Cooperative Education
The Cooperative Education Program is a program which allows students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College to earn credit by working part-time or full-time jobs. For many technical courses, the credit earned by the student may directly replace lab or shop courses that are part of the student’s curriculum. In these cases, the student may be released from school for a part of each day to go to work. In other cases, the student may enroll in BUS 291 Business Co-op for one hour elective or BUS 292 Business Co-op for two hours of elective credit. An alternating plan is available so that students can attend class full-time and work full-time during alternating semesters. The grade for a cooperative work experience is based upon an evaluation of the student’s performance completed by the job supervisor and the instructor.
For additional information you may contact Latrece Hall (334) 881-2271 on the Andalusia campus or Peggy Linton (334) 493-5337 on the MacArthur campus.
Program Objectives
- To create realistic opportunities for students to develop knowledge, skills, and performance through relevant on-the-job training.
- To provide students with first-hand opportunity to learn about the world of work in their specific occupations.
- To provide students with a first-hand opportunity to develop and improve their ability to work well with other people.
- To aid the career-technical instructional staff in developing a direct and consistent link with business and industry within the service area of the College.
- To assist students in making and clarifying career choices.
Student Benefits
- The student gains actual work experience which is a great asset when applying for full-time employment after graduation.
- Co-op students are often given preference for full-time employment after graduation.
- Cooperative education allows students to put theory into practical and gives them the opportunity to provide feedback gained from practical experiences into subsequent classroom experiences.
- Students benefit from the income generated by cooperative education as well as from the experience of earning and managing money.
- Co-op students benefit from involvement in many on-the-job conditions which are difficult, and in some cases, impossible, to reproduce in the classroom or laboratory.
Employer Benefits
- The employer receives a one term or longer commitment on the part of the student (each term approximately 15 weeks in length).
- The time invested in training the student during the first term can be utilized the following term.
- The program provides an effective way to test and select persons without a permanent commitment for employment.
- The employer may need part-time workers instead of full-time workers.
- Employers can train the student to the employer’s particular work style.
- The program motivates the students who are potential future employers.
- Improved employee screening and selection.
- Easier entry-level employee recruitment.
- Reduce costs in recruitment and training.
Cooperative Education
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