Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education is a career development concept which involves a formal alternating sequence of study and work directly related to a student's major. Co-op is a voluntary, independent education program open to all undergraduate and graduate students.

The co-op concept was translated into a five-year academic program more than a quarter of a century ago at Tennessee Technological University. In the fall of 1959, nine students from four disciplines departed campus for their first 12-month work assignment with five employers. Eight of those students completed their second co-op assignment and graduated. Over the years, several thousand students and numerous employers have participated in the program.

Tennessee Technological University has gained national visibility because of the Co-op Program and the quality and performance of its participants and the permanent employment of its graduates. The Co-op Program benefits both students and employers. Students benefit through:

• Realistic evaluation of career choices.
• Increased motivational and conceptual understanding in the classroom.
• On-the-job learning experiences.
• Opportunity to develop professionally in confidence, maturity, responsibility, and human relations.
• Supplemental income to aid with college expenses.
• Probability of permanent employment with a co-op employer upon graduation. However, students are not obligated to accept an offer from their co-op employer upon graduation.

Employers benefit from co-op participation through:

• Selection of quality students who could become permanent employees. However, employers are not obligated to hire their co-op students upon graduation.
• Observation and evaluation of a student's on-the-job performance before consideration of permanent employment.
• Reduction in recruitment and personnel training costs.
• Increased communication ties between employers and Tennessee Tech.

Co-op Plans. There are three co-op scheduling plans available:

Plan A - the student works full-time for an employer for 12 months.
Plan B - the student works alternate semesters at the employer's site (work, return to school, work, etc.)
Plan C - The student will attend college and work approximately 20 hours per week for the employer.

Full Details may be found at: http://www.tntech.edu/career/student_coop_info.html

Office of Research
Tennessee Tech University
P.O. Box 5036
Cookeville, TN 38505
Phone: (931) 372-3374 Fax: (931) 372-6374
Questions or Comment, please e-mail: Research@tntech.edu