Cooperative Education Office

Contact:
Al Stamberg
Co-op Education Director
273-6041

Objectives and Activities

• Understand the function of the Career Center-Cooperative Education Office and be able to describe the cooperative education/internship placement activities.
• Be able to identify the functions and responsibilities of all of the Co-op staff.
• Be able to accurately describe UNI Co-op policies and procedures, including the use of records within the office.
• Have taken an active part in developing positions for at least four students applying for a co-op placement. This will be done under the direct supervision of professional staff.
• Have visited at least two employers with co-op staff and/or do employer follow-up with staff.
• Complete at least one project of interest to you and of benefit to the co-op program.

Required Reading

• Become familiar with the professional journal for Cooperative Education, The Journal of Cooperative Education, which is published quarterly.

Initial Details to attend to:

• Practicum contract
• Meet with Director of Career Center (if not already done so)
• Discuss staff positions (dept., co-op) and introduction of staff
• Discuss role of student assistants
• UNI schedule for semester (go over calendar)
• Work schedule (need this in writing... discuss together)
• Space which student will work out of
• Lunchroom, rest rooms, parking
• Meet with Office Manager - coffee fund, use of FAX machine, copy machine, telephone usage, office supplies
• Flow chart of normal activities five cycles
  

The Five Phases of Cooperative Education

A) RECRUITMENT

• Review Dept. Heads list/faculty supervisors
• Learn the normal procedures used to recruit students (Co-op, Community Service, summer jobs, etc.): Mailings, classroom presentations, radio, student newspaper, flyers, table at Union, etc.
• Watch Co-op/Internship Orientation video
• Become familiar with guidelines for admission into program for each academic department (found in Orientation Packet)
• Become familiar with student information on Co-op/Internship Program web page
• Discuss the program's goal to recruit special population students

B) PROCESSING OF PAPER WORK

• Observe professional staff meet with students for intake into program
  
• Become familiar with files in clerical area
  
• Review UNI CareerLink and do WebRegistration and WebResume
  
• Become familiar with who works with each major

C) PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS

• Become familiar with CareerLink (job database, apply online, set interview schedules online, reports)
  
• Procedures/location of on-campus interviewing
  
• Learn how staff tracks interviews (done in CareerLink)
  
• Become familiar with employer development techniques
  
• Learn resources in Career Library and support offered by Peer Advisors
  
• Understand similarity between co-op techniques and techniques used by graduating seniors
  
• Review types of reimbursement ... (paid, stipend, work study, nonpaid positions)
  
• Learn how work study students can work off campus and use of stipend
  
• Discuss co-op's use of employer mailings
  
• Read over NACE booklets

D) FINAL PAPER WORK

• Review list of faculty co-op supervisors and related information
  
• Review agreement forms and send to correct people for signatures
  
• Go through "final paper work" process
  
• Learn what to do when students come in with their own jobs
  
• Talk about students who will be away from the local area and may need help registering for classes; delaying student loan payments; implications regarding medical insurance

E) FOLLOW-UP

• Discuss reasons for employer follow-up visits
  
• Learn faculty & co-op staff involvement
  
• Review process of setting up trips

F) FINAL INFORMATION TO COVER

• VIP (Volunteers are Important People)
  
• 16 On-Campus funded positions
  
• Discuss peer advisors, career library, mock interviews, and services
  
• Registration process (Registrar's Office)
  
• Computer/Internet search capabilities
  
• Review Career Center website (www.uni.edu/careercenter)
  
• Acquire list of placed students
  
• Deere Waterloo Works Help Desk Intern Program
  
• Understand MCEA/IACE... professional meetings and conferences
  
• Become knowledgeable regarding CAPSNET list serve and use of internet
  
• Learn method for setting up appointments
  
• Discuss use of telephone messages, procedure to follow if unable to come to office (sick, etc.)
  
• Develop good working relationship with other staff members in department
  
• Mix with other dept. staff and get to know them...schedule a 15-30 minute meeting with P&S staff to learn about their jobs
  
• Learn about Career Center Fairs-get involved
  
• When to refer students to peer advisors (cover letters, data sheets, mock interviews)
  
• Arrangements for lunch schedules
  
• Co-op/Team/Departmental staff meetings
  
• Safety, doors, fire, bomb scare, security, etc.
  
• Possible projects

Updated March 2002