Cooperative Education allows Blue Ridge Community College students to integrate classroom study with supervised, work-related learning in an actual work environment. Businesses, government, and public and private agencies host qualified workers and benefit not only from the student worker's contribution to overall productivity, but by having early access to students who will be entering the workforce.

Most employers find co-op makes the recruiting process more efficient. In addition, cooperative education allows employers to partner with Blue Ridge Community College to improve the quality and relevance of our programs and thus the caliber of the workforce we train. Students benefit by gaining valuable field experience and receiving college credit.

Before deciding to bring in a co-op student, an employer should be prepared to:

1. Provide the student with progressive, meaningful work.

2. Offer the student 160 hours of employment during a 16-week semester for a one credit co-op course or 320 hours for a two credit co-op course.

3. Sign a cooperative Education Agreement detailing the various parties' responsibilities (co-op employer, student, Blue Ridge Community College) prior to the student beginning work.

4. Work with the student and co-op coordinator to develop the student's measurable learning objectives for the co-op prior to the student beginning work.

5. Allow site visits by Blue Ridge Community College representatives (a minimum of one site visit).

6. Complete two evaluations of the student, one during the site visit and one at the end of the semester.

7. Review for accuracy and sign monthly time sheets prepared by the student to track co-op hours.

8. Assign the student a supervisor who is willing to take on the additional co-op responsibilities (helping the student choose learning objectives, evaluating the student's progress on learning objectives, participating in a site visit, completing evaluations)

9. Advise the Cooperative Education Coordinator of changes in the student's performance or attendance during the semester.

If you are an employer who would like to host a co-op student contact:
Julie Thompson at (828) 694-1752 or Jerry Johnson at (828) 694-1769