1. Credit Hours. Students must work an average
12 hours per week for 15 weeks (180 hours) to receive 1 credit; 24 hours per week for 15 weeks
(360 hours) to receive 2 credits; and 36 hours per week for 15 weeks (540 or more) to receive
3 credits. In limited cases, students in the Business Division working more than 48 hours per week
for 15 weeks (720 hours) may request to receive 4 credits. Students are required to provide
documentation of hours worked to their Faculty Advisor if requested.
2. Work Schedule. The alternate, or
traditional, work schedule requires that Co-op students alternate between periods of full-time
work and full-time school. A limited number of Co-op worksites (such as NASA Glenn Research
Center and the Ohio Department of Transportation) schedule students to work on an alternate
work schedule. A parallel work schedule, used by the majority of
Lakeland Co-op employers, allows the student to work (full-, or part-time) while attending
school (full-, or part-time).
3. On-Campus Co-Op Positions. Although most co-op
jobs are off campus and have unlimited earning potential, some departments on Lakeland's main
campus offer positions for Co-op students. Similar to off-campus Co-op positions, students are
required to perform their job duties under the direction of their worksite supervisor, as well
as complete projects assigned by their Co-op Faculty Advisor. Because of the additional
responsibilities required of Co-op students working on campus, they receive a higher hourly
wage than regular on-campus student employees. The hourly rate for on-campus co-op jobs is
$8.50 per hour.
4. Pay Rates. Pay rates for cooperative education
work experience are determined by the company and vary based on the student's abilities, size
and location of the company, and academic discipline. On average, Business majors earn a
starting wage in Co-op of $9-11 per hour while Engineering Technology majors earn $10-15 per
hour. Many students find that Co-op jobs lead to opportunities for full-time permanent
employment upon graduation from Lakeland. The hiring rate of students who successfully complete
their Co-op experiences is close to eighty percent!
5. Worksite Standards. Cooperative Education
assumes that employers will treat students in a manner that is consistent with their treatment
of their regular employees. Normal supervision, safety, and ethical standards are expected.
A written job
description from all Co-op employers is required.
6. Academic Departmental Standards. The college
policy states that a maximum of 9 credits may be earned in combination of field experience,
cooperative education work experience, and/or practicum over a two-year associate degree program.
Individual academic departments may set more stringent guidelines. For students majoring in
OADM, Construction Management, and Civil Engineering Technology, a minimum of 1 semester credit
in cooperative education is required for degree completion. For students majoring in Accounting,
a maximum of 2 semester credits can be accepted toward fulfillment of elective requirements.
7. Faculty Advisor Assignments. Once a student
has registered for cooperative education, the Experiential Education Coordinator provides the
corresponding worksite placement information to the Division Dean's office, and a faculty
advisor assignment is made.
It is the expectation per the guidelines approved by
the College's Curriculum Review Committee for BUSM 2800, THEA 2800 and ENGR 2800 that Co-op
Faculty Advisors will:
Share in the development of an appropriate Learning Plan;
Inform student in writing about course requirements and the method of evaluation;
Meet periodically with the student to determine progress;
Conduct an onsite visit to meet with the student and his/her supervisor;
Assign final determination of course grade.
The onsite visit to the worksite by the Faculty Advisor
will not only sustain and strengthen the college's relationship with the employer, but also
allow us to assure the position, job responsibilities and work environment provide an appropriate
learning experience.
