COOP EDUCATION

Cooperative Education/Technical Scholarship Program

Cooperative Education enhances the student’s learning experience by integrating classroom lessons with “real- world” employment.  The college and business community cooperate to provide the student work experience in jobs related to his/her major.  This employment is arranged around class hours, is normally part-time and may continue each semester the student is enrolled at Greenville Tech.

Benefits to the Student

• Co-op students have an advantage in the classroom since they have a better understanding of the relevance of their
  course.
• Co-op allows the student to test his/her interests and abilities and help ensure the career choices made are good
      ones.
• Co-op students develop a high degree of professionalism, job readiness and realistic expectations at graduation.
• Co-op is an excellent method of securing permanent employment.  Over 80 percent of co-op students remain with
  their co-op employer at graduation.
• Co-op makes the transition from student to full-time employee much easier since the student has learned employer
  expectations and job requirements.
• Co-op students learn job search skills they can use at any point in their careers.  They also learn career options that
  are available.
• Co-op students receive academic credit for their work experience each semester employed through Co-op.
• Technical Scholars get the additional benefit of having their fees, books and supplies paid by their sponsoring
  company.
  

Other Co-op Services

Co-op offers applicants a course in “Employability Skills.”  CWE 101 is a one-credit-hour course designed to help students

• Develop skills and knowledge to research chosen career fields.
• Uncover job openings in their field.
• Gain information about themselves to help them with their career and employment choices.
• Develop their job seeking skills (i.e. resume writing, cover letters, interviewing and follow-up).
• Develop an understanding of employer expectations.

Students are encouraged to apply for Co-op as early in their college careers as possible.  However, students may apply at any point while working toward a degree or diploma.  Applications may be obtained from the Co-op coordinator or from the division counselor.