the best of co-op 2012-2013 page 105 · partnership. as a student, you will meet with co-op staff...

05The BesT OF CO-OP 2012-2013

The BesT OF CO-OP 2012-2013

SECTION ONE: THE BEST OF CO-OPLETTERS TO GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND STUDENTSCOLLEGE COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONA unique sourcebook of all the facts, figures, and resources to help the prospective co-op student make that important college and career choice.

SECTION TWO: THE CO-OP CLOSE-UPSPICTURES AND TESTIMONIALSOur Co-op Close-ups provide an up-close and personal look at students from a range of co-op programs.

SECTION THREE: SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMTHE NATIONAL CO-OP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMNational competition guidelines and criteria for the $4.9 millionmerit co-op scholarship program.THE 2011-2012 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

SECTION FOUR: FEATURE ARTICLEDREXEL UNIVERSITY

SECTION FIVE: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SPONSORSClarkson UniversityDrexel UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyJohnson & Wales University Kettering UniversityLane Community CollegeLIU PostMerrimack CollegeMiami Dade CollegeRochester Institute of TechnologyState University of New York OswegoUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of Massachusetts DartmouthUniversity of Massachusetts LowellThe University of ToledoWentworth Institute of Technology

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Pages 9 - 139

Pages 15 - 2315

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contents

The BesT OF CO-Op 2012-2013

WACE can also be found onFACEBOOK (WACEINC) & TWITTER (WACE_INC)

SECTION SIX: INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY SPONSORSBahcesehir UniversityCharles Sturt UniversityThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversitySuranaree University of TechnologyTec de MonterreyThe University of Newcastle AustraliaVaal University of Technology

SECTION SEVEN: EMPLOYER SPONSORSAEFISAnalog DevicesCDM SmithD3 TechnologiesKraft FoodsRIM / BlackBerryTelkom SAUPS

SECTION EIGHT: FEATURE ARTICLEROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SECTION NINE: THE CO-OP HALL OF FAMEFeaturing 35 nominees from some of the most innovative programs in the cooperative education world.

SECTION TEN: FEATURE ARTICLETHE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA

WACEWACE Global Industry PartnersWACE Global Institutional PartnersVision & Mission StatementWACE Secretariat University of Massachusetts LowellWACE International Satellite Offices Suranaree University of Technology Thailand University West SwedenBoard of DirectorsWACE 18th World Conference on Cooperative & Work-Integrated Education ‘‘WIL-Power: Fueling the Future Workforce” Durban University of Technology, June 24-27, 2013WACE 9th International Symposium on Cooperative & Work-Integrated Education ‘‘Assessing Our Past & Assuring Our Future” Georgia Institute of Technology, November 14-16, 2012WACE US News & World Report “They Were All Co-op Students” Ad

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Back Cover

PARTNER PROFILE

Page 2 The BesT OF CO-Op 2012-2013

Dear Student,

No one knows more than you how challenging the next several months will

be. You have many important decisions to make — what college is right for

you, what program of study will you pursue, which colleges can you afford,

and, ultimately, which career path will you pursue upon graduation.

We believe that cooperative education could be a key factor in helping you

make these important decisions. To assist you in your selection of the right

college for your future, we are pleased to share with you this 2012-2013

Resource Guide — The Best of Co-op: A Guide to the Leading Colleges

and Employers.

Also, we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to apply for a merit

co-op scholarship. Many of these merit co-op scholarships are renewable

for four years valued at $24,000. Please see pages 15-17 for scholarship

application details.

We hope that this information will assist you in choosing your college.

You may also learn more about cooperative education by visiting our

homepage at www.waceinc.org or any of the other college or employer

websites identified throughout this Resource Guide.

We wish you every success in making the right college choice.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul J. Stonely

CEO, WACE

A LETTER TO STUDENTS

Since 2003, 1,275 Co-op Scholarshipshave been awarded totaling $30 Million

PARTNER PROFILE

Page 3The BesT OF CO-Op 2012-2013

Dear Guidance Counselor,I am pleased to share with you this 2012-2013 Resource Guide — The

Best of Co-op: A Guide to the Leading Colleges and Employers.

We are also pleased to announce our Eleventh Annual National

Co-op Scholarship Program consisting of 195 merit co-op scholarships

for high school seniors and transfer students who are planning to

participate in college cooperative education. Many of these merit

co-op scholarships are renewable for four years valued at $24,000.

Please see pages 15-17 for scholarship application details.

We hope that you share this Resource Guide with your staff and

students. You may also learn more about cooperative education

by visiting our home page at www.waceinc.org or any of the other

college or employer websites identified throughout this publication.

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul J. StonelyCEO, WACE

A LETTER TO GUIDANCE COUNSELORS


cooperativeeducation

joins theory and practice and links education and industry through

knowledge and experience.

Dean Herman Schneider University of Cincinnati

Founder of Cooperative Education

College cooperative education is a unique academic program combining classroom studies with professional work experience in a field related to your education and career goals. Co-op gives you a wonderful opportunity to gain professional job experience and, at the same time, earn money to help with expenses while you are in school. Although individual co-op programs described in this 2012-2013 The Best of Co-op: A Guide to the Leading Colleges and Employers vary from college to college, you will most likely begin with an initial period of full-time study, which then will become an integrated program of class time and relevant work experience. As a co-op student you will understand what career choices you might make, gain valuable contacts in your field, and get paid for your work! You’ll graduate with a college degree and an impressive resumé.

An Innovative PartnershipCooperative education links you, your college, and employers in an exceptional academic partnership. As a student, you will meet with co-op staff to define your work skills and goals and learn about available co-op positions. While most students co-op in jobs near their college or their home, you also have the option of working somewhere completely different. You then apply and interview with employers for potential positions and select among the job offers which you may receive. Through out your years of co-op, college faculty and staff work with you and your employers to ensure that the work experiences are linked to your courses and career development.


Did you know?

• Chemicals and Petroleum • Health Services• Communications• Hotel and Restaurant Management• Computers & Electronics• Manufacturing• Education• Media and the Arts• Environmental Services• Public and Private Utilities• Financial Services• Public Relations• Government• Retail Trade• Transportation

Co-op positions are available in most professional fields including:

CO-O

P FAST FAC

T

The Best of Co-op


Flexible Work SchedulesMany of the cooperative education programs described in the 2012-2013 The Best of Co-op: A Guide to the Leading Colleges & Employers offer flexible work schedules:

Full-time (alternating college cooperative education program): Students choosing this schedule work 3-6 months, usually 35 hours per week for a full semester.

Part-time (parallel college cooperative education program): Students choosing this option usually work 15-20 hours per week and attend classes either part-time or full-time.

Summer sessions: Students choosing this scheduleusually work full-time for 2-3 months.Some co-op positions may continueinto the Fall semester.

Almost 50,000 employers participate in cooperative education, including multi-national corporations, small businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations.


A Formal DefinitionWACE, the sponsor of the 2012-2013 The Best of Co-op: A Guide to the Leading Colleges and Employers, has adopted the following opera tional definition:

“College cooperative education is formally recognized as an academic program integrating classroom learning and productive work experiences in a field related to a student’s academic and career goals. Co-op provides students with progressive learning experiences integrating theory and practice. As an academic program, co-op serves as a partnership among students, educational institutions and employers.”

This operational definition includes a number of responsibilities and agreements among the educational institution, employer, and the co-op student. These agreements focus on academic credit, learning assessments, on-going advising and work supervision. For a full description of these responsibilities, please visit:

w w w. w a c e i n c . o r g

Did you know?• More than 80 of the top 100 compa-

nies in the Fortune 500 employ co-op students

• Students earn as much as $40,000 before graduation

• Many co-op students graduate from college with little or no debtCO

-OP

FAST FAC

T


Key Advantages

The cooperative education programs described in this publicationwill allow you to experience many key advantages.

• Apply your classroom learning in real-world settings• Test your skills in a variety of work settings• Provide meaningful con tribution to important organizations• Earn a salary as you gain valuable hands-on experience• Earn a salary to help defray education expenses• Demonstrate proven ability in your chosen professional field• Build an impressive resumé• Establish important professional contacts for your job search

Since 2000-2001,

High School Guidance

Counselors have

rated the Annual

Guide to Cooperative

Education as the Most

Informative Source

about College Level

Co-op Programs


Veronica chaVezMIAMI DADE COLLEGE

Thanks to her real-world experience working at Turkey Point Power Plant, Verónica Chávez is well on her way to achieving her dream of completing the Electrical Power Technology program at Miami Dade College and attaining a job in this in-demand field. Proud of her accomplishments in the MDC Co-Op program, the hard-working mother of three now inspires her children to achieve their goals, just as she has.

rYan chiLDUNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

Ryan Child is a student at the University of Cincinnati where he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering. He has spent the last two quarters working at Harmonix Music Systems (makers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band), helping with the development of the sequel to the leading dance game for Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Dance Central 2. “I’ve had a blast learning how AAA video games are made and being a part of the team,” Child said.

eMiLY coYLeJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY

Marketing and Sales InternMarriott International – Dubai, UAE“While in Dubai on internship with Marriott International, I felt more than prepared thanks to the hands on learning from JWU. Ignoring the fact that I was 7000 miles away from home, I felt confident enough to dive right in and learn as much as I could while in Dubai. I was allowed to act as part of the team; it didn’t feel like an internship, it felt like the start of a prosperous career.”

MeGan coanJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY

Hospitality Internship at Centerplate“Internships are the bridge between your education; what you learn in the classroom and your career as a college graduate. When you finally cross the bridge you come to the realization that all your hard work, all those late nights, and the long hours have all been worth it. Crossing that bridge is one of the best feelings in the world.”

our co-op cLose-ups proViDe an up-cLose anD personaL Look at stuDents froM a ranGe of co-op proGraMs.


traVis JonesJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY

“To be in New York City working in such a high profile place has not only made me the happiest man alive, but made my family back home proud as can be. Loving what you do and doing it well will get you a long way. Working hard and going above and beyond will get you all the success you can handle. This is all possible because of my amazing education from JWU”. Intern at Joanne Trattoria (Lady Gaga’s Parents’ Restaurant)

MarGaret DaVisCLARKSON UNIVERSITY

Margaret is a senior majoring in Financial Information & Analysis at Clarkson. She completed a fall 2011 co-op with General Electric Transportation in Financial Planning & Analysis, where she created a financial report package in Excel/Hyperion Financial Management system for each function and aided managers in maintaining accurate headcounts within Global Services Operations. She also created a Finance Organization Mapping Chart to show the relationships between organization codes, cost centers and customers. Margaret’s co-op enhanced her resource management and critical thinking abilities immensely.

feLicia JoYnerLIU POST

“While a finance major at LIU Post, I interned at The Shouler Group, an office of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. The training program was excellent and I had the chance to meet new people and extend my professional network. I also serve as the captain of the LIU Post Pioneers basketball team. I was able to apply the team-building skills I learned on the court to my co-op experience.”

Justine heLLerUNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DARTMOUTH

“My internship at the Davis Companies has been an experience beyond anything I could have imagined. Gaining on-the-job experience is the only real way to learn about a potential career possibility. I can honestly say I have learned a great deal not only about the Human Resources industry, but about myself on a personal and professional level. I would not change one second of my time with Davis and am now anxious to begin my career as a Human Resources professional.”



pauL LaWsonTHE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO

“Working through the University of Toledo’s co-op program has given me many opportunities around the U.S.A. and in Europe. Without this program, I would not have had the opportunity to work 3 sessions with Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford, Illinois and 1 session in Wolverhampton, England. During my co-ops I refined my engineering knowledge through tasks ranging from Lightning Testing to project management to testing and coordinating with Pratt and Whitney. “

LYnn LeUNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

“Applying for and accepting a co-op at MFS were among my very best decisions. Not only did I experience the excitement of witnessing mutual fund sales, I learned important lessons that aren’t possible in a traditional classroom. I learned how to carry myself and interact in a professional environment. I increased the size and depth of my network. I remain connected to specific co-workers who helped me grow as a person. I gained a new, broader perspective on business – enriching my anticipation of classes next semester – because their significance is now much clearer.”

tYLer kiMBLeLANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

“My Energy Management co-op at the Bethel School District prepared me for the real world. I diagnosed problems and identified operations/maintenance opportunities that can save the school district thousands of dollars,” says Tyler. “Tyler was fantastic to work with--very professional-- and he had extremely strong technical skills,” says his Co-op Supervisor, Sarah Mazze. Now employed at Abacus Energy Solutions, Tyler is working in his area of study while completing his Energy Management AAS degree.

Jason MacLeoDSTATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OSWEGO

“My co-op allowed me to utilize technical writing and critical thinking skills developed in college while gaining real-world engineering and environmental consulting experience. SUNY Oswego and O’Brien & Gere provided opportunities that have given me new appreciation for my skills, transforming me into a competitive player for contemporary job markets. My experience has highlighted the importance of networking and positioning, which includes social media, for the prospective workplace and the need to prioritize these opportunities early in the college career.”



rYan oVerkoUNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DARTMOUTH

“Scheduled to graduate in 2013 with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, I knew I wanted to graduate with experience. My first co-op was at EMC, one of the largest technology companies in the world. I worked in the ‘Proof of Concept’ division. Our team was on pace to bring in more revenue than past years. My second co-op is at Logicoul, a clean energy start-up company involved in technical discovery that could lead to drastic changes in the future. I have had the opportunity to work at two entirely different companies - both challenging and exciting experiences - and it has altered my outlook on the future.”

Breanna pYrDaTHE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO

“During my five co-op rotations at NASA Glenn Research Center I have had the opportunity to support NASA’s mission of space exploration through many projects ranging from designing a new vacuum chamber from scratch to replacing the control system on an existing chamber while it was under vacuum. Thanks to the co-op program, I have been able to successfully apply the concepts learned in class to challenging engineering problems. As a result, I feel well prepared to start my career after graduation.“

caitLin MeehanAEFIS

“My co-op experience with AEFIS was great! I learned so much about how the company runs and also brought many new marketing ideas to the team,” says Caitlin. “She took great initiative in our offices,” AEFIS Director of R&D, Becky Yannes, shared. “Caitlin accomplished assigned responsibilities and brought practical recommendations to the table as well. We are excited to have her working with our companies, full-time, since her graduation this spring.”

Jason WeDnesDaY MiLLerWENTWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Jason Wednesday Miller’s co-op experience at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Mass., re-affirmed his passion for facilities planning and management. For him, every day was different. He managed all aspects of the building including architectural, electrical and plumbing issues, hospital codes and LEED certification. He also spent time helping Spaulding prepare for their new 240,000-square-foot rehabilitative care and research space in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Miller plans to use his co-op experience to land himself a job at the U.S. State Department as a facilities manager.



GLenn santuLLiDREXEL UNIVERSITY

“I have competed two six-month co-ops with my engineering discipline. My first co-op was in the construction field, performing inspection on the south street bridge reconstruction project. I learned how to professionally communicate with several parties that are contractually obligated to work together. I gained insight into what area I want to focus on for the duration of my time in college. The best thing I can take away from my co-op experiences is seeing different jobs within my major and realizing what I perform best at and what I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.”

Leah strohsnitterGEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

“At the National Institute of Standards and Technology my primary assignments included performance testing of various residential appliances. My work exposure made it possible to see classroom concepts materialize into practical applications. Interacting with tangible examples of thermal efficiency from product and manufacturing standpoints did wonders for my retention and understanding of the concepts I learned in school. Working as a co-op helps reinforce what I have already learned and gives me a solid foundation for what I will learn in future classes.”

DeBra pratt KETTERING UNIVERSITY

“With Kettering’s co-op program, I get to apply concepts in the real world, unlike other universities where only facts are memorized. I’m going to graduate with a degree from a challenging school and also two years of experience. In the end, the experience is what’s going to get me a career, not the piece of paper. That’s why I chose Kettering and if I could go back, I would not change my decision.”

Ben WiGGinsTHE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA

“On placement at Erina Kindergarten I worked with children from 3 to 6 years old. It was a fantastic experience and helped to make the theory that I had learned at university, to make sense. It also gave me concrete professional experiences to connect to my studies. I won a Work Integrated Learning Award for the placement, and am now working for the centre while I complete my studies.”


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