Cooperative Work Experience Education

1. Cooperative Work Experience Education College of the Canyons An Award-Winning Program Internships Help Students & EmployersAchieve TheirGoals

2. How Long Has Cooperative Work Experience Education Existed? • In 2006 the Cooperative Work Experience Education movement in the United States reached its 100th anniversary • Founded by Herman Schneider, Dean of Engineering, at the University of Cincinnati • Goals: • Bridge the gap between college & industry to prepare young engineers for practical work after graduation • Gain formally recognized practical training as part of their education

3. What Does The Research Show? NACE 2004 Experiential Education Survey • Nearly 58% of students who served internships were offered full-time employment with their internship employers • Nearly half of the employers said they offer higher starting salaries to graduates with internship/co-op experience • 53% of college hires listed internship experience on their resumes

4. Additional Research The Benefits of Workplace Experiences 4/05 Interns & CWEE students: • Find jobs faster & earn more money than their classmates because they have experience Chancellor: • Recommends the integration of work-based learning throughout the curriculum College of the Canyons: • Integrating internship throughout CTE curriculum • CWEE internships are required or recommended in 25 programs

5. Why Integrate WBL/Internships Throughout The Curriculum? • CCTE Model Curriculum Standards (AB1412): “Education must prepare all students for careers” • Economic Developmentis a mission of Ca. CCs (AB1497): “Strengthen the relationship between school & work by reducing the gap between academics & vocation” • 2001 BOG implemented “Ladders of Opportunity” • Goal is to combine classroom instruction, career development & workplace training • New Perkins IV (VTEA) performance standard: • Placement or retention in employment

6. Statewide Assessment of CTEFebruary 07 by West Ed • College, Student & Employer Needs: • Difficulty in staying informed about workplace needs • Difficulty in recruiting industry partners • Lack of paid workplace opportunities • Students lack of appropriate workplace attitudes & habits • Students need to learn in the context of doing something real • Internship development & placement can help address those needs

7. Our Internship Website Brings Students & Employers Together • Employers can easily submit internships online @ www.canyons.edu/offices/cwee • 660 employers posted internships since April 2002 • 768 students completed internships • Internships available in 59 majors/disciplines • 106+ paid internships currently available • Students can search for internships & apply online • Company names are not usually viewable by students • Screened applications are sent to the employer • Employer schedules interviews & notifies CWEE of selection to ensure student enrolls & receives college credit

8. CWEE Websitewww.canyons.edu/offices/cwee • Employer information including FLSA guidelines • Register & submit an internship • Student internship information • Search function, online application, & “Perfect Interview” • Website Downloads: • Student Handbook • How to Write Workplace Objectives • Tips for Internship Success • Interview Dos & Don’ts • Institutional R & D conducts electronic Employer & SLO Surveys & publishes an annual report

9. Why Do Employers Want Interns?(2,881 Internships Posted Since 4/02) • Highly Motivated College Interns: • Provide outstanding assistance to overloaded employees • Contribute to business success by increasing productivity • Introduce innovative, fresh ideas and talent • Effective recruitment & screening method • “An opportunity to help educate and train our future workforce”

10. Is Work Experience RelevantTo Student Goals? Student Goals - AACC National Survey of 200,000: • To be self-reliant • To have a steady and secure job • To make a lot of money • To meet new and interesting people • CWEE & Internships help students achieve their goals!

11. How Do Students BenefitThrough The Integration Of Internships? Internships provide students with: • Relevance (connection between school & jobs) • A seamless transition from school to career • On-the-job applied education • Training using current technologies • Linkages to career pathways • Opportunities to acquire job skills & create an employment history

12. Internships May Also Improve Educational Completion Rates • College of the Canyons Graduate Exit Survey – “Barriers to Completing Education in a Timely Fashion” • Deciding Educational Goals (23%) • Choosing a Career (16%) • “It is difficult for young people to make sound career-life choices without testing them in the real world of practical experience…” Daniel Yankelovich • “…sequencing education first & work later forces young people to make fateful choices before they are equipped to do so, or worse, to postpone them until it is too late” Daniel Yankelovich • Internships help students make educational & career choices

13. What Do Students Want? According to The Silent Epidemic – Perspectives of High School Dropouts, March 2006: • “Make school more relevant & engaging” • “Enhance connection between school & work” • 81% said they want more opportunities for real-world learning (internships, service learning, etc.) • Students need to see the connection between school & getting a good job

14. How Did COC Create 2,881 Internships Since April 2002? • “Grow Your Business w/College Interns” brochure • Launched internship website with a press release • “Increase Productivity w/College Interns” brochure • “Help Wanted?” flyer • Targeted employers using: • Industry Guide • Valley Industrial Association • Chamber of Commerce • HR Managers • Adjunct faculty

15. Marketing Internships/CWEE to Students(106+ Paid Internship Available Fall 08) • Emails to students, faculty & entire campus • Emails provide internship descriptions & links • Student email addresses sorted by major • Online application to COC • Interested in internships? • 7,287 from May 05 – July 08 • Hard copy application to COC • Hours I expect to work

16. Marketing To Students • “Where Will You Find a Job?” brochure • Flyers & Posters: • “Research Shows” flyers • “Learn More; Earn More” flyers & posters • Download at www.calworkplace.org • Banner in A & R/Counseling building • 10 minute testimonial video • Presentations: Board of Trustees, Divisions, Departments, Counseling, MAC, Classes etc. • Internship bullets & URL on faculty syllabi & dept. websites

17. Sources Of Funding • District 2000/2001 • Initially funded Director position & one PT staff • Partnership for Excellence 2000/2001 • $35,000: part-time staff & marketing • School-to-Career 2001/2002 • $40,000: website development & marketing • Tech Prep 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06 • $7,550 per year: internship development/placement PT staff • District 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06 • $42,168 per year: part-time staff, supplies, printing, mileage etc. (does not includeDirector’s compensation) • District 2007-2008 • $55,398

18. How Can You Help Students & Employers Achieve Their Goals? • Advocate for newPerkins IV & SB70 funding to develop internship programs • Integrate WBL throughout the curriculum • Promote internship development / placement • Publicize your internship success stories • Share your internship marketing materials • Replicate & improve model programs

19. Questions, Comments, Suggestions? Thank You! Contacts: Stan Wright, College of the Canyons 661-362-3889, stan.wright@canyons.edu www.canyons.edu/cwee Antonio Diaz, Artificestudios 661-607-3007 www.artificestudios.com