Graduate Certificate Programs

Optional Co-op

Presented by: Sue Armitage, Co-op Advisor

 Benefits for Co-op Students
 Complement academic study with on-the-job
knowledge that employers value
 Evaluate and assess career choices
 Gain contacts for future employment
 Learn how organizations function
Eligibility
To be considered for admission to the co-op stream:

 Students are required to achieve a minimum overall 80%

session weighted average in Level 1 with no failed or
dropped courses.
 Labour market conditions determine co-op seats in optional
co-op programs. Every student who meets academic
eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op
stream
 If you do not get accepted into co-op you cannot work in a
co-op job or say you are a co-op student
Co-op Option – Important Information
 Additional fees are involved
 Fees are due very soon after moved into the
Co-op stream
 If not paid on time a late fee may be applied
 Fee is approximately $600.00 and is non-
refundable
 No guarantee of securing a co-op position
Co-op Option – Important Information
 One 4-month work term in Spring 2021
 Minimum 12 consecutive weeks and 420 hours
 Enrolled in Co-op and Career Preparation (CEPR) and
applying to co-op jobs in Winter 2021
 CEPR is one session (virtual) and modules in eConestoga
 Resume, cover letter, LinkedIn, Mock Interview
 CEPR must be passed in order to go on a work term
 Students will graduate ‘non co-op’ if do not secure a work
term
Co-op Option – Important Information
 Position is paid and related to program of
study
 Partnership between student, college and
employer
 Complete Work Term Reporting while on work
term
Securing Employment
 Co-op jobs are posted in MyCareer
 Conduct independent job search and work with Co-op
staff to identify opportunities for self-marketing
 Be open to relocation or commuting
 Build your network
 Schedule time to job search
 No guarantee of securing a Co-op job
 Fees are non-refundable
Employers Who Have Hired IT Co-
op Students
 Agfa Healthcare Inc.  Magnet Forensics Inc.
 ATS Automation  Manulife Financial
 BlackBerry  Netsweeper Inc.
 CIBC  Ontario Public Service
 City of Kitchener  OpenText
 Conestoga College  RBC Financial Group
 Desire2Learn (D2L)  Region of Waterloo
 Gore Mutual Insurance  SAP Canada
 Linamar Corporation  Sun Life Financial
Application Process
 Admission to co-op is determined by labour market conditions
 Each program has limited number of ‘co-op seats’
 Not every student who achieves 80% will be admitted
 Application process to get into Co-op will be facilitated by the
Co-op Department
 Please submit your application using the LaserFiche form in
the Student Portal by Friday December 11 2020.
 Questions related to Co-op should be directed to the Co-op
Office – the Co-op Advisor for the your program is Sue
Armitage, sarmitage@conestogac.on.ca
 Application Process
 Apply using LaserFiche form
 Accessed in the Student Portal (Services/My
Forms/Program Transfer Application)
 The majority of the information will automatically populate
for you on the form after you enter your student ID. You
will just need to select the term and program fields.
 Application Deadline: Friday December 11 2020
 LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Helpful Information
 CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN
 Program: Your Program Name
 Program Number: Your Program Code (4 digits)
 Campus: Waterloo
 Term: Fall 2020
 REQUEST TRANSFER TO:
 Term: Winter 2021
 Program: XXXXC (Program Code with a C at the end from
the drop down menu)
 Delivery Status – will auto populate to ‘Co-op’
International Students
International students can be accepted into Co-
op without a valid CWP however, access to co-
op jobs on MyCareer will not be granted until a
student has a valid CWP

Students that choose to remain in the co-op

option in anticipation of receiving their CWP
after the Program Withdrawal Refund date do
so at their own risk and will not receive a
refund for the Program Service (Co-op) Fee
The Program Withdrawal Refund date for the
Winter is January 29 2021
International Students

• Processing times are currently very long for

Co-op Work Permits – apply NOW

• International Students must have a valid Co-op

Work Permit (CWP) when they start their work
term
Important Considerations
 As a result of COVID-19 the employment rate
for Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 is currently very
low
 There are fewer co-op jobs than there have
been in the past
 Please make the decision to apply to co-op
wisely
 Fees are NOT refundable and there is NO
GUARANTEE of securing a co-op position
Resources for All Students
 MyCareer has job search resources available
for ALL students
 The information is very similar to what
students learn in Co-op
 You can find this information in the ‘Resources’
section in the ‘Career’ section of MyCareer
(scroll down to ‘Show’ and ‘Share’)
Select ‘Career’ then ‘Resources’ then scroll down to
the ‘Show’ and ‘Share’ sections
Co-operative Education Contact
Sue Armitage, Co-op Advisor
sarmitage@conestogac.on.ca

Deadline to apply to Co-op:

Friday December 11 2020