Structure and registration in coop program

• The coop option is available to diploma and undergraduate students; graduate students are not eligible
• The coop option in the diploma program consists of one work term
• The coop option in the degree program includes up to 3 work terms; degree students can choose to do 1, 2 or the 3 work terms
• Students register in the coop program after accepting a job offer
• Registration is in Aurora, as with regular courses, and carries a fee
• International students do not pay a differential fee
• To be admitted into the program students must have completed at least one academic year
• Students must read the academic requirements found in the undergraduate calendar
• All regulations governing the faculty apply to coop students

Work terms

• Each work term is a course, i.e., AGRI 4550 - Agriculture Cooperative Education Work Term 1, AGRI 4560 - Agriculture Cooperative Education Work Term 2, AGRI 4570 - Agriculture Cooperative Education Work Term 3
• Are 4-month long for degree students and 5-month long for diploma students
• Can be carried out in the fall, winter and or summer, continuously (back-to-back) or not and with the same or different employers
• Are paid by employers at standard rates

Benefits of Coop program

• Coordinator facilitates placement and provides support
• Degree students gain 1 credit hour for each work term, diploma students gain 2 credit hs for the one work term
• The cooperative Education Option is acknowledged in the graduation parchment when students carry out all program work terms (1 for diploma, 3 for degree).
• Students that complete their coop program also receive a Graduand’s Certificate, which is a hiring incentive for employers

How to get involved in the Coop program

• Consult with your student advisor to see how a coop work term fits your academic program
• If you advisor approves it, contact Dr. Laura Lazo at laura_lazo@umanitoba.ca
• If you are an international student, you must obtain a coop work permit.  Click here for more information.

Coop myths

• The coop program has jobs only for coop students.  Not true: all jobs are available to all students. 
• Cop students are guaranteed a job.  Not true: students must secure their own jobs.  Coordinator facilitates placements but does not procure jobs for each student
• The coop program pays employers to hire students.  Not true: the coop program does not have funding for employers
• All coop programs are the same.  Not true: each organization structures their coop program a little different
• Employers determine whether a job is coop or not.  Not true:  With few exceptions, it is the student (not the employer) who decides whether the job is coop or not.  An exception is the federal government as it can only hire students enrolled in the FSWEP or Coop programs.  Other exception is when a private-sector employer wants to hire only coop students
• Coop jobs are different from regular or summer jobs.  Not true: The technical aspects of a job are the same in both types of jobs.  The only difference is the academic activities the student conduct for the university as part of the coop program
• Coop jobs are more difficult and or take more of the student's time than other jobs.  Not true:  The student attends work each day as they would with a regular job.  The requirements under the coop program described above are limited, take little time and yet are valuable to the student's professional development

Questions?  Contact the coordinator: Dr. Laura Lazo at laura_lazo@umanitoba.ca.  Please, provide student number, academic program and year in the program.