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Cooperative Education

Benefits of the Program

Cooperative Education programs provide substantial benefits to the student, the employer, the school, and the community. 

To The Student

• The actual work experience helps the student determine whether or not he/she wants to continue in the chosen career early enough to choose another career.

• Allows the student to gain actual experience in the career in an environment different from the classroom.

• Enhances the student's critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Enables a student to pay a portion of his/her college expenses.

• Allows the student to contribute to the economy.

• Gives the student a competitive edge for full-time employment after graduation.

• Promotes maturity and the development of interpersonal skills.

• Provides an opportunity for the student to work with state-of-the-art equipment and use the most current office procedures.

To The Employer

• Provides a motivated workforce.

• Provides an opportunity to train potential employees.

• Provides full-time or part-time employees.

• Provides an opportunity for the employer to influence the college program.

• Provides a reduction of costs in recruitment and training.

• Provides a source of performance appraisal for the student and for the school.

To The School

• Provides an interchange between the college and the business community and an opportunity to utilize community resources to expand the curriculum.

• Provides a means of evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum.

• Provides an opportunity for instructors to keep informed of constantly changing business procedures and practices.

• Allows for immediate program success feedback.

• Recruits new students.

To The Community

• Provides a source of college-educated workers.

• Increases rapport between the college and the community.

• Increases student's sense of citizenship and community responsibility.

• Increases the likelihood that the student will become a part of the community's industrial base.

• Provides preparatory training for management, professional, and technical employment.

• Increases the economic base of the community.

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