The UL Lafayette Cooperative Education Program received permanent status in June 2002. Since that time, Career Services has worked with employers, faculty and students to provide academically enhancing employment opportunities in industry, business and government. Students have held Co-op positions at such companies as Monsanto, Cabot Corporation, NASA, Weatherford, Boise Paper Solutions and Walt Disney World.

We appreciate the support faculty members provide in connecting our students with these invaluable opportunities. We welcome any suggestions and/or employer contacts you would like to share to further enhance our Co-op Program.

Below you will find more information about Cooperative Education, which we provide to students interested in participating in this Program.

WHAT IS COOPERATIVE EDUCATION?

Cooperative Education (Co-op) is an educational program for students that integrates periods of academic study with periods of paid, professional work experience. UL Lafayette co-op students may be employed with business, industry and government agencies throughout the United States.


BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

• Enrolling in the "alternating" schedule, enables you to retain full-time student status for academic purposes. The status of students registering in the "parallel" schedule will be determined by the number of credit hours the student enrolls in for that work period/semester.
• Enhances classroom learning and adds meaning to your academic studies by integrating academic theory and real world work experience.
• Provides a means of earning money to help with college expenses.
• Confirms or redirects career decision-making by allowing you to "try out" a career.
• Provides contact with potential future employers and builds your professional reference list.
• Helps you develop job-related skills.
• Exposes you to the professional world of work.
• Teaches valuable job search skills, such as job searching techniques, resume writing and interviewing.
• Helps you to enhance important professional skills, such as communication, interpersonal, computer, teamwork and leadership.
• Develops maturity and confidence.
• Often leads to permanent job offers and higher starting salaries.

RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CO-OP EMPLOYEE

As a co-op student, you are considered to be a regular employee of your hiring organization. You are subject to the same rules and regulations as any of the other employees that work there. You are also subject to the same workdays, including holidays. While employed, all UL Lafayette co-op students must adhere to the holiday schedule of their co-op employers not the University. As a co-op student, you are not guaranteed a position upon graduation nor are you eligible for any unemployment benefits.


THE CO-OP WORK COMMITMENT

As an "Active" co-op student, you are committed to:

• Undergraduates: a maximum of three (3) semesters of employment
  Graduate Students: a maximum of two (2) semesters of employment
• Working the employer's schedule and not the University's (this means University breaks and holidays are not honored by co-op employers)
• Meeting with the Coordinator to complete forms and register in the non-credit "Cooperative Education Program" (CEP) each semester that you work in your co-op job. (This also includes summers!) Registration is done by the Coordinator and/or Director.
• Paying the co-op registration fee to UL Lafayette before leaving for work
• Pursuing your curriculum on a full-time basis during "school" semesters
• Maintaining the minimum overall GPA of 2.5 as set by the University or the employer, whichever is higher

QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify, you must have completed thirty (30) hours of credit applicable toward your degree and have maintained a minimum 2.5 overall GPA. Individual academic colleges and the co-op employer may establish higher credit hours and/or GPA requirements. You must receive approval from your college BEFORE accepting a position. In addition, you must submit a copy of your current academic transcript to the Coordinator.

Before you accept a co-op position, you must meet with the Coordinator to complete the required forms and obtain the necessary signatures. This procedure must be followed each semester that you participate in the Program including summer.


REGISTERING FOR THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

To register to participate in the Cooperative Education Program, you should follow these steps:

1. Locate an appropriate co-op position for which you qualify. Available co-op positions are posted on the Career Services website at http://careerservices.louisiana.edu and in the Career Services Office.
2. Apply for the position by following the procedures outlined in the employer's position description.
3. Interview for the position. If selected, decide to accept or decline the position. Upon acceptance, complete any pre-employment paperwork issued by the employer.
4. Make an appointment with the Co-op Coordinator to review procedures and to get the necessary approval forms. Beforehand, be sure to read the Cooperative Education Program qualifications and requirements. You should bring a copy of your UL Lafayette transcript to the meeting.
5. Complete forms and obtain necessary signatures.
6. Submit completed, signed forms to the Co-op Coordinator. At that time, the Coordinator will officially register you in the appropriate co-op course.
7. Obtain copies of all paperwork and keep on file for future reference.
8. Pay the co-op fee to the Student Cashier Center.

FEES

While you are at work, you must be registered in a Cooperative Education Program course at UL Lafayette (example: COOP 200, COOP 300 and COOP 400). Although you are not earning academic credit, you are considered to be a full-time student for academic purposes only (exception: students enrolled in the parallel program who do not schedule a full-time course load). Registration for a work semester requires the payment of a fee to the University. This is required for placement in a full-time position. Your co-op work experience is documented on your transcript for each semester that you are registered. You must pay the fee every semester that you work in a co-op position including summers. Payment of fees using Visa, Master Card or Discover may be done by telephone at (337) 482-CARD or 1-866-683-5288. Registration for the Cooperative Education Program follows the university catalog deadlines and the fee payment schedule for each semester.

Be aware that failure to register in the appropriate "Cooperative Education Program" course and pay the registration fee will result in your being "dropped out" of school for that semester as well as being subject to termination by your employer. This would also seriously jeopardize your loans/grants and/or scholarships (such as TOPS).

Coop students may schedule a maximum of three (3) credit hours while on a "WORK" semester. Simultaneous enrollment in the Co-op Program and an Internship course is prohibited. The co-op student who enrolls in a for-credit course must pay the registration fee assessed for the course, in addition to the Cooperative Education Program course fee.


ACADEMIC CREDIT

The Cooperative Education Program is a non-credit program; however, your participation will be noted on your academic transcript.


HOUSING

Check with your new employer about housing possibilities in your work location. Most employers are glad to suggest housing locations close to work and to help with locating roommates. Most can help with short-term leases. Many employers have several co-ops from various universities during any given semester. It is a great opportunity to establish new relationships with other students and to cut down on living expenses.


FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Students must contact the Student Aid and Scholarship Offices before accepting a co-op position if they are receiving any loans, grants or scholarships (including TOPS). While the vast majority of loans/grants and scholarships are not negatively affected by participation in the Co-op Program, it is your responsibility to verify this information. Co-op staff CANNOT assume responsibility for the multitude of policies relating to student aid. You must always notify the Student Aid Office in writing of your intention to participate in the Cooperative Education Program before you leave for work. Students must also contact the Scholarship Office for scholarship information. The Cooperative Education Program is a non-credit course and students are not entitled to receive loans or scholarship payments during work semesters.


HEALTH INSURANCE

While most students are still being covered by their parents' health insurance, it is also necessary to check policy restrictions which may relate to co-op students. Co-op students enrolled in the ALTERNATE or SINGLE SEMESTER program are considered to be "full-time" for academic purposes by UL Lafayette during work semesters. The status of students enrolled in the PARALLEL program will be determined by the number of credit hours the student enrolls in for that work period/semester. Students are urged to contact their provider to be fully informed of the requirements of their particular policy. Upon your request, a letter of full-time status for that semester can be obtained from the Registrar's Office after school has started substantiating your enrollment with UL Lafayette and your participation in the Co-op Program. The registration fee for the appropriate Cooperative Education Program course includes a fee for student health insurance. It is the student's responsibility to become familiar with the coverage that is provided by this policy.


STUDENT WORK REPORT

Upon completion of each co-op work period, you will be asked to evaluate your recent experience on a "Student Work Report" form. These forms are sent to you before the end of your work period. They are also available in the Career Services Office. The completed work report should be returned to the Career Services Office by the last day of classes of the semester you are working.

Although student evaluations are not shared with the employer, Career Services uses this information to arrange optimal work experience for you. A copy of the report will be provided to the academic representative in your department. The Career Services Office also makes student evaluations available to other students considering employment with the same organization, subject to your approval.


EMPLOYER EVALUATION

Evaluations are an important means for assessing your performance in your co-op position. Before the end of each work period, Career Services will provide the employer with an evaluation form to review your job performance. The employer should discuss the evaluation with you before returning it to the Career Services Office. A copy of the employer evaluation is maintained in Career Services and a copy will be provided to the academic representative in your department.

Employer evaluations give you an opportunity to discuss your progress with the employer. Additionally, these evaluations constitute a record of your performance, which can be helpful when applying for acceptance into graduate school or for permanent employment. You should request a copy of the evaluation for future reference. The employer may also choose to discuss the evaluation with the Co-op Coordinator and/or Director.


REGISTERING FOR CLASSES DURING A CO-OP WORK ASSIGNMENT

You are responsible for contacting your academic advisor to receive the necessary registration materials. This should be done BEFORE leaving for the work assignment. By doing so, you should be able to access the ULLISIS Phone/Web Registration system during your work term at your designated appointment time. A current schedule of classes is available online at http://www.ull.edu/AboutUs/Schedule/.


HOW YOUR ACTIONS AFFECT EVERY OTHER UL LAFAYETTE CO-OP STUDENT

Cooperative Education has earned an enviable reputation with industry, business and government. This reputation has made it possible for you to have an opportunity to participate in the Co-op Program. Your good record reflects favorably on the University and ensures this opportunity for future UL Lafayette students. Keep in mind that you are representing yourself and the University.


RESIGNATION FROM THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Considerable effort was given to match your skills and career interests with the best employment opportunities. Once you have accepted a co-op position, you are expected to fulfill the commitment to the employer. However, if you feel that the co-op position is not appropriate after the first work period, you are urged to discuss the situation with the Co-op Coordinator BEFORE taking any action on your own.

If it is decided that resignation from the co-op position is appropriate and acceptable, you should:

• Have a justifiable reason for resignation.
• Resign before looking for another co-op position.
• Finish out the work semester.
• Notify Career Services of your intent to resign and then put the resignation in writing to the employer. A copy of the resignation must be submitted to the Career Services Office.

Anyone resigning from a Co-op Position without notifying the Career Services Office in advance will not be considered for further participation in the Cooperative Education Program.

If you decide that you want to resign from the work assignment before completion of that work period, you MUST discuss the resignation with the employer and the Co-op Coordinator BEFORE submitting your resignation. Be aware that resigning before the semester ends, will result in your being "dropped" from the Cooperative Education Program and may jeopardize loans/grants, scholarships and health insurance.

By resigning, you may be destroying any chance of being hired by that organization in the future. Additionally, you may receive a poor recommendation that may hinder your pursuit of future opportunities with other organizations in the field. Finally, employers may be less inclined to recruit at UL Lafayette, which may affect other students and tarnish the reputation of the University.


OTHER SERVICES

The Cooperative Education Program is administered through the Career Services Office and participants are entitled to all services provided by Career Services. For a list of services, please visit our website at http://careerservices.louisiana.edu.