Center for Career Development

Expectations for all students:

• Accept primary responsibility for obtaining an acceptable cooperative education or internship position is the student’s responsibility. The university is prevented by legal, ethical and educational grounds from “placing” individuals into work assignments.
• Honor your commitment once you accept a position and work as long as your co-op/internship assignment states. Once you have accepted an offer of employment, it is a contract between you and the employer. You should not renege on an offer of employment once accepted.
• Conduct yourself in an ethical manner consistent with accepted business ethics and practices.
• Complete all the requirements of the Cooperative Education Program, as determined by the Center for Career Development.
• Follow all established procedures for reporting and registering your employment to the Center for Career Development Office.
  
  

Expectations of the Co-op Course:

• Attend a required Co-op Orientation Enrollment meeting with the Co-op Office the semester before your co-op assignment begins to enroll you in the course. It is your responsibility to make this appointment through your Handshake account before you leave campus.
• Enrollment in the appropriate level of the co-op course will be done by the Center for Career Development Co-op Office. 
• Understand enrollment will be for all semesters you are employed as a cooperative education student, including summer, with your employer.
• All students will be expected to confirm enrollment of their assigned co-op course by the university deadline each semester. Failure to do so may result in late fees being added to tuition total from the Bursar’s Office.
• Follow all assignments and instructions listed for the Co-op Course, including completion of Co-op Term Reports, Employer Co-op Evaluations, and any other requested information by the listed due date of each co-op semester.
• Acknowledge that co-op students are not eligible by law for Unemployment Compensation resulting from their co-op work experience.
• Notify the Cooperative Education Coordinator of any change in your academic or employment status or of any problems associated with your co-op/internship work experience.
• If a student receives a failing grade in a co-op course (grade of Unsatisfactory), the student will be placed on Co-op Probation for the next assigned semester, where the terms of the probation will be outlined by the Co-op Office.
• If a student fails (grade of Unsatisfactory) a second semester, they will no longer be allowed to participate in the Co-op Program.
  
  

Expectations while on the job:

• Abide by the employer guidelines and regulations stated.
• Complete any necessary training for safety or cyber protocols and refer to these items as needed.
• Report to work regularly and punctually. If you must be absent, follow the stated guidelines by your employer and notify them prior to the beginning of your day.
• Always conduct yourself in a professional manner and be a productive employee.
• Dress appropriately and utilize good hygiene practices for the work environment and expectations of your employer.
• Always consult your supervisor if you have questions regarding expectations of your responsibilities or conflicts or concerns related to your workplace.
• When you complete a project or assignment, advise your supervisor and ask for additional work.  
• If at any time you are unclear on how to handle a situation while on your co-op assignment, call the Center for Career Development and speak with your Cooperative Education Coordinator.
  
  

Failure of a Co-op Course:

• In the event a student receives a failing grade (Unsatisfactory) from a co-op assignment, the student must contact the Co-op Office immediately. The Co-op Coordinator will meet with the student and assess the situation. Once this is completed, the student will be placed on Co-op Probation, where the terms of the probation will be outlined.
• If a student fails (grade of Unsatisfactory) a second semester, they will no longer be allowed to participate in the Co-op Program.
  
  

Termination of a Co-op Experience:

• In the event a student is terminated from a co-op assignment, the student must contact the Co-op Office immediately. The Co-op Coordinator will assess the situation with the student and the employer. Once this is completed, the student will be required to meet with the Co-op Coordinator and will be placed on Co-op Probation, where the terms of the probation will be outlined.
• Termination from a co-op assignment will result in a failing grade (Unsatisfactory) for that co-op semester.
• Quitting or leaving a position without first discussing a situation with the Co-op Coordinator is not acceptable. If a student ends their assignment early without approval or discussing it with the Co-op Office, a Co-op Probation meeting will also be necessary. The student will be placed on Co-op Probation, where the terms of the probation will be outlined.
• Quitting or leaving a position without approval will result in a failing grade (Unsatisfactory) for that co-op semester, unless deemed otherwise by the Co-op Coordinator/Office.

 

* The Tennessee Tech Cooperative Education agreement, professional practices and ethical responsibilities were written with significant assistance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RIT).