Engineering Co-operative Education Experience (Co-op)

Student Eligibility: to participate in a co-operative education experience, a student must

• be an undergraduate
• have completed at least two semesters by the start of the work term
• be affiliated with an engineering major by the start of the work term
• be in good academic standing with their engineering major and College at start of work term
• have undergraduate degree coursework remaining following the work experience
• have an approved Request to Participate in Co-op: to request the approval form, please email engr_coop@cornell.edu.

Co-operative Education Experience Criteria: the work experience must be:

• engineering-related work
• paid
• full-time (37.5+ hours/week)
• the duration of a fall or spring semester
• during a fall or spring semester
• with an employer that acknowledges the student's participation in the Cornell co-operative education experience. This is verified when a student has an offer. As employers' policies evolve over time, we do not maintain a "pre-approved" list of eligible employers.

Contact the Engineering Career Center staff before accepting a co-op position to confirm that you and the work experience are eligible.

Many co-op positions are posted in Handshake. You should join our list serv and include your résumé in any available résumé books we make available for co-op in Handshake. In general, employers post co-op positions year-round. Typically, employers hiring for the spring semester will recruit through early and mid-fall. Employers hiring for the fall semester typically recruit through the spring semester. In both cases, there are often last minute opportunities as companies solidify their business needs. A small number of employers recruit a year in advance. You are encouraged to utilize additional resources as you search for co-op jobs, and we can discuss these with you at information sessions and in advising meetings.

If you would like to receive periodic co-op job list emails you may send a plain text message with the single word, 'join' in the subject line (leave the body of the message blank) to engr-coop-jobs-l-request@cornell.edu.

You are able to consider other options, such as research and summer internships, as you explore and apply to co-op opportunities.

Typically, international students can benefit from cooperative education experiences by utilizing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) rather than Optional Practical Training (OPT). 

Look for job postings in which the Work Authorization Requirements field states, "US work authorization is required but the employer is accepting OPT/CPT candidates," or "US work authorization is required but the employer is willing to sponsor candidates."

If you are an international student who is unfamiliar with work authorization requirements in the US, the Office of Global Learning offers regular workshops on the topic.
 

Co-op is an undergraduate career exploration tool and experience where students put into practice what they have learned in class, then return to Cornell and apply what they learned during the work experience toward their education. 

While on co-op, students are required to submit the following:

• Acceptance Agreement Forms
• Employer Acknowledgement (submitted at time of acceptance)
• Co-op Companion Guide (attest to reviewing)
• Offer Letter
• Contact Information Form (within first two weeks of starting work)
• Job Summary (at end of work term - before last day of work)

These optional assignments are suggested as tools to facilitate open lines of communication between students and supervisors, maximize learning, and establish a good work experience:

• Student/Employer Expectations Agreement
• Learning Outcomes (i.e. setting learning goals for the work term)
• Learning Outcomes Evaluation (end of work term)
• End-of-Term Reflection Activities:
• Assessment of Student Performance
• Workshops: Students are encouraged to attend any Cornell Career Services workshops (selections are listed in Handshake Events) Topics relate to the NACE Career Readiness Competencies.

After accepting an approved co-op position with the Engineering Career Center, students are added to a Canvas course for the co-op work term(s), where the assignments can be accessed.

In 2020-2021, the average co-op salary was $4,686/month and the median was $4,200/month. More financial and salary information is available.

In a survey of Class of 2019 co-op students, about half of the survey respondents reported receiving some sort of compensation for housing. Some employers offer subsidized housing or housing stipends to assist students with the relocation.

Co-op students utilize a variety of options to secure housing. Some include:

• Rental agencies
• Local college on-campus housing (more availability in the summer)
• Local college Facebook sublet groups
• Web searches for sublets or short-term leases
• Air BnB
• Live at home
• Living on campus*: Living on-campus while participating in co-op may be possible. Contact Campus Life for more details.

The live-at-home option works best for someone who does a co-op job search focused on a specific geographic region. 

Recruiters typically can provide guidance regarding housing options in their community.

Given the variety of employer locations, our office is unable to advise you regarding housing options. However, if a former co-op student has worked at a location, we can put you in touch with each other. We have copies of work summaries completed by former co-op students that you may review. Reaching out to Cornellians in specific locations has also been useful for students.

*If you have an on-campus housing contract, the housing office will release you from your on-campus housing contract when you notify them of accepting a co-op. For a fall co-op, the housing office recommends that you notify them by July 1; for a spring co-op, notify them by Dec. 1.

If you and a friend have different semesters away from campus due to co-op or study abroad, it's a great strategy to share an off-campus apartment for the opposite terms.

While you are working, you are enrolled "in absentia" and do not pay tuition and student fees for the semester. There is only a $15.00 administrative fee to be enrolled in absentia

Due to COVID-19, we will approve remote work experiences. 

Since students on co-op are registered in absentia during their fall or spring co-op, it is not possible to simultaneously be enrolled in any Cornell classes- even online or asynchronous courses. Some co-op students in the past have received pre-approval for transfer credit for 1-2 classes taken part time from another university while on co-op. Contact Engineering Advising for more information about transfer credit. Since you will be a full-time employee while participating in co-op, it is important to focus on your work experience and ensure that the transfer courses do not distract or take time away from your work. It is also critical to not enroll in more than 11 transfer credits during the fall or spring semester term as being registered in 12+ credits would make you a full-time student at another institution and have potential registration and financial aid implications. International students should consult with Cornell International Services if they are considering transfer credit for 1-2 courses.

Just like any other semester, when you are a registered student you are automatically enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Plan (SHP). If you have private insurance, you may be eligible to waive the SHP. See the Student Health Plan website for more information.

Due to COVID, many employers are offering students the opportunity to work remotely, and some students are choosing to live in Ithaca. If you are residing in Ithaca during your co-op, you may use Cornell Health, however, we recommend that any student without SHP as their insurance plan call the billing office at 607-255-7492 and review your insurance coverage and options before receiving care, so you don't end up with financial surprises.

When you are registered in absentia through the Co-op office, it is as a fully registered student who is working a full-time position. You can not do a part-time co-op and be registered in absentia. Part-time positions are not eligible to participate in co-operative education experiences through our office. If you have a part-time position, you might explore either a leave of absence or talking with an academic advisor about how to manage your course load and part-time work.

On-Campus Housing: During your co-op work term, call the Housing Office in RPCC (607-255-5368) to apply for on-campus housing for when you return. You will then be placed on a waiting list for on-campus housing that becomes available.

Sublet: Some students lease an apartment for the entire academic year (usually June-June), and sublet the apartment for the time that they will be away. Other students choose to sublet someone else’s apartment for the semester they will be on-campus. 

• Off-Campus Housing Office

Use due diligence in evaluating options virtually. Be very careful about simply sending money to strangers online. Don’t forget to return to the site periodically to see if anyone has responded to your message, as some sites give people the option to either respond to the message within the forum, or to e-mail you directly.

You are registered in absentia for the semester when you are co-oping. This means you are a fully registered student.

As a fully registered student, you are expected to:

• Check your Cornell email regularly
• Respond to emails and requests from university offices
• Comply with university travel and COVID-related policies
• Communicate any changes to the terms of your co-op in writing to the Engineering Career Center
• Complete the required Canvas assignments for your co-op experience

Canvas Assignments
There are required and optional co-op assignments in Canvas.

• The required assignments are expected to be completed as described in Canvas. Failure to complete your required assignments by the end of the co-op term will result in an enrollment hold for future term(s).
• The optional assignments are provided as tools to help you maximize your learning and develop good communication with your supervisor.

Remember, being a fully registered student is a privilege. Any changes to the terms of your co-op, including start and end dates, may have academic, registration, financial, and if applicable visa, implications. If possible, seek pre-approval in writing from the Engineering Career Center before changing the terms of your co-op.

It is not unusual for students who are either co-op ineligible or who have a work experience that is ineligible for co-op to take a voluntary personal leave of absence to participate in a work experience. Students who are on a voluntary leave of absence are not fully registered students. This may have academic, registration, financial aid, visa, and other implications. The Engineering Career Center is unable to advise on these matters. We recommend consulting the Engineering Handbook for more information on voluntary leaves as well as with your major department, Financial Aid, and Global Learning, if applicable. Co-op eligible students from CALS and A&S should check with their respective colleges regarding voluntary personal leave of absence policies.