Co-op Information for Employers
The
Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program is a professional development
education program that allows students to participate in a year-round
schedule that alternates professionally related work experiences with
classroom coursework. Co-ops are made possible by industry partners
willing to host co-op students for this valuable experience.
The CU College of
Engineering and Applied Science offers an excellent undergraduate program
with strong academic content and hands-on, service, and discovery learning
opportunities. CU students are trained to have strong engineering and
hands-on skills, developed team skills, and a strong work ethic. The
college's many academic departments prepare a talented pool of students
able fill a wide variety of co-op positions.
Students who participate in co-ops are better prepared
to enter the work force and frequently choose to continue their employment
with their co-op employer after graduating. Recent surveys of seniors who
graduated in May 2005 or May 2006 found that 17-21 percent found their
permanent position through an internship or co-op experience.
Co-op experiences are paid by the employer and result
in academic credit (though not necessarily credit toward the student’s
degree). Co-op students receive a certificate of participation or written
acknowledgement as well as an entry on their transcript for each co-op
experience.
"The CU Co-op Program provides us with young aspiring engineers whose
skills and efforts make daily contributions to the success of our
organization. Many of our breakthrough developments would not have been
possible without the contributions of our CU Co-op students."
— Rick Dauer, Group Leader, Process
Engineering and Automation
Roche Colorado
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learn more about co-op employer opportunities:
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Access to and retention of top talent
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Opportunity to develop new positions
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Opportunity to develop leaders from
within
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Low-risk opportunity to try out new
employees
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Pipeline for developing a
diverse workforce
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As co-op employers, companies are expected
to fulfill
the following requirements:
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Provide a paid, professional work
experience
that allows the student to be part of a team
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Arrange challenging work for the student
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Assign work of real importance, not
"make-work"
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Incorporate a large spectrum of the
company's activities
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Ensure that assigned work is
major-related
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Commit to providing single and/or multiple work
terms for the student
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Increase technical involvement and level
of responsibility as the student progresses
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Evaluate student performance and provide
feedback to the college
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3M
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Amgen
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Baxter
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Bend Research
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Chevron Phillips
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"Having a co-op at
Chevron enables the student to experience several different areas of the
company while providing broad visibility for the student among the hiring
managers. The student can start to determine what type of work interests
him/her which is invaluable when job offers are in front of them. The
company can also judge the student's performance and determine where
his/her skills fit the best. It is a win-win situation for all involved."
— Thad
Sauvain, Manager
Designs and Engineering, Chevron
"The CU Co-op Program provides us with young aspiring
engineers whose skills and efforts make daily contributions to the
success of our organization. Many of our breakthrough developments would
not have been possible without the contributions of our CU co-op
students."
— Rick Dauer, Group Leader
Process Engineering and Automation, Roche Colorado
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To get started, please contact the co-op
representative from the department that best fits the type of
engineering your co-op position would entail. Aerospace Engineering
Co-ops
Joe Tanner
303-492-1486
joe.tanner@colorado.edu
Chemical & Biological Engineering Co-ops
Sandra Krizek
303-492-5409
sandra.krizek@colorado.edu
Mechanical Engineering
Co-ops
Daria Kotys-Schwartz
303-492-3174
daria.kotys@colorado.edu
All Other Majors and
International Co-ops
Sherry Snyder,
Director of Student Programs
303-492-7674
snyders@colorado.edu
Co-op Program Oversight
Terry Mayes,
Director of Academic Programs
Office: ECAD 106
303-735-6446
terry.mayes@colorado.edu
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