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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (CO-OP) POSITION, AN INTERNSHIP, AND SUMMER EMPLOYMENT?
- Cooperative Education provides experience-based learning for college students through paid employment in practical, curriculum-related work assignments. It acclimates students to the world of work, and gives students relevant experience in their field of interest. Co-op is recognized at NMSU as a formal academic program.
- An internship offers a one-time, curriculum-related work assignment, which may be paid or unpaid. Internships generally are reserved for upper-division students, completed for academic credit, and usually last over a summer.
- Summer Employment is paid work experience that may or may not be directly related to the student’s curriculum and is not integrated into the academic program.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A CO-OP?
- Students - Full-time, degree-seeking students at the time of application and subsequent workphases are eligible to apply for co-op employment. Undergraduate students must have at least a 2.0 GPA, while graduate students must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Employers’ requirements may supersede NMSU requirements.
- Employers - Any employer wishing to hire an NMSU student is encouraged to participate.
HOW DO I GET A CO-OP?
- A Checklist for NMSU Co-op Students may be downloaded from our website or picked up at the Cooperative Education Program Office located in Garcia Annex, Room 200.
- Complete a Co-op Registration/Program Agreement/Release Form.
- Enter demographic information and upload your resume to AggieTRAK
- Check the Co-op Job Listings in AggieTRAK and request your resume and transcript to be sent to select employers. Interested employers will contact you for an interview. If an offer is made and you accept, contact the Co-op Office to enroll in the workphase.
- Other methods of finding a co-op job include participation in NMSU Career Fairs, on-campus interviewing, and independent networking and searches.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RESUME TO THE CO-OP OFFICE?
If you have opened a file with the Cooperative Education Office, log in to your AggieTRAK account from the Career Services home page and proceed from there. If you have questions, you may email us at coop@nmsu.edu. Stop by the Cooperative Education Office at Garcia Annex, Room 200, if you need to open a file.You will have to attend a 30-minute orientation, given daily in the career services office.
DOES THE WEB RESUME HAVE A SPELL CHECK?
No; the spell check should be performed (before uploading) in the word processing software used to develop your resume.
I NEED SOME HELP WRITING MY RESUME. WHERE CAN I GO?
Career Services staff are available to assist you in developing/critiquing your resume. Stop by the office located at Garcia Annex, Room 224, or call 646-1631 to make an appointment.
IS CO-OP CREDIT AUTOMATIC?
No. If you wish to receive credit for your Cooperative Education workphase assignment, you must discuss your situation with your advisor or department head for possible enrollment in a co-op course or an independent study course through the academic department.
I COULD NOT ACCESS AggieTRAK. WHAT TIME DOES IT OPERATE?
AggieTRAK is operational twenty-four hours a day. Maintenance may have been conducted during the time you tried to access it. If you have difficulties in the future, please wait at least thirty minutes and try again. If the problem persists, please inform the Co-op Office.
ARE JOB POSTINGS OR INTERVIEWS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN IDENTIFY A CO-OP POSITION?
No. At times, students may already be in an employment situation that may be recognized as a co-op position. Also, if a student has a certain employer in mind for a possible co-op position, the student should present the situation to Co-op Office personnel, so they can contact the employer to discuss making the position a Co-op. Career fairs are also an excellent way to identify co-op opportunities.
I DIDN’T SEE ANY JOB POSTINGS IN MY MAJOR. WHAT CAN I DO TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CO-OP PROGRAM?
Students may search potential employers through various networking technques. If an employer is willing to enter into a formal co-op agreement, it is possible to make certain internships into co-op positions. You also may want to seek advice on leads from the Co-op Coordinator.
I RECEIVED A CO-OP OFFER DURING THE SPRING/FALL SEMESTER, BUT I HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP; WILL I LOSE IT?
Generally, co-op students do not lose their scholarships. All financial aid recipients (of scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) should inform their respective financial aid advisors of their plans for a co-op workphase and have a notation placed in their financial aid file. Be sure to enroll with the Co-op Office and get approval for your Co-op before leaving campus for a work assignment.
MY PARENTS CARRY ME ON THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. WILL I BE DROPPED FROM THEIR PLAN WHEN I GO ON A CO-OP ASSIGNMENT?
No. While students on co-op work assignments may or may not be enrolled in classes, they are considered full-time students if they are properly enrolled with the Cooperative Education Office. If your parents' insurance carrier requires proof of full-time student status, contact Co-op Office personnel for assistance.
I HAVE RECEIVED A CO-OP JOB OFFER; WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Before you report to work, you must contact Co-op Office personnel to “enroll” for your co-op assignment. The process includes presenting a copy of your offer letter and job description to the Co-op Office and completing the Workphase Enrollment Form. This process ensures your full-time student status while you are working.
AS AN EMPLOYER, I WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A TIME TO RECRUIT; HOW DO I PROCEED?
To facilitate your scheduled interviews and your visit to NMSU, contact the Employer Relations Coordinator, Elizabeth Ortega, at (575) 646-1631.
I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE AS AN EMPLOYER IN THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM; WHAT MUST I DO?
- Federal Government Agencies - Send us your announcements and a copy of your SCEP Agreement for review and signature.
- Private and Non-profit Employers – Download the Cooperative Education Agreement for your review and signature(s). We will also request full details and a job description for each of the positions you have available. Contact the Co-op Coordinator at (575) 646-4115 for additional information.
Note: At NMSU only the career services office is authorized to sign Co-op/SCEP Agreements.
AS A FIRST-TIME EMPLOYER, WILL I BE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE HIRING STUDENTS FROM NMSU?
No. Ideally, the first student you hire will be able to return for a second work assignment. We also hope that we might continue this co-op partnership established between you and NMSU over time. However, the Co-op Office appreciates your participation in the program for any time period. The extent of your participation is up to you and should be based on your company's/agencys staffing needs.
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