Chaffey College Cooperative Education

	Career Services Cooperative Education Student Employment Workforce Preparation Internships Career Fair & Special Events
	Co-Op 497 & 96 End of Term Projects Seminars Student Handbook Learning Agreement Dates to Remember
	Student Employment Office 909-652-6186 Cooperative Education Office 909-652-6190 In partnership with Chaffey College, MonsterTRAK provides full-time, part-time and temporary job and internship opportunities targeted by employers to Chaffey College students and alumni.

Career Services

Cooperative Education

Cooperative Work Experience Education Builds Bridges from School-to-Work via Experiential Education

What is Cooperative Work Experience Education?

Co-op Ed, or Cooperative Work Experience Education (497 & 96), as it is variously called, is an academic program that is designed to accelerate the career growth of students by combining classroom learning with work experience — employment, internship, service learning activity or volunteer work. Co-op Ed 497 and 96 require that an agreement be established between the college, the employer and the student to jointly develop work-based learning objectives and to use various mechanisms to evaluate learning outcomes and facilitate the exchange of relevant professional information between all three parties. Co-op students do not attend weekly classes. In addition to undertaking new learning objectives at work, they complete personally relevant, self-directed, career development assignments according to their individual needs and schedules, while using the college’s career resources and attending seminars, as outlined on their Learning Agreement.

How do students benefit by taking Co-op Ed?

Students:

	Earn elective unit credit for work hours.
	Learn new job skills in a real work environment.
	Apply classroom learning in a real work environment.
	Research career opportunities and validate career goals.
	Make important professional contacts in their career fields.
	Strengthen their resume/portfolio with career related work experience.

How do participating employers benefit from their employees taking Co-op Ed?

Co-op Ed:

	Establishes and strengthens School-to-Work connections.
	Promotes work performance and skill development of employees.
	Is a source of career-focused employees, with potential to reduce turn over and increase productivity.
	Is a means to communicate the needs and professional standards of community businesses and organizations directly to the college’s faculty, and visa versa.

Credit for Cooperative Education is earned based on the total hours worked per semester:

1 unit = 60 hours unpaid/75 hours paid

2 units = 120 hours unpaid/150 hours paid

3 units = 180 hours unpaid/225 hours paid

4 units = 240 hours unpaid/300 hours paid

After registering, students must attend a scheduled orientation, complete a Student Information Sheet, and meet with the instructor to receive course materials. For further information, call 909/652-6190.