Employer Information
In today's marketplace, companies are instituting fast-paced changes and developing new technology in order to meet global competition. Speed School of Engineering’s Cooperative Education Program helps employers meet their need for a highly skilled, knowledge-based workforce. It also provides students with firsthand experience in the latest technology, team-based problem solving, and flexibility in adapting to a continually changing work environment.
J. B. Speed School of Engineering
In 1924, the family of James Breckenridge Speed established the J. B. Speed School of Engineering (originally called the J. B. Speed Scientific School) as a memorial to the late industrialist. A prominent Louisville business leader, Speed oversaw the development of the city's first railway system. He also operated large coal mining interests within the state.
J.B. Speed School of Engineering continues to honor James Breckenridge Speed today by training engineers who will lead American industry in the 21st century.
The school is unique in that it offers a five-year program that includes an ABET, Inc. accredited Master of Engineering degree with a mandatory one-year cooperative education work experience.
What Is the Cooperative Education Program?
Cooperative Education, or "co-op" as it is widely known, is a planned and supervised program alternating periods of classroom instruction with work assignments that are closely related to the student's academic program. It is a concept through which employers and Speed School combine their resources to promote career education and training. Co-op students integrate the academic study provided by the school with "real world" work experience provided by employers from business, industry, and government.
How Does It Work?
Having completed the foundation courses in engineering, students normally begin co-op in their fifth semester of study. They alternate three semesters of co-op with classroom study. Upon completion of the co-op requirement, students have accumulated fifty weeks of professional work experience.
What Are the Benefits?
Advantages to the Employer
- Access to a skilled short-term, cost-effective work force.
- Opportunity to evaluate potential full-time employees.
- Reduction of recruiting and training costs.
- Continuous coverage of positions throughout the year.
- Enhancements of community relationship and image.
Advantages to the Student
- Adds relevance to education.
- Develops job-related skills and knowledge.
- Develops maturity and social skills.
- Provides useful employment and networking contacts.
- Provides added financial support.
- Provides extensive job search process experience.
Advantages to the University
- Broadens the education process.
- Keeps faculty informed of current technology and applications.
- Enhances graduate placement.
- Promotes university-employer relations.
What Is the Employer's Role?
- Participate in the selection of students.
- Designate a supervisor who can provide adequate direction for the student.
- Provide orientation to the company.
- Plan the student's full-time work for each semester co-op period, offering progressive experience.
- Provide a competitive wage for the student.
- Evaluate the student's performance.
How to Recruit
Employers wishing to participate in the Cooperative Education Program should contact the appropriate co-op coordinator (See Cooperative Education Faculty and Staff) and ask to be added to the mailing list. The coordinator will expect that:
- You have considered work assignments relevant to the student's engineering major and appropriate for the level of the student and for the semester time period.
- You are reasonably certain that you can provide increasingly challenging work assignments over the course of the three co-ops.
- The full-time, alternating structure of the program is consistent with your workforce needs.
- You will identify a supervisor willing and able to mentor the co-op student.
- You will provide any company or position literature that will aid students in preparing for interviews.
Once added to the mailing list, you will receive student resumes in September, February, and June for the following semester. Typical co-op dates are:
January - May
May - August
August - December
Availability of candidates varies each semester and recruiting is competitive; prompt response to resumes is encouraged. Some employers conduct on-campus interviews while others invite students to the work site. Employers outside Kentucky frequently conduct interviews by phone.
Co-op coordinators will assist you in scheduling interviews, providing salary information, conveying offers, determining a reasonable response time, etc.
J.B. Speed School of Engineering subscribes to the principles outlined in the "Attributes of Cooperative Education Programs" as presented by the Cooperative Education Network.
