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Cooperative Education

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Requirements for working students

  • Register for co-op work experience before each work period.
     Register on your own or through the Co-op Office and pay the $25.00 program fee.
  • Provide the Co-op Office a copy of your acceptance letter.
    Give your co-op coordinator this copy prior to the first work period if one is provided by your co-op employer.
  • International Students Only
    • After being offered a co-op position, request a letter from your employer stating the following:
      1. you have been hired,
      2. when you will start working,
      3. how much you are being paid,
      4. how many hours you will be working.
    • Take the original offer letter and a description of the job to the International Student Services Coordinator who will make the required I-20 changes.
    • Provide the Co-op Office with a copy of the letter and the I-20.
  • Contact the UTC Financial Aid Office.
    Inform your financial aid counselor if you will be working in an alternating co-op position or a full-time internship. The Co-op Office will send the Director of Financial Aid a memo listing all students working full-time off campus but that does not preclude your talking with them.
  • Contact the UTC Housing Office.
    If you are living in a UTC residence hall or in UTC Place apartments and will be leaving campus for an alternating co-op position or a full-time internship, advise the UTC Housing Office or UTC Place Housing Office of your plans. Also, remember to reserve housing for your return to campus.
  • Contact your UTC co-op coordinator as soon as you receive a job offer.
    E-mail, call, or visit your co-op coordinator in person to let him/her know about any internship or co-op job offers.
  • Honor your co-op employer's job offer.
    Have full intention of completing all agreed upon work terms.
  • Let your supervisor know up front about your class and exam schedule.
    If you know that you will need off on certain dates (i.e. your brother's wedding), make your request early enough for arrangements to be made to cover your assignments or meet deadlines.
  • Be professional.
    Look professional, act professional, and put your best foot forward.
  • Be punctual.
    Call your supervisor immediately if you will be late, are unable to get to work, or are ill.
  • Don't leave early without your supervisor's approval.
  • Do everything you can to resolve work-related difficulties
    Resolve problems by working with your supervisor, co-workers and the company coordinator. If you are still not satisfied, contact your UTC coordinator.
  • Follow all employer and / or co-op policies.
    If you fail to do so, you could be placed on probation and / or terminated from the co-op assignment and the Co-op Program.
  • Assist your coordinator in scheduling work site visits.
    These visits will be with you and your supervisor and should take place during the second or third month of your co-op work term.
  • Submit your work report and evaluation to the Co-op Office.
    Both are due two (2) weeks before the end of the work semester.
  • Remember that you will be assigned a co-op grade.
    This grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory will be based on your work report, student evaluation, employer evaluation and work site visit. You will be assigned a grade at the end of every semester (including summer) that you work.
  • Maintain your GPA.
    Maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 2.2 throughout the co-op work experience.
  • Earn the invitation to return for subsequent work assignments.
  • Enroll every semester that you are scheduled to be in school and / or make satisfactory progress toward graduation.
  • Any changes in employment or the sequence / number of work periods requires your coordinator's written permission.
  • Keep in contact with the Co-op Office.
    Advise your co-op coordinator of any changes in your personal information including address, phone number, e-mail, etc.
  • Inform your co-op coordinator 2 months in advance if you are unable to return for your next work period.
    At this time also write a letter of resignation to your employer and give the Co-op Office a copy for your file.
  • If you are unable to return to school after a work period, you cannot remain in the co-op position without the permission of your co-op coordinator.
  • Complete an exit evaluation prior to graduation.
    This evaluation will be provided to you before you graduate. Please complete the form and return it to the Co-op Office.
Additional requirements for the following students:
  • Graduate students
    Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
  • Alternating students
    Enroll for at least 12 credit hours each semester in school and/or make satisfactory progress toward graduation.
  • Alternating engineering students
    Complete a minimum of 52 weeks of work experience and 10 hours of ENGR 390 during your co-op tenure to earn the Engineering Cooperative Education Certificate.
  • Interns
    If your employer asks you to return for additional work periods, register for co-op work experience every additional semester.
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