His official title is associate director of Career Services, but he may be better known on campus simply as “Mr. Co-op.”

For his commitment and dedication to managing the largest cooperative education program in Tennessee, Don Foster is being recognized as this year’s Outstanding Professional.

Don Foster, left, and President Bell at last week's Luncheon Forum, where the Outstanding Professional Award was presented.

“Don manages the largest co-op program in the state of Tennessee, and he does this without any real staff support,” says Alice Camuti, director of Career Services.

Among his responsibilities are scheduling on-campus interviews, putting together employer schedules and keeping track of the 300-plus students who are out on work assignments at any given time by making sure they complete required paperwork, register for course credit and perform other tasks to ensure a successful learning experience.

When he took his post in 1986, our co-op education program offered students only one schedule option, but under his direction, two other options have been created.

“With the help of faculty, Mr. Foster was able to get approval of the Plan B work schedule, which is the normal work schedule that NASA uses and many government organizations prefer,” says Leo McGee, associate vice president for Academic Affairs.

“In addition, Mr. Foster implemented the Plan C, or parallel program, work schedule,” McGee continues. “This enables students to work 20 hours a week, plus take normal college courses. This action has attracted a large number of new employers, as well as students, to the university.”

Foster goes above and beyond his job requirements by participating in a number of volunteer campus activities, says Rob Schabert, assistant athletics director for sports information and marketing.

Foster has served as a volunteer statistician during football season, for instance, and a volunteer phone messenger to ESPN and Sports Ticker at basketball games.

“He has even assisted at some baseball games when we had no students during spring break to help with the operations,” Schabert says. “Don has a really deep sense of desire to help anyone who asks in any project or function related to the university.”

As for winning this year’s Outstanding Professional Award, Camuti says Foster “earns it every day.”

“TTU is extremely lucky to have an employee who works so hard and with such enthusiasm,” she says.