The Cooperative Education Program is a planned and progressive educational program that gives students the opportunity to test their career interests in jobs generally related to the field of study being pursued in college. And, the student is paid for the experience gained on the job.

The word “cooperative” in the name of the Program is derived from the cooperation between the University and community organizations and industries. The University teaches basic facts, theories, and principles, and the employing organizations provide practical work experience which supplements what the students learn in the classroom.

The educational advantages of the Program are obvious. It helps young people clarify their professional career goals, helps them mature more quickly, and helps them gain a more realistic view of the professional world of before graduation. Cooperative Education thus contributes to the development of the qualities desirable in responsible adults.

College studies and work assignments complement and reinforce one another to produce an overall learning experience that gives meaning to the academic programs and direction to career development.

COOP experience removes much of the uncertainty. It provides learning direction as well as meaning, purpose and fulfillment. As COOP students approach graduation, they move on a path well charted, they know where they are going and why.

The objectives of the Cooperative Education Program at the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico are as follows:

• To continuously update the curriculum according to the necessities of the community and industry and enhance communication between the school and industry
• To give orientation to the student in those areas where he can stimulate his/her professional and personal development.
• To help smooth out the transition from school to work.
• To provide a proper frame work for a more productive practical experience and career preparation.

The participation in the COOP Program is optional on the student’s part, but the University screens those who apply. The procedure employed in the screening process is summarized below:

• To enter the COOP Program, students enrolled in a four or five-year program must start their COOP practice after their second year.
• COOP students must have, and maintain a general point average of 2.50 or more on a 4.00 scale.
• They must have and maintain the status of a regular student at the school
• In addition they must comply with all obligations and academic requirements of the University.

The fact that cooperative students are selected by the University means that they are qualified and have good potential. The students can benefit from the experience. They will have completed enough of their academic work to indicate both ability and motivation to succeed in college. The selection as “COOP students” also means that they have demonstrated to meet basic work requirements.

The students’ decision to apply for participation in the Cooperative Education Program means that they have the desire to benefit from the program. They are willing to extend their schooling as much as an extra year because of the advantages and value they see in the COOP Program.

The Office of the COOP Program has a register of the companies or agencies with which agreements have been signed for COOP placements.

During the semester prior to the first working period the student is referred to the companies or agencies interested in hiring COOP students for an interview. They are interviewed and then selected by the company.

As a COOP student, the pay scale will depend on the education and work experience of the student.

As the student advances in responsibility, the earnings will reflect the talents and contributions. Pay‑for‑performance systems should be in place to provide increases and awards for motivated Coop students.

As a Coop student, the student may receive other benefits right from the start. The benefits they may be eligible for are:

• Paid vacations, holidays, and sick leave or other form of compensation.
• Major medical, dental, and life insurance.

Payment for transportation between schools and work site.

The COOP Student will register for at least a semester, and a summer in the Professional Practice course, each time they attend a working period. A temporary “S” (Satisfactory) grade will be assigned to the student until the completion of the final working period when the grade will be final six (6) credits will be assigned with the corresponding grade. The final grade will be given taking into consideration all the previous evaluations. These  credits can be assigned in the free or technical electives category.

Upon registration in the Professional Practice Course for any working period, COOP students are considered regular students at the school with all rights, privileges and obligations this status entails, including financial assistance if the students qualify.

Toward the end of each cooperative work period the University professor sends the employer an evaluation form on which the student’s immediate supervisor is asked to record his rating of the student’s performance on the job. The supervisor thus becomes a part of what we like to call our “field faculty” and it is most important that this rating form receive careful consideration.

Specific items on the form include: relations with other employees, judgment, ability to learn, attitude, application to work, dependability and quality of work.

Space is provided at the bottom of the form for the supervisors to give comments and suggestions if they wish to do so. Coordinators find these comments most helpful in counseling. They talk over the ratings with the students but the value of such a review is enhanced if the ratings are also discussed with the students by their supervisors before the students return to school.

During each working period, the Faculty Coordinators will require students to submit one or more written reports on the job they are performing for the company or agency where they have been placed. The purpose of these reports is to help students learn to write good reports, to help them evaluate their cooperative work experience, to help them to notice the application of principles learned in school, and, in general to help them think clearly about their jobs.

The University of Puerto Rico believes that the work report requirement is essential to assure maximum benefits to the student. Employers may, if they wish, ask to see the reports or even require copies for their own use.