| Welcome to the Engineering Co-op Program
A cooperative effort between the University and industry for the educational benefit of our students
The Co-op Program is an option in Institute of Technology that attracts many of the best students in the department. The co-op experience seems to develop a noticeably greater maturity in these students over those not in the program. With their strongly directed interests and motivation, they contribute solidly to the companies for which they work. The program is a cooperative effort of the University and industry to provide the best education possible to the student. Students enter the Co-op at the start of their junior year, with the expectation that they will work alternating semesters with the same company over a period of two years.
While we do not emphasize the financial assistance the program provides, most students involved do rely quite heavily on this support over their last two years in college. Some companies have asked that we recommend a first semester salary that represents what currently is being paid to co-op students. Our latest survey indicates an average of about $15.60 per hour. The Co-op seeks positions from participating industries that provide meaningful employment over the full two-year period, and each student accepted into the program agrees to work the two-year term with the same company.
During these weeks, all students seeking a co-op position will be available for interviews. The procedure is as follows:
1) Companies will indicate to us if they plan on participating in the interview week.
2) Students will apply for the program Fall and Spring.
3) Companies will then register online to indicate how many days and which days they would like to interview. Interview days will be split in two: 1st session will be from 8 AM to 11:30 AM. 2nd session will be from
1 PM to 4:30 PM. Each session consists of 5-30 minute interviews.
a) Note that there are limited rooms available each day. Registration will close when all rooms are full. At the time the application to participate is submitted, the companies should include a full description about the available co-op positions.
4) Companies will submit a Company Profile to the co-op office at:
co-op@me.umn.edu. For more information click here.
5) The descriptions provided by the companies will be distributed to all the students. Students’ resumes and applications will be available for viewing on the CO-OP Program Website. Companies will receive a password to view these files once the CO-OP Staff receive the registration form (1 to 2 days after registering).
6) Companies will then send the CO-OP office a list of students they prefer to interview.
7) We will take the information provided by the students and companies and set up interview schedules. We will attempt to match the students to the companies based on mutual interests, and the company's requirements (such as GPA). Companies interview about half of students they have an interest in.
8) Companies and students will be notified of the interview schedule at least one week prior to the start of the interviews.
9) Interviews are held on campus at the University of Minnesota. Company representatives will be asked to check in at Lind Hall, Room 50 in the spring, and in ME 1120 in the fall.
10) For a full list of dates, please click here.
For more information on our interview process, you can view the Company Handbook . There is also detailed information about the student's role in the program in the Information for Students section, as well.
Please note that we do have a program service fee charge for the participating companies of $650 per student per work semester, the equivalent of about $1.00 per hour. This fee is used to support the co-op program; it allows the co-op office to provide continuous service to the students and companies.
We hope that your company will participate in the program. We feel that the opportunity for industry to evaluate students in diverse situations over two years' time is a valuable selection process unique to the Co-op Program. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (612) 625-3441 or Ashly Spevacek at (612) 625-5326.
Sincerely,
Virgil A. Marple
Director, ME Co-op Program
Forms for Companies
Company Application Form
2009 Fall Interview Days
Registration
Work Proposal Form (word doc)
When a student is hired, the student and company representative jointly fill out a proposed work plan for the three semesters of work. Students are eligible to register on the first day of registration after the Work Proposal form is approved by the Co-op director.
Performance Review
Co-op companies agree to review work performance at the end of each work assignment. However, this does not always filter to the supervisory level. If your supervisor does not initiate a review it is a very good idea to request one. The information is used to screen for potential problems, but its primary function is to help maintain good communication between the company and the Co-op student.
Company Contact Update Form
Co-op Company Salary Survey Form
Co-op companies complete this form once a year in July. Answers from the survey are used to calculate an average salary wage as a reference for co-op companies participating in the program the following year. Individual company salaries are kept anonymous. Participation in this survey is greatly appreciated.
Interview Preference Form
After a company has registered for the fall or spring interview days they must fill out an interview preference form. All applications of students looking to obtain a position are listed on the co-op website. Companies rank 10 students with whom they wish to interview. The co-op office will organize the interview schedule with half of the interviews being students they selected and half with students who asked to interview with them. Please provide any special requirements such as GPA requirements, US citizenship, willingness to work outside the metro area, etc.
Post Interview Preference Form
After the on campus interviews, the companies have two weeks to invite students to their company for on-site visits and second interviews. At the end of the two weeks the companies fill out this form. The companies rank the students they prefer to hire, students acceptable to be hired, and students they would not hire.
Company Interview Survey
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