Co-op program wins best practice award
WSU's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program is the largest of its kind in Kansas. The office is composed of nine full-time employees and six part-time employees who serve WSU's six degree granting colleges (business, education, engineering, liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, and health professions).
During the 2009-2010 academic year, the WSU Co-op office had 970 placements involving 697 students who earned 54,643 academic credit hours. These students earned $84,936,249 in wages, and worked 333,193 hours in their positions.
During the 2010 academic year, WSU's Co-op office saw a need to better prepare students to interview for co-op and internship positions. After receiving feedback from employers, they knew that their current interview preparation process was not doing enough to strengthen students' interviewing skills.
The staff began brainstorming how to help their students by way of updating techniques to serve the ever-changing millennial generation. They created dynamic interview videos encompassing the support, ideas and innovation of employers and students. These videos have engaged their students and vastly improved their interviewing skills.
Also, while at the CEIA national conference (April 10-12), the office won the Most Spirit Award.