Career Development and Drexel Co-Op

The Steinbright Career Development Center (SCDC) serves all students and recent alumni through cooperative education and career services offerings.

Drexel University uses experiential learning or cooperative education (co-op) as the principal approach to career development.

Cooperative education at Drexel enables full-time undergraduate students to alternate periods of classroom theory with professional experience prior to graduation. Participation in co-op is available in most academic programs and over 92% of the undergraduates participate in the program. Successful completion of the cooperative education experience is a graduation requirement for many of Drexel’s undergraduate degree programs. Students have the opportunity to gain six to 18 months of career-related work experience integrated with their coursework. Cooperative education helps students explore and confirm their career choices by assisting students in several areas of career development, including self-assessment and career exploration. Through co-op students develop confidence, professionalism and a sense of purpose. Students are expected to take advantage of every possible opportunity to observe different aspects of the workplace and to gain experience
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All co-op students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/ winter or spring/summer) as well as a co-op coordinator to assist them with their co-op experience and job search. Students participate in the co-op interviewing process according to their designated cycle. Available openings are advertised in SCDConline, Drexel's web-based co-op and career servicing search tool.

Coordinators work closely with employers, assisting them in developing opportunities for co-op students, and they act as a point of contact for the students while on co-op. Upon completing a co-op experience, students meet with their coordinators to discuss the work experience, submit their co-op job evaluation, and determine a strategy for future experiences. Co-op experiences are credit bearing, pass/fail components of student academic plans.

The SCDC makes every effort to find sufficient numbers of co-op employment positions for students, but the University cannot make any guarantee of a co-op assignment. The co-op process is competitive, and a student’s academic performance, skills, motivation, maturity, attitude, and potential will determine whether or not a student is offered an assignment. If a student experiences difficulty in securing a co-op position, the SCDC will assist the student in a continuing job search. Failure to obtain a co-op assignment does not entitle any student to a change of academic status, a change of co-op cycle, a refund, or an adjustment of tuition and fee charges.

Cycle Assignments and Adjustments
New students’ co-op cycles are set annually in October of the freshman year and students are notified of their cycle by mail and email. Exceptions are as follows:

A co-op cycle, once assigned, will not change for the student’s entire academic career. Freshmen, during a specific time-frame, may be allowed to swap their cycles by means of an application process. Cycle swaps are not permitted past the application deadline.

The SCDC registers all students for the prescribed cycle and number of co-op terms, as required by the student's academic major, program, and concentration. However, some adjustments may be undertaken by the SCDC under certain circumstances, such as documented need for medical leave, documentation of deployment for active military service, and combined degree programs, such as the BS/MS program.

Concentration Change and General Billing Statement
Students choose their co-op concentration upon applying to the University. The concentrations are 5-year with 3 co-op cycles (5COP), 4-year with one co-op cycle (4COP), and 4-year with no co-op cycle (NCOP). Currently, students are permitted to change their co-op concentration at any time; however changes can have billing and financial aid implications. Changes can only be applied as follows:

COOP 101
COOP 101 is a course designed to provide students with the skills necessary for career planning, the co-op job search and a successful workplace experience. It meets once a week for 10 weeks and is non-credit and pass/fail. Students in a co-op program are required to pass the class prior to beginning their first co-op experience. Those who fail COOP 101 must retake and pass the class in the next available term prior to participating in their first co-op. If a student fails COOP 101 twice, the student may be ineligible to participate in co-op at all. Not being able to participate in co-op can have significant financial aid and billing issues and may delay or prevent graduation.

Two-term Policy/Academic Progress
To be eligible for co-op, students must be full-time, making satisfactory academic progress and registered in a cooperative education concentration (5COP or 4COP). Students must also accumulate a total of 24 credits over the two terms prior to their scheduled co-op terms. Freshmen assigned to the fall/winter co-op cycle of their sophomore year are the exception since they are on vacation the summer prior to their first co-op. For those freshmen, their winter and spring credits will be reviewed instead.

Pre-registration
Before and after each scheduled co-op experience, students must meet with their co-op coordinators to obtain authorization for their next job search. First time co-op students must attend a pre-registration meeting before their job search can begin; students returning from co-op must schedule an individual appointment with their co-op coordinator to review the results of their co-op evaluation, Employment Summary & Planner (ES&P), before they begin their next job search.

C. SCDConline Job Search
Approximately 5 months prior to the start of co-op students participate in the online search process. For example, the fall/winter five-year co-op students begin searching for positions during the spring term of their freshman year.

At no time are students permitted to negotiate salary with an employer for an online position. The SCDC takes a strong stand on this policy.

If a student has been paired with an employer, the results are final and the student may not renege on that offer or accept other offers. Additionally, the student must discontinue the independent job search immediately.

Failure to observe any of the above listed policies may include consequences such as: co-op probation, removal of co-op credit for that work experience and/or denial of the use of the SCDC's services, including SCDConline. These measures can delay graduation and/or affect the student’s transcript.

D. Academically Dismissed
The University Registrar informs the SCDC of those students who have been dismissed from the University by the colleges due to poor scholarship. Students who are dismissed from the University due to poor scholarship and are scheduled for co-op will not receive credit for co-op. Instead, the co-op registration will be removed from the student's academic record. Employers of co-op students who have been dropped for poor scholarship will be notified of the University’s action against the student and all co-op agreements will be considered terminated.

F. Classes While on Co-op
In an effort to better couple academics with students’ cooperative education experience, undergraduate students enrolled in a co-op program may register for a maximum of 6 credits (up to 4 credits without additional charge) during each term for which they are on a co-op assignment. Registration is subject to the approval of both the student's co-op coordinator and academic advisor. The co-op coordinator will ensure that the requested course does not interfere with the student's co-op assignment. In some cases, the co-op employer may be contacted.

G. Responsibilities of Students While on Co-op
Students are responsible for knowing the regulations that apply to them as co-op students. These regulations are documented in the Student Co-op Agreement which is signed by the student before each co-op period.

Even though students are on co-op, they are officially registered with the Office of Academic Records and Operations and maintain their connections with the University, with all the privileges and responsibilities of students. Students are requested to use their designated drexel.edu email accounts to receive all university communications.

Students are required to adjust themselves completely to the daily routine of the organizations where they are employed and to adhere to the employer’s policies and procedures in addition to the University’s policies and procedures. If students encounter difficulties with their employer or the University while participating in the co-op program, they are to contact their coordinator immediately.

Salaries paid to co-op students are considered taxable income and should be reported as such.

Drexel co-op students are subject to the same principles of personal conduct whether they are on the Drexel campus or working many miles away. Drexel students are expected at all times to maintain behavioral standards that reflect favorably on themselves and on the University. While on co-op, students continue to be under the jurisdiction of the University. Any breach of conduct committed by a student on co-op that would be cause for disciplinary action were the student on campus shall also be cause for disciplinary action while the student is on co-op.

H. Co-op Probation
Students, who refuse to honor a co-op pairing, are dismissed from a co-op job, engage in inappropriate behavior anytime during the co-op process, violate employer/University policy or resign from a co-op without prior SCDC approval may be placed on co-op probation. The terms of probation are decided at a probationary meeting attended by the student, the student’s co-op coordinator, and an assistant director. Co-op probation can include actions up to and including failure of co-op. Co-op probation that results in failure of co-op may necessitate a new academic plan. The SCDC reserves the right to remove students from co-op programs.

I. Layoff from Co-op
If a student is dismissed from a job due to company downsizing or restructuring, the student will need to contact his/her co-op coordinator immediately. Students will not be penalized but will be required to work with their co-op coordinator to locate another co-op position for the remaining time of their scheduled co-op cycle.

J. Co-op Evaluation Form (ES&P)
Students must finalize their co-op experiences during the last month of a co-op assignment by submitting their Student Employment Summary and Planner (ES&P) through the SCDConline system and attending a meeting with their coordinator when they return to campus for classes after the end of co-op.

Failure to complete the ES&P will result in the following:

K. Hold Policies
The SCDC may place a HOLD on a student’s account in cases where there is a failure to follow policy or procedures. This hold is called a career block and will prevent further use of the online system for co-op and on-campus recruiting (OCR). It is the student’s responsibility to contact his/her coordinator and to take the appropriate steps to have the hold resolved in a timely manner.

If a student’s record reflects a HOLD from any other source, (financial, health and immunization, academic, judicial, or athletic) utilization of the SCDConline system will be prohibited. These holds must be resolved with the proper organization/department before access of the system can be restored.

Unresolved holds placed on a student’s account before or during co-op can result in loss of co-op credit.

L. Transfers
Transfer students must agree to complete the minimum co-op education requirements of the major to which they are transferring. All students entering Drexel University as transfers will be required to have a plan of study prepared by their academic advisor outlining the classes and co-ops required for degree completion. Once matriculated into a co-op major, all co-op rules and policies apply.

Transfer Requirements

M. Disabilities
Students who have disabilities or other circumstances which may make it difficult to participate in co-op should contact the Office of Disability Services and their co-op coordinator for assistance and advice.

The mission of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) is to advocate for people with disabilities and to provide equal opportunities and equal access to education, employment, programs and activities at Drexel. ODS collaborates with and empowers individuals who have documented disabilities by working together proactively to determine reasonable and appropriate accommodative measures. In efforts to ensure compliance with current legislation and eliminate attitudinal barriers against people with disabilities, ODS also provides guidance and education to the campus community.

N. International Students
International students, with the appropriate visas, can participate in the co-op program. In addition to adhering to all co-op policies and procedures, some international students will also be required to obtain work authorization prior to each co-op position.

To obtain work authorization international students must meet with International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS), 210 Creese Student Center, after obtaining a co-op position, but prior to beginning work. Students who work without prior work authorization from the ISSS may be considered out-of-status by U.S. federal regulation. Questions about student status and responsibilities should be directed to ISSS, 210 Creese Student Center.

O. Co-op Abroad
To be eligible to participate in Drexel University's Co-op Abroad program, students must attend Drexel full-time, be in good standing, and ideally have successfully completed at least one co-op experience with an "acceptable" or above evaluation, the exception being students in a 4COP program. In those instances equivalent prior work experience will be considered and evaluated on an individual basis.

Participants are selected on the basis of academic record, cooperative education and other employment experience, recommendations of faculty and previous employers, foreign language proficiency (depending on country), and a personal interview. Approval for employment experiences abroad is made by the SCDC.

P. Graduation Requirements
To graduate, students must complete the total number of Drexel Co-op Units (DCUs) required for the program or major in which they are enrolled. The number of DCUs in the various programs ranges from 32 to 96. Sixteen DCUs are awarded for successful completion of each term of co-op. For many colleges co-op is a part of the accreditation process and therefore degrees may not be awarded without the successful completion of the co-op requirement.

Colleges		Co-op terms	DCUs

College of Arts and Sciences; Bennett S. LeBow College of Business; College of Engineering; College of Nursing and Health Professions; School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems; iSchool; Richard C. Goodwin College of Professional Studies:

	Five-year program	6	96
	Four-year program	2	32


Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design
	Four-year program	2	32

Career Services

Career Services offers assistance to baccalaureate candidates, advanced degree candidates, and to alumni in securing employment consistent with personal career goals and objectives. All services are free of charge to active students and alumni. Services, resources, and events include:

Individual career counseling, including assessments designed to help individuals choose long-range career goals consistent with their abilities, education, interests, and personality.
Individual and group programs covering topics including resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies.
On-Campus Interview Program arranges on-campus interviews with employers from business, industry, education, and government services.
Employer Directed Resume Search System allows employers to search Drexel student resumes throughout the year to fill their positions.
Comprehensive pre-professional advising services to students and alumni who are considering careers in law or medicine.
Devoted career services librarian and career collection of online and print resources.
The SCDC hosts two of the largest career fairs in the Delaware Valley for all students and alumni in October and April. Engineering and health science students are also invited to major specific career fairs at their college.