Show Coop op Offers ers Win Win-Win In In Experience x I Amanda Chamberlain Contributing Writer Many students are afraid of not landing their dream job after college Well fellow students fear no more The Cooperative Educational Services known as op Co-op is available at to help students receive firsthand firsthand first first- firsthand hand experience ence in their desired fieldA fieldA fieldA field A lot of students get out of college with a new brand-new shiny degree and no firsthand firsthand firsthand first first- hand experience said Doug T Thorn Thom om Cooperative Education Services specialist But the op Co-op program gives them a chance to fo have that nice shiny degree and valuable valuable valuable able experience The op Co-op experience is recognized as an old age-old like internship-like experiential learning opportunity that originated originated originated from Northeastern University in 1906 This multi-cameral multi program allows every student the chance to work for a company to learn on hands-on job training and earn money More often than not it provides a guaranteed guaranteed guaran guaran- guaranteed teed job after graduation According to Coop Coop Coop Co- Co op faculty 76 of students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents that participate in the op Co-op experience prior to graduation are offered permanent permanent perma perma- nent employment with that company Most majors at require a great deal of electives electives electives elec- elec tives and recommend the coop coop coop co co- op program as one of the elec- elec tives For example the communication communication communication com com- section of the school catalog states that internships are strongly encouraged for all communication communication communication cation majors The Cooperative Education Services faculty rarely refers to the op Co-op as asan asan asan an internship This is due to the fact that the op Co-op program program program pro pro- gram frequently offers paid positions whether wages are hourly salary or a stipend The intern role is more for the work experience but the Coop Coop Coop Co Co- Co- Co op encompasses both benefits Thorn Thom pointed out another benefit that calls out to the busy and burdened student He called the op Co-op program a load balancer Thorn Thom explained that since this opportunity counts for credits participating students get credits for earning money off- off campus which many do any any- way This gives students the opportunity to earn for example example example exam exam- twelve credit hours while having only three classes and getting paid Students arent aren't the only ones benefiting from this win- win win opportunity Employers around the area Thorn Thom said love the program because it gives them about fifteen weeks to check out a possible term long employee with no obligations Thorn Thom also said that the Coop Coop Coop Co Co- Co- Co op experience reigns as the employers' employers most valuable link to participating with a college The Cooperative Educational Services offices located in rooms AD at Redwood and Southwest at South City campus provide information about participating ing in this advantageous college college college col col- col- col lege opportunity A mandatory mandato mandato- ry letter from one of these Cooperative Education specialists specialists specialists or a Division Chair is required for students to regis regis- ter Registration forms can be found at the op co-op offices or online at |