Coordinator: Jaleh Rezaie

Wallace 417

Phone Number: 622-2398

Prerequisite: Students must have successfully completed 30 semester hours of course work (Computer Science students must have completed 6-credit hours in CS courses). In addition, transfer students must have completed at least one semester of full-time course work at EKU.

Description: Work in placements related to academic studies. Credit does not apply to major or minor requirements (except three credit hours toward the BS degree in Computer Science, Technology option ONLY). One to eight hours of credit per semester and one to six hours of credit in summer. Total hours: eight, associate; sixteen, baccalaureate. A minimum of 80 hours of employment is required for each semester hour of academic credit. Credit may not be awarded for past experiences or for anticipated future experiences.

Paperwork and Reports (all paper work and reports may be submitted on line. See the coop website http://www.coop.eku.edu/ )

1. Resume

This must be submitted on a Disk in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect format or completed on the co-op website www.coopreg.eku.edu at the time the application/approval form is submitted to the Co-op Office if you do not have a job. If you currently have a co-op job, the resume is due at the same time the additional paperwork is due.

2. Student Report

During the first work period, each student is required to submit a report with a minimum of 400-500 words on the topic, “MY EMPLOYER.” The report must be typed. Any materials prepared by the employer, which describe the nature, products, history, etc., of the company may also be submitted. The purpose of this report is to encourage students to learn as much as possible about the employer.

The report must discuss the following questions:

1. What is the function of the agency or company?

2. What are the products produced / services provided?

3. How may employees work in the agency/company?

4. What is the student’s function as a co-op worker in the organization?

The reports must be Typed double-spaced on 8” x 11” paper using only one side of each sheet. A cover page for each report must include title, the student’s name and the semester. Each page must be numbered in the center top or bottom of the paper. Leave approximately one-inch margins. The student’s name and course number (____349) must be printed in the upper right-hand corner of each page. You may submit your report by email.

The reports are due approximately three weeks before the End of any given semester.

3. Training Plan

A form describing your responsibilities, how they relate to your career goals, and your training for your responsibilities.

4. Student Outcome Assessment

This is an opportunity for you to evaluate your own progress in developing knowledge and skills from your co-op experience. It is important that you make every effort to be as realistic as possible in order to track your own growth as you move forward in progressively responsible assignments.

All written reports will be reviewed by co-op coordinator and kept on file. They will not be returned to the student unless they are unsatisfactory, but they may be seen and reviewed at any time. These reports will be used as a means of assessing co-op experiences, employment situations and used by the career counselor as reference materials.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT

I. Academic performance

1. The student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0. A higher grade point average is highly encouraged.

2. The student must remain dedicated to the completion of the degree program

3. The student must alternate co-ops with semesters of full-time class work.

4. The student must register for the co-op prior to the beginning of each work term. Failure to register will result in the employer being notified that the student is not enrolled at Eastern Kentucky University.

II. Job Performance

1. The student must satisfactorily perform the work assignment for each work period.

2. The student must adhere to all policies of the employing firm.

3. The student must report to work promptly, and in the event of illness or emergency must notify the employer and co-op coordinator promptly.

4. The student must direct his or her energies to the completion of work assignments.

5. The student must not apply for unemployment benefits at State Office of Human Resources, due to the fact that he/she is leaving voluntarily and without cause attributable to the employer.

6. The student must read and become familiar with the operation of the co-op program as explained in the Student Handbook.

7. The student must adhere to all policies of the Cooperative Education Program.

8. If a student is dismissed from cooperative employment for any reason, it must be immediately reported to the co-op coordinator.

9. The University is not liable for any accident or injury involving a co-op student. However, any serious accident or injury must be reported, at the earliest opportunity, to the co-op coordinator.

Students will be advised by the employer of the policies governing working conditions, hours of work, and other matters concerning employment. It is expected that the student will conform explicitly to these rules and regulations. Failure to do so will subject the student to the disciplinary and corrective procedures of the employer and will be reflected in the evaluation record completed for each work period by the employer. The evaluation record is used in determining a grade for co-op. It is emphasized that personal appearance and attendance are extremely important factors.

GRADING:

The grade will be based on:

1. Evaluation of the student by employer

2. Student’s written report, and

3. All the other paper work required by the coop office

The following are the three possible grades a student may be assigned:

1. S(atisfactory) – All requirements have been satisfactorily met.

2. U(nsatisfactory) – The students job performance has been unsatisfactory

3. IP – The requirements are incomplete.

Note: For co-op assignments terminating between January 15 and September first of a given academic school year the IP grade must be changed prior to the end of final exams in the fall semester of that same academic school year. For co-op assignments terminating between September first and January 15 of a given academic year the IP grade must be changed prior to the end of final exams for the spring semester of that academic school year.