Become a Co-op Employer

Getting Started

What criteria is required to be an intern site?

The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) serves to create, maintain and sustain partnerships with our local, regional and global community.  We look forward to partnering with you to enhance the experience of students in their daily lives, classrooms and work environments.

To initiate a partnership with the department, the following criteria are required:

  • Site must be a valid company or business

  • Have a physical location or main office

  • Provide on-site supervision of students

  • Have a valid website

  • Work closely with the Co-op Office, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and Foundation Office to initiate MOU and contract.

Please note that once you meet the criteria, a site visit will be scheduled to ensure the safety of our students.  Sites should not provide opportunities that have students prophesying or promoting a particular religious doctrine or political candidate or they risk be removed as a partnership site.  We also highly encourage that you provide a training or orientation to all students who choose your site for their cooperative education experience.

How Does Co-op Benefit a Company?

Co-op students allow flexibility in staffing needs by freeing up higher paid professionals to do more important work.  Co-op students are a proven source of permanent employees while keeping recruitment costs down.  At the same time co-op students become excellent company representatives and recruiters on campus.  A co-op student becomes more productive sooner as a permanent employee than a regular college graduate without experience.

 

 

What Departments at Cal Poly Participate in Co-op?

Students in any Engineering and Science majors.

When and How Does a Company Hire a Cal Poly Co-op?

Co-op students can be hired at any time of the year.

 

A company should provide the Co-op Office (909/869-3434) (FAX 909/869-4396) with the necessary job information at least three weeks before the desired starting date for a co-op position. The Co-op Office will advertise the position to the appropriate groups at Cal Poly, including underrepresented populations, and will collect the necessary application materials which will be forwarded to the company.

 

 

What Salaries Do Co-ops Earn?

The company determines the student’s salary and benefits (if any).  Competitive co-op salaries depend on a number of factors such as major desired, class standing (Soph., Jr., Sr.), flexibility of allowed working hours, distance and traveling time from Cal Poly or the student’s residence, etc.  Currently, the vast majority of co-op salaries fall within $12-$15+ per hour.

 

 

Please be advised that our Co-op Program CANNOT accommodate any company that conducts their business out of a private residence.

 

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