Benefits of the Co-Op Program

Cooperative Education programs provide substantial benefits to the student, the employer, the school, and the community.

To The Student

  • The actual work experience helps the student determine whether or not he/she wants to continue in the chosen career early enough to choose another career.
  • Allows the student to gain actual experience in the career in an environment different from the classroom.
  • Enhances the student’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Enables a student to pay a portion of his/her college expenses.
  • Allows the student to contribute to the economy.
  • Gives the student a competitive edge for full-time employment after graduation.
  • Promotes maturity and the development of interpersonal skills.
  • Provides an opportunity for the student to work with state-of-the-art equipment and use the most current procedures.

To The Employer

  • Provides a motivated workforce.
  • Provides an opportunity to train potential employees.
  • Provides full-time or part-time employees.
  • Provides an opportunity for the employer to influence the college program.
  • Provides a reduction of costs in recruitment and training.
  • Provides a source of performance appraisal for the student and for the school.

To The School

  • Provides an interchange between the college and the business community and an opportunity to utilize community resources to expand the curriculum.
  • Provides a means of evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum.
  • Provides an opportunity for instructors to keep informed of constantly changing business/industry procedures and practices.
  • Allows for immediate program success feedback.
  • Recruits new students.

To The Community

  • Provides a source of college-educated workers.
  • Increases rapport between the college and the community.
  • Increases student’s sense of citizenship and community responsibility.
  • Increases the likelihood that the student will become a part of the community’s industrial base.
  • Provides preparatory training for management, professional, and technical employment.
  • Increases the economic base of the community.