Co-operative Education Guidelines: Student Procedures & Supports

Introduction
The Co-operative Education Guidelines: Student Procedures & Supports ensures consistency and quality
of program delivery and are intended to maintain the integrity and excellent reputation of Conestoga’s
co-operative education programs. It is each co-op student’s responsibility to become familiar with and
adhere to these established policies and procedures.

Student Co-operative Education Contract

Any student currently enrolled in a Co-operative Education program or a Co-op and Career Preparation
(CEPR) course is required to accept terms and conditions in MyCareer – for every job search term and at
the start of Co-op & Career Preparation (CEPR) in eConestoga.

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)

The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is to ensure that all Ontarians have
fair and equitable access to programs and services and to improve opportunities for persons with
disabilities. Any co-op student who has a formally documented accommodation requirement is
encouraged to discuss their accommodation needs with their Co-op Advisor at the beginning of their co-
op program.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

As a student, you are entitled to learn, study and work in an environment that is civil, safe and respectful
of your well-being and dignity — that is your right.

As a student, you are also expected to conduct yourself in a responsible manner that provides all
members of the Conestoga community with the same respect and dignity that you are entitled to —
that is your responsibility.

Rights and responsibilities are a partnership; you cannot have one without the other.

As a college, Conestoga is committed to working together to uphold the standards from which the
foundation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities policies and procedures reflect.

Integrity: standing for honesty and ethics in education.

Respect: contributing to a welcoming learning environment that values difference.

Inclusion: creating a culture and environment that embraces and allows for individual and community
expression as well as participation.

Equity: promoting fairness and transparency while supporting the rights and dignity of all.

Success: supporting students to achieve their highest potential through the development of skills and
knowledge to launch successful careers.

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Overview

Mandatory Co-op Program

A mandatory co-operative education program is one in which students are enrolled directly as co-
operative education students and are expected to participate in all co-op work terms specified in the
program design to be considered eligible for graduation with co-op designation.

Optional Co-op Program

Optional co-operative education programs are one in which students are enrolled in the non-co-op
stream and apply to the co-op stream. Students who apply and are admitted to co-op are expected to
participate in all co-op work terms specified in the program design to be considered eligible for
graduation with co-op designation.

Students who meet academic eligibility for co-op (see your program handbook for requirements) must
complete the Co-op Program Transfer Application by the deadline provided by the Co-op Department.

Transfer between Co-op and Non-Co-op Programs

Students who have transferred into an optional co-op program may formally apply to transfer back into
the non-co-op program by completing the Co-op Program Transfer Application. The student will not be
eligible to re-apply for the co-op program at a later date.

Personal Information and Use of College Email

Students are required to inform the Registrar’s Office of any changes in personal information, such as
name, address and telephone number. Students are required to use their college email account for all
email communication throughout the duration of their program.

International Students
All international students must apply for a co-op work permit well in advance of seeking or securing co-
op employment or participating in a co-op work term. Co-op work permits (CWP) can take upwards of
100 days to be processed. To be granted access to MyCareer, international students must provide a
copy of their CWP or proof of application, to either the Co-op Advisor or International Office by the first
day of the job search term (the term before the co-op work term). Students who do not have a CWP or
show proof of application to the Department of Co-operative Education by the Program Withdrawal for
Refund date will NOT have access to MyCareer to view job postings and apply to jobs.

Note: Information on how to apply for a work permit can be found at the following link or by visiting
Conestoga’s International Office

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

(PLAR: Credit for Previous Related Work Experience. Access the complete PLAR policy here.)

Adults with significant life and work experience may receive credit toward a college credential through
an assessment process. Prior learning must be measurable at the college level and meet Conestoga’s
standards of achievement for current courses. PLAR is typically not an option for the Co-operative
Education & Preparation Course (CEPR). See your Co-op Advisor for further information, before
formally applying and paying the PLAR fee.

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General Criteria

a) PLAR challenges are for first co-op work terms only are only available in programs with more
than one work term and must be done at the beginning of the semester that occurs prior to the
first work term. This is suited to individuals who have current and extensive (more than five
years) work experience in the field in which they are studying.

b) Due to technological changes in industry, work experience needs to have occurred within three
years prior to starting the program, in order to be considered valid.

c) Verification of hours worked will be required through the employer.

Credit Transfer/Advanced Standing

Conestoga recognizes you may have formal post-secondary education that may allow you to enter a
program at an advanced level or provide for individual course exemptions.

To ensure your credits are eligible for transfer, please contact our Credit Transfer Office.

Here are the possibilities to consider:

1) Advanced Standing (Block Exemptions and Pathways)

This process begins during the application phase. If you have completed a number of post-
secondary courses in a related area of study, you may wish to consider applying to Conestoga
with Advanced Standing. Advanced Standing applications are used when you are applying for a
level greater than one (i.e. a semester beyond first).

2) Individual Credit Transfers

This process begins once you have confirmed your acceptance into a Conestoga
program. Individual credit transfers may be requested if you believe you have completed an
equivalent course (or more) at another post-secondary institution.

Guided Career Management

Some co-op programs at Conestoga have Guided Career Management (GCM) as an alternative co-op
option. Please see your program handbook for details or speak to your Co-op Advisor.

Entrepreneurial (Enterprise Co-op) Work Term

A select number of students have the opportunity to work under the guidance of Conestoga’s Centre for
Entrepreneurship (C4E) and complete a co-op work term with their entrepreneurial venture/idea. As
C4E has the ability to work with no more than five co-op students each semester students should
complete and submit an application form to the C4E office as soon as possible. Applications must be
submitted by the 1st of the month prior to the start of the work term. Students should discuss their
intention to pursue an Enterprise Co-op with their Co-op Advisor as soon as possible to review the
application process.

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Co-op Abroad
Co-op students who consider completing a work term in a foreign country will be required to maintain
close contact with their Co-op Advisor throughout the job search and co-op work term. For approval of
an international co-op work term, students must schedule a meeting with their Co-op Advisor and
complete the Co-op Work Abroad Forms. Students have access to GoinGlobal as a resource to review in
advance of speaking with their Co-op Advisor about working abroad.

Work Term Eligibility and Completion

Academic Eligibility Requirements *some exceptions apply to degree programs
To participate in any co-op work term within their program design, students must:

Successfully complete the Co-operative Education & Preparation Course (CEPR). Students who fail the
course more than twice will not be permitted to continue in their co-op program.

MyCareer access is contingent on successful completion of CEPR. Students without CEPR are not eligible
for a co-op work term.

Please refer to your program handbook for specific academic eligibility requirements associated with
your program.

Students who have concerns or questions regarding their eligibility to accept or complete a work term
should contact their Program Coordinator and/or Co-op Advisor.

Completing Co-op Work Terms

Circumstances may result in students not securing co-op employment before the beginning of their
specified work term. The student and the Co-op Department will continue to job search/recruit
employment opportunities until the last date to secure (Co-op Deadline dates are listed in MyCareer).
THE CO-OP DEPARTMENT OFFERS NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.

Outstanding Work Terms *some exceptions apply to degree programs

1. Students who have satisfied the graduation requirements of a co-op program, except for one
work term, may have graduation delayed by up to one year to defer the completion of their
remaining work term. Co-op employment must be secured by the final date to secure (Co-op
Deadline Date) in the deferred work term.
a. Diploma students may only defer one work term to the end of academic study. Students
who miss two, will graduate non-co-op
b. Students in post graduate programs that do not secure a work term by the Co-op
Deadline Date may defer one missed term to the start of the next academic semester.
Students in optional program(s) also have the option to apply to graduate non-co-op but
must have a signed Co-op Program Transfer Application
c. International Students in a post-graduate certificate program please see your Co-op
Advisor
d. Degree students may only defer each work term once in their program design
2. Students who have missed and/or failed two work terms and can no longer meet the graduation
requirements of their program are not eligible to continue in the co-op program and will be

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 Co-operative Education Guidelines: Student Procedures & Supports
required to transfer to non-co-op. Please see your Program Coordinator and/or Co-op Advisor
for further details.

Co-op Employment Process

Job Postings
Co-op employment opportunities generated by the Co-op Department are posted on MyCareer for 72
hours. It is the student’s responsibility to review job postings daily. Students interested in applying for
jobs must follow all application instructions and apply by the posted deadline. Late applications will not
be accepted. Co-op Department staff will handle all communication with employers who have posted
co-op opportunities on MyCareer. Students are asked not to follow up with posted opportunities on
MyCareer.

Self-Directed Job Search

The Co-op Department assists students in developing and enhancing their job search skills to obtain
valuable co-op employment. In addition to jobs posted to MyCareer, students should be conducting a
self-directed job search. Students who have secured on their own, must log into MyCareer and create a
work term record for approval by the Co-op Advisor prior to the start of the work term. An approved
co-op position must provide work in the student’s field of study and comply with the requirements of
co-operative education.

Co-op Interviews
Students should apply for as many co-op jobs as they wish, but submission of an application indicates
legitimate interest in the position. As instructed in CEPR, students are expected to further research
employers who have invited them for an interview. Students are expected to attend all employment
interviews to which they are invited. Interviews may be scheduled through MyCareer or may be
arranged directly by the employer; students must log in daily to MyCareer during the job search term to
determine if they have been selected for any interviews. Interview information will also be
communicated via Conestoga email. Students who do not confirm will not be interviewed. Students
who have concerns about attending an interview, should contact their Co-op Advisor immediately.

Job Offers & Work Term Records

Jobs posted by the Co-op Department will have interviews scheduled and job offers sent through
MyCareer. Students are to inform the Co-op Department of all job offers received through any other
format. Acceptance of an offer must be confirmed within 48 hours of receiving the offer. This applies to
business days only (Monday-Friday) but includes all holidays that fall on Monday through Friday.
MyCareer will automatically decline any offer that is not accepted by the deadline and the offer will be
presented to the next student. Upon acceptance, the employer will complete a Work Term Record in
MyCareer.

Students that have concerns about their offer of employment must contact their Co-op Advisor
BEFORE declining any offer.

Once a job offer is accepted, students are committed to that job and no subsequent applications,
interviews or offers will be accepted.

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 Co-operative Education Guidelines: Student Procedures & Supports
If a student rejects a firm job offer for no significant reason, s/he will no longer be eligible to apply for
job postings that are generated by the Co-op Department.

Co-op Wages
Students are expected to be flexible concerning co-op wages and should approach the work term as a
learning experience, not solely as an opportunity for financial gain. MyCareer job postings will list the
hourly wage or “TBD” (to be determined). Wages will always be confirmed prior to acceptance.

Unpaid Work Terms

Co-op work terms are intended to be paid work and only in rare cases are unpaid work terms approved
when they meet defined criteria. Do not start any unpaid co-op term prior to approval as additional
paper work must be completed. If you have any questions, please contact your Co-op Advisor.

Length of the Co-op Work Term *exceptions apply to some programs

Co-op work term must be a full-time opportunity. Students are not permitted to use hours worked in
one co-op work term towards fulfilling the hours’ requirement of another co-op term. It is expected
that students will be employed for the duration of the co-op term as specified in the work term record.
Early departure from a co-op term will result in a failing grade.

Degree Programs
The minimum number of hours for co-op terms at the degree level is 420, which must be comprised of
at least 12 cumulative weeks of employment.

Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate

For most co-op programs, the minimum number of hours per co-op term is 420, which must include at
least 10 consecutive weeks of employment. Students must contact their Co-op Advisor to confirm the
hours required for their specific program.

Co-op Employment Guidelines

Student Support and Communication
Co-op Advisors are available to assist and support co-op students throughout their entire co-op
program. Students are required to contact their Co-op Advisor should any concerns arise during their
job search or co-op work term. Students are required to use their college email account for email
communication throughout the duration of their program.

Relocation
Students are expected to consider out of town opportunities with the possibility of re-location or
commuting in order to increase their employment prospects.

Vacation
Students are not entitled to vacation and are expected to complete the required number of weeks as
stated in the work term record. Students requiring time off during the work term, must secure the
approval from their employer in advance of their start date. Co-op students are not eligible for Student
Success Weeks, should they fall within a co-op work term.

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Termination of Employment
All co-op work term concerns must be communicated to the Co-op Advisor immediately to allow due
diligence. Students who are fired from their co-op work term must inform their Co-op Advisor
immediately; a failing grade will result. Additionally, should a student quit their co-op work term,
regardless of reason, without approval from their Co-op Advisor, will also receive a failing grade.

Transportation & Accommodation

It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for parking and transportation to and from the job. Living
accommodations are the student’s responsibility.

Working with a Relative

In order to avoid conflict of interest, students are not encouraged to complete a work term in a business
owned and/or operated by a relative. Each situation of this type must be discussed with and approved
by your Co-op Advisor.

Strikes, Layoffs & Closures

In the event of a work stoppage for any reason, students are expected to immediately contact their Co-
op Advisor. The decision to cross a picket line rests with the student. Students who do not work the
required minimum hours due to a lay off, strike or closure may not be given credit for their work term.

Liability
Conestoga College and its employees shall not be held liable or responsible in anyway for losses or
damages incurred due to a student’s participation in a co-op work term.

Human Rights
Conestoga is committed to providing a working and learning environment that is free of discrimination
and harassment and is supportive of academic achievement and the dignity, self-esteem and fair
treatment of everyone taking part in its activities. The college seeks to create a climate of mutual
respect that reinforces opportunity and allows for each person to contribute fully to the development
and well-being of the community. This policy applies to all on and off campus activities. If students have
any concerns regarding this policy while on a work term, he/she should contact their Co-op Advisor
immediately.

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