Student Resources
Cooperative Education is a great career strategy in which a student gains invaluable professional training. Students that co-op are considered ‘industry-ready’ and, also, begin establishing their professional network for the post graduation job search. This web page offers a general overview of the requirements and registration process.
Who Qualifies?
The Co-op Search
You can find co-op positions through our HuskyJOBS system, job fairs, academic departments at Tech, student organizations, and online searches. If you come across employers who are not yet familiar with Michigan Tech’s co-op program, feel free to refer them to our office, and we will answer any questions they have.
Registration
Co-op Status Requirements
Students on a full-time co-op work full-time hours during the semester (an average of 35–40 per week) and register for 2 undergraduate or 1–6 graduate co-op credits. A parallel co-op, requires a student to work part-time hours (20–25 per week), register for 1 co-op credit, and take another, for credit, course at Tech. It is important to understand that the term full-time co-op is different than being considered a full-time student. While a student on a full-time co-op is considered 'full-time' by Tech, other entities, such as scholarship providers, may not recognize the student as full-time. Please consult with Career Services and Financial Aid if you have questions.
Navigating Your Co-op Experience
Career Services is here to help you get settled into your co-op assignment, unravel the intricacies of the workplace, and understand your role as a co-op employee. See co-op tips, and get the scoop on everything from relocating to coping with jitters to following the office chain of command.
Fulfilling Your Course Requirements
The Co-op Course has now moved to Canvas. Co-op students will be required to log in to Canvas and follow the instructions provided on the Canvas course web page. Co-op students will submit all of the graded documents into the Canvas system. Discussions will also take place within the Canvas system. Registration will NOT occur through the Canvas system.
Orientation
After registration students will have access to the Canvas course. Students will be required to read an “Orientation Manual,” which is accessible within Canvas. The student will then take a brief quiz on the contents of the manual. The purpose is to orient students to the co-op course. Students will receive a point total for the number of correct responses. The specific due date is viewable in Canvas.
Discussions
Co-op students will be provided with discussion prompts throughout the semester. The student will be required to respond to the at least one discussion prompt. The topics for discussion will include career-related issues, co-op expectations, ethics, and technical challenges. The topics are designed to prepare students for responding to the essay questions, which are due at the end of the semester. Posting in the discussion board is required to obtain points toward the final grade.
Evaluations
Throughout the co-op course students will be required to participate within Canvas. One form of participation is completing and submitting evaluations of your work. Each student is required to submit two evaluations per semester. The first evaluation, which occurs around the mid-point of the semester, is called a Progress Evaluation. The second evaluation is called the Final Supervisor Evaluation. In both cases the student and student’s supervisor should work together in completing and discussing the evaluation. Submission of the evaluations on time is sufficient for earning the credit for the assignment. The Final Evaluation is due at the end of the semester. Specific dates will be set for each semester and are viewable in Canvas. See co-op forms.
Essay Questions
Co-op students are required to complete two sets of essay questions. The first set is titled “Technical Essay Questions,” and the second set is titled, “Reflective Essay Questions.” The questions are found in Canvas and are to be submitted through Canvas. Students will type their responses to the essay prompts in a document. Students will then print the document and have it reviewed by their supervisor. The supervisor will sign the cover page of the document (which is also provided in Canvas), approving the contents of the responses and verifying that there is no proprietary or confidential material included within. The student will either take a photo of the document or re-scan the document and upload it into the Canvas system. The students’ responses will be graded on thoroughness, adequate detail, and appropriate spelling and grammar. Therefore, students could earn a higher or lower grade on these assignments depending on the quality of the responses. The student is required to submit the essay question responses by the end of the semester. Specific dates will be set for each semester and are viewable in Canvas.
Resume
Co-op students are required to submit an updated resume. The resume should integrate the co-op work experience into an existing resume. If the student performed special or relevant projects while on co-op this could also be added. The resume must be submitted in Canvas and doing so is sufficient for earning the points on this assignment.
Student Survey
Prior to submission of the end of semester assignments, students are required to complete survey. This survey addresses the co-op work experience, supervisor, housing, location, and social life. The survey is to help future co-op students, employers, Career Services, and the academic departments improve the co-op program.
Multiple Semester Co-ops
Some students participate in the co-op for the duration of one semester, but some students participate in multiple, consecutive semesters. In order to ensure that students who are on a multiple semester co-op are not performing redundant academic work, accommodations will be made. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE REQUIRED WORK AT THE CULMINATION OF EVERY SEMESTER. This includes multiple semester co-ops assignments.
Grading Policies
Due to the large number of reports that must be graded each semester, a course grade is not typically available to submit by the end of finals week. As a result, students are initially assigned a "P" for "Progress."
Once the reports are graded, a grade will be submitted and the "P" grade will be replaced by a letter grade, which will be posted to your official transcript.
In most majors, co-op credits can be used for free electives or technical electives pending the academic department's approval. Talk with your academic advisor for specifics regarding your situation.
Due Dates by Semester
Select the semester(s) that your co-op assignment falls under to view due dates for your co-op forms and assignments.
