| (a) Purpose. The College Cooperative Education Program
is designed to combine collegiate classroom education with full-time
practical employment experience through alternating periods of work
and study.
(b) Institution eligibility. In order to be eligible
to participate in the cooperative education program, a higher education
institution must:
(1) be located in the United States;
(2) be an institution with a college or graduate, technical,
trade, vocational, or business school curriculum that is accredited
by an association of colleges and schools, or licensed by a state
agency;
(3) have the authority to administer requirements,
standards, and credits necessary to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates;
and
(4) have a cooperative education program.
(c) Student eligibility. In order to be eligible to
participate in the cooperative education program, a student must:
(1) be at least 17 years of age;
(2) be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident
alien, or a non-citizen with proof of eligibility to work in the United
States;
(3) be enrolled in an eligible institution's cooperative
education program, other than by correspondence;
(4) have attended that institution for at least one
semester;
(5) have passed at least 28 semester hours toward formal
degree requirements in a master or doctorate degree program, a baccalaureate
degree program, an associate degree program of no less that one academic
year, or an undergraduate certificate or diploma program of not less
than one academic year; and
(6) have an overall institutional grade point average
of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale.
(d) Application. To apply for the cooperative education
program, the student must:
(1) attend an orientation at the institution concerning
the cooperative education program; and
(2) submit a completed application to the institution
on a form prescribed by the department.
(e) Interview. If the institution's cooperative office
refers a student to the department, the student must interview with
the department.
(f) Selection criteria. The department's selection
is based upon the student's:
(1) current enrollment and participation in a field
of study related to the assigned work;
(2) skill, knowledge, and ability as related to the
job description;
(3) grade point average;
(4) relevant previous work experience; and
(5) availability to work for three successive alternating
periods of employment between three successive alternating periods
of study.
(g) Employment eligibility. If selected, the student
must:
(1) complete a Form I-9 Employment Verification;
(2) if the student's work assignment in the cooperative
education program will be to a position for which a medical examination
is required under §4.16(a) of this chapter (relating to Medical
Examination), pass the medical examination; and
(3) if the cooperative employment requires driving,
pass a driver's record check.
(h) Role of eligible institution. The institution will:
(1) provide an orientation briefing which will include
application instructions;
(2) screen and refer the student to the department
based on the criteria in the job description;
(3) schedule the student's initial interview with the
department;
(4) forward the student's application, degree plan,
and transcript to the department;
(5) enter into a written cooperative education agreement
with the department;
(6) visit the department as requested; and
(7) review supervisor reports and evaluations.
(i) Role of department. To implement this program,
the department will:
(1) provide the eligible institution with a job description;
(2) interview and select the student;
(3) enter into a written cooperative agreement with
the institution;
(4) determine the work assignment;
(5) consider the cooperative student eligible for the
same benefits and training as a full-time employee;
(6) retain the college cooperative student for three
successive alternating periods of employment between three successive
alternating periods of study as long as the student's performance
is satisfactory; and
(7) evaluate the college cooperative student as provided
in subsection (l) of this section.
(j) Role of the college cooperative student. The college
cooperative student must:
(1) abide by the program's rules and the department's
policies and procedures;
(2) adhere to the established work schedule;
(3) notify the institution's cooperative education
office and the department of any changes in academic status;
(4) meet the academic and conduct standards set forth
by the institution;
(5) maintain at least an overall grade point average
of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale during the cooperative education
period;
(6) meet the conduct standards set forth by the department;
and
(7) notify his or her department supervisor in writing
if the overall job assignment is significantly incompatible with the
academic degree.
(k) Duration. A college cooperative student is eligible
to work as a regular full-time employee during alternating academic
semesters or quarters. A college cooperative student must apply separately
to participate in the department's summer program as a regular employee.
(l) Evaluation. The department will evaluate the performance
of the college cooperative student at the end of work semester or
quarter by:
(1) using the department's student cooperative program
performance evaluation;
(2) discussing the evaluation with the college cooperative
student;
(3) submitting the evaluation to the institution for
inclusion in the institution records; and
(4) conducting a student exit questionnaire to assess
the overall education experience.
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