Various academic activities at SCC outside the classroom enhance a student’s overall learning experience. One of the most popular, and most rewarding, is the Cooperative Experience.
Cooperative Experience, commonly known as a co-op, is a structured educational strategy integrating classroom studies with learning through productive work experiences in a field related to a student’s academic or career goals. It provides progressive experiences in integrating theory and practice and has an important role in transitioning the student from school to work. Co-op is a partnership among students, SCC and employers, with specific responsibilities for each party. Students in SCC’s Cooperative Experience program are paid during their employment.
Cooperative Experience Responsibilities
The Employer:
- Provide the student with training, supervision and work experiences related to career or academic goals.
- Help the student achieve his/her learning objectives with work experiences that include an appropriate learning environment and productive work.
- Evaluate the student’s performance at designated time(s).
- Notify SCC of any changes made or needed in the Cooperative Experience training agreement.
- Compensate the student for the work performed.
The Student:
- Adhere to the policies of the employer, just as any other employee.
- Competently perform assigned work and complete agreed-upon objectives.
- Complete all necessary records for Cooperative Experience files.
The College:
- Recognize Cooperative Experience as an educational strategy integrating classroom learning and progressive work experiences, with a constructive academic relationship between teaching faculty and co-op faculty or administrators.
- Develop a structure for multiple work experiences in a formalized sequence, with study leading to degree completion of a Program of Study.
- Formally recognize the co-op experience on student records (e.g. grade, credit hours, part of degree requirement, notation on transcript, etc.)
- Provide pre-employment preparation for students, as well as ongoing advising.
- Maintain contact with the employer and the Cooperative Experience student during the term to ensure a successful experience.
Benefits To All
The program has excellent benefits to the employer, the student and the College. To that end, the Cooperative Experience is designed to develop or enhance a set of outcomes.
For the employer:
- Utilize well-prepared short-term employees while cutting recruiting and training costs.
- Provide real-world work experiences to students who are serious about learning and working and who have accumulated knowledge and classroom experience.
- Provide an opportunity to hire the student upon graduation
- Enhance the partnership with SCC.
- Provide input on the quality and relevance of SCC’s curriculum.
For the student: :
- Increase confidence and positive self-image through a worthwhile on-the-job experience.
- Increased opportunity for employment after graduation.
- Understand the relationship between classroom theory and workplace practice.
- Fulfill the “experience required” stipulation associated with many job openings.
- Gain new or advanced skills.
- Develop a professional network.
- Help clarify career goals.
- Enhance interpersonal skills.
- Income to assist with college expenses or to support personal financial responsibilities (co-op) or
- Earn college credit (internship).
For the College:
- Help in the recruitment of new students.
- Help retain current students.
- Provide wider range of learning opportunities for students.
- Enrich the program’s curriculum.
- Enhance its reputation in the employment community.
- Improve the job placement rate of graduates.
- Enrich partnerships with business and industry.
Program of Study Co-op Experience Contacts