Career Development Center

• Cooperative Education (Co-op) /Internship provides a mutually beneficial relationship among an organization, an educational institution, and a student. In this relationship, students combine academic study with periods of career-related, paid work experience in business, government, or not-for-profit agencies under the supervision of the employer.
• They correspond to the academic calendar and can therefore occur in Summer, Fall, or Spring.
• Co-op and Internship experience through the Career Development Center does not receive course credit (i.e., you don't have to pay for it!), but it does receive official recognition on your academic transcript.

• Apply classroom knowledge and gain valuable work experience for your résumé.
• Build your professional network and gain the competitive edge.
• Experience matters! Earn money for college expenses (Co-op is always paid).
• Gives official transcript recognition.
• Applies classroom theory to a realist work setting.
• Clarifies career goals.
• Develops professional relationships.
• Prepares students for full-time employment upon graduation.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

• 72% of employers consider relevant work experience a key factor in hiring.
• The majority of employers consider internships and Co-ops as the best way to gain relevant work experience.
• New graduates who participated in an internship were more likely to receive a job offer.

• The main difference between a Co-op and an internship is that a Co-op is always paid, whereas an internship may or may not be paid. Unpaid internships can only be registered through the CDC for students in the School of Business. If a student is pursuing an unpaid internship and they are not a business student, they should speak with their respective academic department to inquire about earning course credit for the experience.

• There are two types of Co-op

Alternating - Students work full-time every other semester, alternating between full-time work assignments and full-time enrollment in school

Parallel - Students work part-time year round while attending school full-time

NOTE: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available for International Students. Each term, the student must receive final authorization from International Student Services before you begin work.

• Companies and positions must be approved by the CDC.
• Positions must be paid (unless for the School of Business or the College of Arts and Sciences) and in the major field of study or career path.
• Students must maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 for undergraduate level and 3.0 for graduate level.
• Students must have a minimum of 30 credit hours (sophomore status) completed to be eligible.

• Allowed to do either Co-op or Internship.
• Must have eligibility letter from International Student Services (ISS).
• Must have been at SIUE for at least 9 months or 2 terms.

• Register with the Career Development Center’s (CDC) Cougar Jobline.
• Complete and submit the Co-op/Internship Orientation online or by appointment at the CDC.
• Upload a resumé to your Cougar Jobline account and have it approved.
• If you have a resumé, it can be uploaded to your Cougar Jobline account and a CDC representative will contact you if there are changes that need to be made beforegranting resumé approval. If no changes are necessary, your resumé will be approved.
• If you do not have a resumé, you can schedule an appointment to discuss resumédevelopment with a CDC representative by calling our office, (618) 650-3708.

• Go to Cougar Jobline to view available Co-ops and Internships. Note: If you already have a position that you would like to register for Co-op/Internship recognition, finish this orientation and complete the resumé approval process outlined above and have your employer submit a Cooperative Education and Internship Program Information Sheet.
• Follow the application instructions for any Co-op or Internship that interests you.
• Employers contact those candidates that they would like to interview.
• When a position is offered and accepted, contact the CDC to let them know that you have accepted the position. At that point a CDC representative will notify you of any documents that must be submitted prior to starting the position.
• At the end of the semester, each student participating in a Co-op or internship will complete and turn in an evaluation of the experience.

 As a participant in the SIUE Co-op and/or Internship Program, I agree and understand the following:

• My resumé will be forwarded to appropriate potential employers.
• Potential employers will evaluate my qualifications based on their needs and may contact me directly to arrange interviews.
• I will maintain a relationship with my Co-op/Internship Coordinator throughout my participation in the Program.
• I agree that by accepting a job obtained through the Career Development Center or SIUE Career Fairs, I am obligated to notify my Coordinator immediately to be registered in an appropriate Co-op or Internship class for each semester I am on an assignment.
• At the beginning of each work term, I will be responsible for providing a Training Agreement to my employer.
• I will be responsible for ensuring that the employer-signed Training Agreement form is returned to the Career Development Center by the end of the second week of each work term or by the start date of work.
• I will submit a completed Employer Evaluation form and a Student Report to the Career Development Center by the Friday before final exams week.
• I agree to conduct myself in a positive, professional manner with my employer by adhering to the company policies, maintaining good attendance and punctuality, following safety rules and regulations, and striving for positive working relationships throughout the company.
• I understand that my Student Reports may be shared with my academic department for accreditation purposes.