CO-OP/INTERNSHIP
Working to Learn.  Learning to Work.

Welcome to an opportunity to learn by experience.  This unique experiential learning program integrates classroom studies with work-based learning experiences related to a student’s academic and career goals while simultaneously earning academic credits.

About the Program
Students
Faculty Co-op Advisors
Employers
Program Forms
Links

Student Benefits

• Opportunity to realistically test career objectives, clarify career goals, and gain increased academic motivation.

• Opportunity to integrate classroom theory and workplace practice.

• Opportunity to earn college credit, earn an income (co-op experience), and gain valuable job search skills such as the application process, interviewing tips, and resume writing.

• Opportunity to improve after-graduation employment by gaining valuable work experience for your resume and potential future employer contacts and for your job search.

Student Eligibility
Co-op/internship students must be enrolled in a curriculum at VHCC to be eligible to participate. Prospective students must have a minimum number of college credits, have at least a 2.0 curriculum grade point average, and be employed or employable. Students may enroll for academic credit as part of their curriculum studies or as add-on credit. Associate degree students are encouraged to participate for two semesters. Specific co-op/internship guidelines for individual curricula are noted in the program requirements section of the VHCC Catalog.

Student Responsibilities
During the work experience students are first considered to be employees (not students) by the employer. Therefore, students are subject to the rules and regulations of the employer regarding such issues as absences, time-off, and lay-offs. As with any job, the individual characteristics of punctuality, initiative, personal appearance, and attendance are extremely important. Students who do not display these characteristics could very easily cause their employer to refrain from using future VHCC students. The Faculty Co-op Advisor should be notified immediately of any major changes at the work site.

Getting Started
Co-op/internship students must pay regular tuition and fees and may register for and earn from 1 to 5 academic credits. Work sites must have the prior approval of the appropriate Faculty Co-op Advisor before the work experience starts. Additionally, an ‘Application for Cooperative Education/Internship and Assumption of the Risk Form’ must be completed and returned to the Cooperation Education Program Leader (LRC-708) to obtain the experiential learning workbook.