Quality and the Cooperative Education Program

By Bernice M. Purcell, Holy Family University

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IntroductionBernice M. PurcellSchool of Business

Administration (SBA), Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA

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Co-op Office at HFUWorks with Schools of Business

Administration and Arts and SciencesThe class of 2009 has a 95% placement rate

95% of those students who had either a co-op or internship experience were either hired at the same site, or secured a position in their major due to the co-op/internship experience on their resume

The mean across the country is 76% according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

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Co-op ProgramsParallel Program – the student attends

classes full or part-time while working part-time

Job Enrichment Program – for the student who is already working for an employer willing to assign him/her temporarily to a new project or department

Alternating Program – alternating full-time work periods with periods of full-time study

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Co-op and the SBATaught by one of three SBA facultyStudents self select section of class meetingAn average of 20 students enroll each

semesterCo-op required for Sports Marketing

Management majors (2 semesters) and an elective for other majors

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Co-op Program Requirements Ensure Program QualityMinimum 2.5 GPA (many employers request 3.0)Faculty Approval Student must submit a résumé prepared

according to co-op/internship directives and approved by the Co-op Department

Student must attend an Interviewing Workshop given by the Career Services Department

Student must develop Learning Objectives and have these reviewed by and signed off on by a faculty member of the applicant's choice

Photo with Co-op supervisor

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Learning Agreement Enhances Quality of Communications A four part contract

Part A – student contract (handout pages 1 – 2)

Part B – employer contract (handout pages 3 – 6)

Part C – faculty coordinator contract (handout pages 7 – 8)

Part D – choice of program contract (handout page 9)

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Learning Agreement Part A

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Learning Agreement Part B

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Learning Agreement Part C

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Learning Agreement Part D

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Class Meetings Enhance Quality of Student ExperienceMeet as a group of six to ten students to

share experience with peersPeer support systemDiscussions on articlesVideos related to articles

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Class Dynamics Enhance Quality of the Class MeetingClassroom would optimally be a small,

seminar-style room if possible; otherwise have students arrange chairs in a circle

Classroom meeting 1 hour every other weekInstructor available after class to discuss

individually with students anything related to co-op necessary (e.g. employer evaluations, problems students might be having)

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LMS Support Enhances Quality of Communication

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Grading and Course AssessmentEmployer Evaluation Form (handout pages 10

– 11)Site Visit Form (handout page 12) Assessment Rubrics (handout pages 13 – 14)

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Employer Evaluation Form

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Site Visit Form

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Course Assessment – Rubrics

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Course Assessment – Grading

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Site Visits Enhance Quality of Both Co-op Program and SBA ProgramsFace-to-face contact with

employerAbility to assess

workplace and conditionsAbility to assess

employer interest in and enthusiasm for the program

Ability for employer to comment on HFU program

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Quality Through the Personal TouchFaculty Coordinator contact with employerFaculty Coordinator meetings with studentsFaculty Coordinator site visitsFaculty Coordinator contact with Co-op OfficeFaculty Coordinator end of semester meetingCo-operative Education BoardStudent photos

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Current Initiatives to Use Co-op Program to Enhance SBA ProgramsSharing SBA newsletter with co-operative

education employersInviting co-operative education employers to

SBA/University functionsCo-operative education employers a potential

source of members for School of Business Administration Advisory Board

Standardization of course assessment

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Some Useful LinksHoly Family University Co-operative Education Program

Websitehttp://www.holyfamily.edu/academics/co-opedu.shtml

My website (I will post this PowerPoint here)http://web3.holyfamily.edu/bpurcell/

National Association of Colleges and Employershttp://www.naceweb.org/home.aspx

National Commission for Cooperative Educationhttp://www.co-op.edu/

World Association for Cooperative Educationhttp://www.waceinc.org/

Cooperative Education and Internship Associationhttp://www.ceiainc.org/home.asp

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Questions from the Audience