.

RETURNING TO CAMPUS
· Pre-registration of courses for the next semester should be completed at the same time as other students in your class. Notification of the registration periods will be sent to you by the Registrar's Office. If you do not receive this information, you should contact the Registrar's Office. You will be responsible for selecting and registering your courses.
· Upon returning to campus, be sure that you have submitted all required reports and papers to your Faculty Co-op Advisor. Also, attend any required departmental meetings that have been arranged.
· the Career Services Center asks all students to evaluate their assignment and employer. The evaluation will be made available to other students who may interview with that company.
· If you wish to return for a second co-op cycle with your first employer, or for a different organization, you should discuss these opportunities with the Career Services Center. Many of the co-op employers who hire students for the six-month cycles will talk to you about a "return engagement" at the end of your first assignment.

OTHER INFORMATION

Housing
If you are a resident student you will be permitted to remain in University-owned housing during your co-op assignment, if it would be beneficial to do so. However, should you wish NOT to reside on campus during your
co-op, you may be released from your housing contract FOR THE CO-OP TERM ONLY. In either case, you must request a letter from Career Services recommending approval for your particular situation. You should also make a formal request to the Community Development Office.
Evening and Summer Courses

Students participating in the alternating mode of co-op may want to take evening courses while on the job. These courses can be registered through the Registrar's Office with a form obtained by the Registrar's Office or Continuing Studies Office. If you wish to complete your degree within four years, taking evening courses and/or summer courses is to your advantage.
Student-Developed Assignments

the Career Services Center attempts to locate suitable assignments for all students. In some cases, however, students may be able or prefer to develop their own co-op assignment. This is especially beneficial for those students who want to be placed near their hometown (if outside the Philadelphia area). In such cases, students should inform the Career Services Center of their intent at least one month prior to the start of the assignment. The employer must complete a Job Development Form, which will be sent to the appropriate Faculty Co-op Advisor for approval. Once approved, the student will be permitted to register the proper co-op course.

SUMMARY OF STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
· Complete an Application Form and submit approved copies of your resume.
· Participate in ALL scheduled interviews.
· Register the appropriate co-op course.
· Pay the proper tuition as assessed by the Office of Student and Accounts Receivable.
· Contact the Faculty Co-op Advisor to set learning objectives and requirements.
· Maintain employment commitment to co-op employer.
· Complete all "homework" assignments required by the advisor.
· Complete the Student Evaluation Form.

Following the policies and procedures outlined in this guide will put you on your way to a successful career!
Good Luck!

For more information, contact:
the Career Services Center
La Salle University
1900 West Olney Avenue
4th Floor, Administration Center
Philadelphia, PA 19141
Phone: 215-951-1075 Fax: 215-951-1734
or email snyder@lasalle.edu