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Employer Responsibilities

Employers must register with the Career Center prior to participating in the Co-op Program. Be certain to check yes in the Cooperative Education Access area under the Services Requested section of the Registration Form.

Job assignments must be related to the students' major field of study. Diversification is encouraged to afford the student a range of training and experience. The technical level and degree of complexity should be increased as the student demonstrates competency and progresses through the program.

Each co-op student must be evaluated by the employer on the form provided by the University Co-op Office. The completed evaluation form should be discussed with the student and must be returned to the Co-op Office within the specified time period.

Employers are expected to identify Co-op students needs well in advance of the projected begin work date. Registered employers may forward anticipated needs for Co-op students by posting job request(s) at Career Center Connections, by email, by phone, or by letter.

Initial Steps

1. Complete registration at MSU Career Center. A personal visit to the university has been found very helpful by many employers in developing a new program.
2. Post job request(s) at Career Center Connections or email the Co-op Office with additional information or questions. Most employers also provide recruiting brochures, videos, and applications for interested students.

Employing A Co-op Student

Generally one of four (4) methods is used to employ Co-op students:

1. Co-op Interview Days (IVD)
2. On-campus student interviews (OCR)
3. Work location student interviews
4. Telephone interviews with student referrals

Co-op Interview Days is the first opportunity that employers have to interview Co-op students in any given semester. IVD is held each February and October to allow employers early access to potential candidates. As with all the methods, the Co-op Office prescreens the students and can provide transcripts, resumes, and employment applications if desired. During the selection process, the Co-op Office expects to be kept informed regarding any and all actions taken. Copies of correspondence between the employer and the student should be forwarded to the Co-op Office. Employers may schedule on-campus interviews after IVD through the MSU Career Center.

Final Placement and Acceptance

The employer should notify the student directly by mail or email regarding any offer of Co-op employment. A copy of the offer must also be sent to the MSU Co-op Office. After receipt of the employer's offer and acceptance by the student, the Co-op Office finalizes official acceptance of the student into the Co-op Program.

Other Related Information

1. Work and school semesters have established beginning and ending dates as announced through the University's "Co-op Calendar" which is provided to each employer. By mutual employer/student consent, the work dates may extend beyond those published in the "Co-op Calendar".
2. Employers may periodically receive requests for "at work" photographs of Co-op students. These photographs are used in conjunction with various publicity activities of the Co-op Program.
3. Mid-way through each work semester, the Co-op Office emails the employer an evaluation request for each "at work" student. All evaluations must be submitted on-line to the Co-op Office by the date requested.
4. Final grades for Co-op students completing school semesters are emailed to the employer as soon as they are available.
5. Student benefits, including compensation, travel expenses, insurance, vacation, sick leave, per diem, tuition assistance, reimbursement, etc., remain as items fully under the jurisdiction of the individual employer.
6. Employers may find it helpful to review the MSU Co-op student Rules and Regulations governing the Mississippi State University Co-op Program.