E. Philip Saunders College of Business
Undergraduate Co-Op
Ten Steps to a successful work experience!
- Co-op is Required for all Undergraduate Business Majors
Co-operative Education is required of all undergraduate business students. Co-op typically occurs during the junior and senior year and needs to be full-time, paid work experience in the student's field of study.
- Beginning the Job Search
Students must register on the Job Zone to begin the process. They can do this through the Co-op & Career Services Office. Co-op employers and job listings are available through the Job Zone.
- How Your Three Advisors Fit In
Make sure to check with your academic advisor (staff advisor in the student services office) prior to beginning your co-op search to make sure you won't miss any critical courses that may only be scheduled once a year while you are away on co-op. International students must also have an authorization to work through the International Student Affairs Office and should verify they are eligible for the quarter they are planning to coop.
Your Coop advisor is available to assist you with resume review and interview skills evaluation if you wish. They can also assist you with getting registered on the job zone.
Your faculty advisor will be approving the coop to ensure it is of value to you and your professional field of study.
- How Courses Fit In
If you plan on taking any courses while on co-op, you must add them through the normal processes. No more than one course is recommended however. If you do not plan to take courses, it is your responsibility to drop them during the drop/add period. Otherwise tuition will be due and you will receive a grade. No more than two courses may be taken when a student is on co-op.
- Registering For Co-op
Note: Two registration steps are required at this time - we are hoping to streamline this process in the near future!
Students need to be in good academic standing, and must register before beginning the work. Single Co-op work blocks need to be a minimum of 10 weeks in length. Students need to have been enrolled in the COB for at least one quarter, usually more, and need to have one academic quarter remaining (12 credit hours) upon their return from co-op. The work has to be approved by your faculty advisor by having him or her sign a completed registration form. Once approved, this form can be turned in to the COB Student Services Office to Anne Hoock.
You also need to register on the RIT Job Zone through the Coop Office.
- International Students
International students need written authorization from the International Student Office and cannot co-op until three consecutive quarters of study have been completed.
- Getting Your Coop Evaluated and Graded
Note: Three grading steps are required!
Once the co-op is complete, a report is due. The report guidelines are available online or in the student services office. The report is due by the 10th week of the quarter that you are on co-op! The report should be submitted to the Student Services Office to Anne Hoock, who will attach a grading sheet. The grading sheet and the report go directly to your faculty advisor who approves or disapproves the report. Don't forget to keep a copy of the report somewhere safe just in case it is needed!
Your employer also should have given you a performance review during your work time. A form was mailed to your manager by the Coop Office that is the guideline for the review. A copy of this form is sent to RIT and also attached with the grading form (see above) for your faculty advisor.
You also have a brief evaluation form to complete that is attached to the report guidelines. This is your evaluation of the job and the work.
- The Coop Grade
All co-op blocks carry zero credit hours (no tuition charged) and are assigned Incomplete grades if the report is not completed and graded by the end of the quarter. These incomplete grades revert to permanent fails if you do not complete a satisfactory report. Don't let this happen to you!
If you are on a double block co-op you can take an Incomplete grade on the first block, and complete the report near the end of the second block. The student services office is able to change that first grade after the grading process is complete.
- How Financial Aid Fits In to the Grading Process
If you received Financial Aid during the academic year while on co-op, the deadline to have your grade for co-op changed to Satisfactory may differ than at other times. Typically, you must have all grades changed to "S" no later than June 30th of that year. Please see your Financial Aid advisor with any questions about this requirement.
- Congratulations! You now have work experience to add to your resume!