What are some examples of employers' pre-employment personnel screening policies and procedures?
Some employers require successful results from substance abuse screening, psychological testing, GPA/transcript review, driving record review and strength tests. Some companies may also adhere to a smoke-free environment policy; others require adherence to strict dress codes.

What should I do if I feel that I am experiencing harassment, discrimination, gender bias, or have other concerns and/or problems during a co-op?
These are very critical issues that need to be addressed immediately. You should contact the Office of Cooperative Education (OCE) as soon as possible in order to seek resolution.

If I am not satisfied with my co-op position, should I quit?
No. You must inform the Office of Cooperative Education of any concerns or problems. It may be a simple matter of the employer upgrading the job responsibilities, increasing projects, or assigning the student to a different work area. If you quit without notifying the OCE, you will risk losing co-op credit and all fees.

Do I have to be an expert to participate in my first co-op?
No. You must realize that you are presenting yourself to employers as an individual with professional aspirations, as a good learner and a hard worker who wants to find entry employment in a particular technology. The first co-op experience is designed as a tool for you to test-out and get exposure in a specific industry which will either reconfirm your major degree program decision or will indicate that this may not be in line with your career expectations.

Do you contact companies for us?
Yes, the Office of Cooperative Education will contact a company for you, but you need to make the first contact. The OCE is only calling to answer any questions that the employer may have about the program and its requirements, not to see if they will hire you. They have already done this for Place Pro positions.

Can we contact companies on our own?
Yes, you are encouraged to find a co-op on your own. The co-op experience is meant to simulate a real-life job search. For assistance on how to search, please see our How to Find a Co-op page.

How do I know where to look for jobs in other states?
There are many ways in which you can find a co-op in other states or countries. You can use the resources available in the Office of Cooperative Education, the Internet, friends, family, instructors and the area Chamber of Commerce to name a few. The information that you need is there, you just have to do the research. For assistance on how to search, please see our How to Find a Co-op page.

Can I do two co-ops in a row?
Only under extenuating circumstances and with the approval of the OCE. This is not an alternation pattern that is suggested or preferred by the Office of Cooperative Education. Some employers request that you work two semesters in a row, because they feel that one semester is not long enough. This situation takes an extra approval by the OCE.

What do I do after I get a co-op?
After you have secured a co-op, you must immediately apply/register with the College of Technology, Office of Cooperative Education.

Can I participate in more than the required three co-ops?
Yes. You may receive elective credit for additional co-ops depending on your degree requirements. You must discuss this option with your academic advisor.

What do I do if I secure a co-op, but I am already registered for semester courses?
When you register for a co-op, you will complete a application/registration. On this form you will indicate the courses that need to be dropped. There is no penalty for requesting the OCE to drop courses prior to the first day of classes.

Can all co-ops be at the same company?
Yes. If the employer has an obvious interest in you and is grooming you for permanent employment, the situation is encouraged. This is one of the ways the college sells the Cooperative Education Program to potential employers. It gives them the opportunity to train the student, over successive co-ops, to meet the company's needs. In all cases, the level of responsibility must increase significantly as the level of co-op increases.

Can I earn co-op credit for part-time employment?
Yes, under certain circumstances. There are conditions under which part time (parallel) co-ops are approved. Although they are still the exception! For more information, see the Co-op Manual.

What co-op finding resources exist?
There are several job finding resources available to you. Please go to the Co-op Search: Tips & Tools page on our website or set up an appointment with our office today.

What happens if I can’t find a co-op?
If with assistance from the Office of Cooperative Education, you fail to find a co-op, you are a rare exception. That is not to say that finding a co-op employer is always easy; sometimes the job search is difficult. If you are having considerable difficulty, you may need to work harder, smarter or be more resourceful. You need to become more knowledgeable about the job finding resources available to you. Beginning the co-op search well in advance will help avoid this situation. For more information, refer to the co-op manual or contact the OCE.

Should I keep track of my co-op finding activity?
Yes, you are advised to keep a log of ALL co-op finding activity for two reasons:

1. You will have a thoroughly documented log of your efforts to find a co-op in order to qualify for course work substitutes for co-ops. For more information, refer to CHAPTER 5 in your co-op manual.
2. You are also expected to alternate work experience with University course work. A log is proof of your intent to find co-op employment in a timely manor. Students without a log who finish all of their course work and then expect to do three co-ops in a row may find that they are going to be required to take extra courses to achieve the alternation objective which is fundamental to the co-op program.

For help with this, please use our pre-formatted Excel table which can be found HERE.

Can I get co-op credit for a semester long work experience that I didn’t register for before hand?
No. This is considered after the fact and retroactive registration will not be permitted. For more information, see the Co-op Manual. You are required to pre-register, be supervised and be evaluated during the co-op work experience. When you secure a co-op position, you are required to submit an application/registration for approval.

How long is the required co-op experience to be?
You are required to complete a full-time semester-long co-op experience. For mordetailed information concerning specific dates, please refer to the co-op calendar.

How many co-ops should I apply for?
You should apply for as many co-ops as possible. You should apply for co-ops on Place Pro as well as finding co-ops on your own. Applying for as many co-op positions as possible will give you the most options to work with.

Can I take classes in addition to my co-op?
The Co-op Office does not encourage regular course work to be taken during a co-op semester. You are expected to adjust, learn, and produce during a co-op. The exception to this policy would be a non-traditional student who is permanently employed in an industry directly related to their major.

Can I be released from my on-campus housing contract if I obtain a co-op?
Yes. If you secure and accept a co-op that is outside a 50 mile radius of Bowling Green, Ohio, you must initiate a request to the Office of Cooperative Education to cancel your on-campus housing for the co-op semester before classes start (forms available in the OCE).

What about signing up for on-campus housing if I am away from the University on my co-op?
The Office of On-Campus Housing guarantees that you will receive an on-campus housing assignment for the semester following your co-op. However, there is no guarantee that your request will be honored if there are space constraints, otherwise you will be assigned to an available space.

Can I still use the Rec while I am on co-op?
Yes, under certain stipulations. You need to be registered for at least 10 credit hours to receive a full Student Recreation Center membership (summer, 8 credit hours). While on co-op you are only registered for 4 credit hours, so you must make arrangements with the Student Recreation Center to obtain a pass. The center charges a small fee per extra credit hour to obtain the correct amount of hours.

Can I be released from or adjust my on-campus meal plan during a co-op semester?
Yes. You must initiate a request to the Office of Cooperative Education to either adjust or cancel an on-campus meal plan before the start of semester classes (forms available in the OCE).

My next co-op is not in the United States, I plan on completing this co-op at an international location. How do I prepare for this?   Who do I talk to?
You should contact the Office of Cooperative Education and the Center for International Programs to plan appropriately for an international co-op experience.

Am I considered a full-time student while on co-op?
Yes. The University Undergraduate Catalog states that based on institutional policy, students registered for TECH 289, TECH 389 and TECH 489 are involved in a full-time academic experience at BGSU. However, students receiving financial aid are required to check with the Office of Financial Aid to confirm the impact of co-op on their financial aid. Since there are multiple types of financial aid, you should not assume that each recognizes co-op as a full-time academic load. Also if you are eligible for Veteran's Affairs Educational Benefits, you must check with the Veteran's Affairs Office, to determine the effects of co-op on Veteran's Benefits.

What is the tuition rate for my 4 credit hour co-op course (TECH 289, 389 and 489)?
The tuition rate is the same as any other 4 semester hour courses tuition and general fees.
Co-ops located more than 50 miles from the University have a reduced fee.

Do I still have to pay an out of state student fee when I am on co-op?
Yes, you are still required to pay the out of state student fee when you are on co-op. A co-op costs the same as any other 4 semester hour courses tuition and general fees. Co-ops located more than 50 miles from the University have a reduced fee.

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