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Co-operative Work Experience (Co-op)

A number of industries in cooperation with the College of Engineering have established a co-operative work experience program for engineering education that provides employment for several semester periods. Students alternate their terms between study at the university with a minimum of three supervised learning assignments in selected industrial and government facilities.

The periods spent working are intended to be educational and productive. The student gains experience as an employee through the normal employment procedures of interviewing, job assignments and training; receives pay commensurate with the assignment; and takes on assignments of increasing difficulty to parallel academic advancement. Immediately prior to the job assignment, the student registers for participation in the cooperative education program. Students interested in participating in this program should check out the Co-operative Education Web site and/or contact the Career Resource Center in the J. Wayne Reitz Student Union. (352) 392-8239.

Eligibility

A freshman must have attended the University of Florida for two semesters to be eligible for this program. A transfer student must have attended the University of Florida for at least one semester. The University also requires a minimum 2.0 grade-point average, but most employers require at least a 3.0.

Students desiring to co-op should apply at the Co-op Office inside the Career Resource Center on the second floor of the J. Wayne Reitz Union,  Acceptance is based on academic standing and availability of a suitable assignment. The first and last years of the degree program are normally completed in residence at the university.

Community and junior college students who are in a cooperative education program may continue their arrangement with the same employer, with approval of the Career Resource Center.

Registration

Students participating in the Cooperative Work Experience must complete application forms available at the Co-op Office in the Career Resource Center, J. Wayne Reitz Union. These students will register for ECH 4949(S/U grade). By registering for ECH 4949 for a co-op semester, a student can earn one credit of ECH technical elective. A maximum of three credits can be earned in this way. This also  provides full time enrollment status while the student is off campus in industry.

Procedures

All forms required  are available from the Academic Advisement Office, Chemical Engineering 219 or the Co-op Office in the Career Resource Center, J. Wayne Reitz Union.

• Contact your supervisor and obtain an outline of the work to be performed during the practical work period. This outline must indicate that meaningful work will be performed, not just routine work that does not contribute to learning.
• Obtain and complete the Request for Coop. Then submit to the Academic Advisement Office, 219 Chemical Engineering.
• Register for ECH 4949 (1 credit hour S/U).
• Two weeks prior to the end of the work period, the student completes the Student Work Report. Hard copies should be turned into Co-op Office in the Career Resource Center, J. Wayne Reitz Union.
• Two weeks prior to the end of the work period, the student's supervisor completes the Employer's Evaluation Report and sends it to the Co-op Office in the Career Resource Center, J. Wayne Reitz Union.

For practical work experience that could be for just one semester, a student should consider the Practical Work Experience (Internship).