University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University
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At UW-Stout, Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, we are inspiring innovation.
Student Information
WHAT IS A CO-OP?
Cooperative Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is part of a nationwide university program that integrates career-related work experience with academic course work. UW-Stout’s Cooperative Education Program is centrally coordinated through the Career Services Office in cooperation with the academic departments of the university.
The Co-op program supports UW-Stout’s polytechnic designation by providing students the opportunity to experience an active and applied focus on learning in their professional field. The success of the Co-op program is based on a framework of collaborative partnerships between employers, students and the university.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE CO-OP PROGRAM?
- Apply your classroom knowledge to a professional work setting
- Gain confidence in your skills and abilities
- Build a stronger resume with work experience employers need in the future
- Strengthen interpersonal skills (Important aspects of any job include the ability to work cooperatively with others, dealing with pressure, and developing effective communication and supervisory skills.)
- Have a possible position in place before graduating (Many students receive a job offer from their Co-op employer for a full-time position following graduation.)
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CO-OP?
- Must be a paid work experience (hourly/stipend)
- Work a minimum of 320 total hours (per semester of enrollment)
- The Co-op position description is approved by the Co-op
faculty mentor - All Co-ops are academic courses ending in _49
- All Co-ops are graded A-F by a faculty mentor
- Must be taken for 1 to 6 academic credits
- Include learning objectives and strategies, application of knowledge, and evaluation of learning outcomes
Students eligible for Co-op will have:
- Completed a minimum of one semester of full-time coursework at UW-Stout(12 Credits)
- Enrolled in an academic undergraduate or graduate program/major
- Good academic standing (2.0 GPA)
- Completed and submitted the Stout CareerLink profile and uploaded a current resume
How Do I Register For A Co-op?
- Fill out a Co-op notification form in Career Services.
- Sign up and attend a Pre-work Seminar in Career Services the semester before your Co-op begins.
- If you found the Co-op on your own, (self-generated Co-op), ask your employer to complete the online Cooperative Education Program Position Description form HERE
- Once the employer submits the form, it will be sent to the Faculty Mentor for approval. You will receive confirmation once it has been approved.
- Meet with your faculty mentor to review learning objectives and determine credits.
- Turn in all Co-op materials to Career Services to complete registration for Co-op (cannot register online)
How Many Credits Will I Take And What Are The Fees?
- Credits earned per term (semester/summer) range from one to six depending on length of time, program requirements, and intensity of experience.
- Students will meet with their faculty mentor regarding credit requirements.
- Fees will be like any other course, you will pay the per credit fee
Will I Be Considered A Full-Time Student While On A Co-op?
- To be considered for full-time student status, a Co-op student must work 40+ hours per week at their Co-op and be registered for Co-op credits (course ending in _49).
Can I Keep My Current Health Insurance While On A Co-op?
- Check with your insurance company to see if they need full-time student status documentation.
- Documentation can be provided by contacting the Career Services office.
- Students must plan ahead to avoid conflicts with off-campus rental contracts.
- Housing and living expenses while on a Co-op are the responsibility of the Co-op student.
- Some employers assist with locating housing.
- Career Services can assist students with a "release for on-campus housing contract" form.
- A Co-op experience is usually a full-time position, one semester and/or summer in length. Some employers prefer six-month positions, such as January through June, or June through December.
- Some students complete two or more Co-op experiences with the same employer at upgraded levels, alternating with a semester on campus. The number of Co-op experiences varies from one to several, up to a maximum of one year.
- A parallel Co-op, consisting of combining part-time work with part-time school, is possible when Co-ops are within commuting distance of UW-Stout.
Evaluation Of Co-op Experience
Both the university and the employer evaluate the Co-op student. It is important to have ongoing communication between the supervisor and the university Co-op mentor. The university Co-op mentor assigns the final grade.
Program directors or faculty mentor must be included in all phases of planning and completing the Co-op experience to ensure that program requirements are met. Lengthy or multiple Co-op experiences usually extend the time required to earn a four-year degree. The extended time is generally more than offset by the salary earned while participating in a Co-op experience. The experience often provides a competitive edge in the job market.
- Currently, more than 500 companies and agencies are enrolled with the Co-op program at UW-Stout. Due to supply and demand, positions are not always available for all students, or sometimes not enough students are available for all openings.
- Check with the Career Services office and job search early. University staff help to develop Co-op sites and make necessary arrangements, however, students may generate a Co-op position themselves with help from Career Services.
UW-STOUT: WISCONSIN'S POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
The co-op program supports UW-Stout’s polytechnic designation by providing students the opportunity to experience an active and applied focus on learning in their professional field. The success of the Co-op program is based on a framework of collaborative partnerships between employers, students and the university.
Make an Appointment
103 Administration Building
715-232-1601
careerservices@uwstout.edu.
