Faculty Forms

Faculty Forms to Complete:
Faculty Reference Forms
Learning Agreement Forms
Permission to Enroll Form
Site Visit Forms

Faculty Forms to be Familiar With:
Statement of Agreement
Faculty Sponsors 2002-03
Faculty Workload Change Form
Student Loan Program
Final Paper Guidelines

Cooperative Education provides students with an opportunity to earn academic credit while employed in a paid, professional work setting prior to graduation.

Southampton's Co-op Program began in 1979 and is available in every academic division and major.

Jennifer McGee at Dolphin Quest, Hawaii, Summer 2001

Arts and Media Co-ops Education Co-ops Natural Science Co-ops Social Science Co-ops

Southampton students become eligible for the Co-op program after the successful completion of one academic semester on campus and the five- session pre-placement workshop. Alternating periods of work and study are organized so that students may include two or three off-campus experiences before graduating. A significant advantage of the program is that students have an opportunity to clarify their career objectives while still in college.

Cooperative Education students earn six credits per semester while working off-campus in full-time positions. Parallel Co-ops allow students to work 15-20 hours each week, earning credits and a salary in proportion to the hours worked. A total of 18 Cooperative Education credits may be applied toward graduation requirements.

• Approximately 2700 Southampton students have held Co-op jobs since the inception of the program in 1979.
• 80% of all Southampton Co-op students have received offers of continued or permanent employment from their Co-op employers.
• Southampton Co-op students earned an average hourly salary of $7.95 in 1998-99.
• Southampton Co-op students have worked in 40 states and 24 foreign countries.
• The Southampton Graduate Campus Cooperative Education Program has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education under the Title VIII program.

Co-op integrates classroom study with career-related professional training, allowing students to gain practical, paid work experience while earning academic credit toward a degree. As a part of the student's academic studies, Co-op employment differs dramatically from casual employment, because there are three partners in Co-op: the student, the college and the employer. The student uses Co-op to apply classroom theory in a real world setting. The college prepares the student to act professionally, to set reasonable learning objectives, and awards credit for the work experience. The employer provides meaningful employment, including orientation, supervision and training, and evaluates the student's on-the-job performance. This three-member strategy creates a win-win situation for all its partners!

The Grace Under Fire Award

Grace Strabuk, the heart and soul of Cooperative Education and Career Center died in the spring of 2002 after a long battle with cancer. She started her career at Southampton College in 1979 as the first secretary for the newly established Co-op office. During her 20-year tenure, Grace worked effectively and tirelessly in a variety of challenging situations with four directors and over 20 Co-op job developers.

In the year 2000, Grace's co-workers established an annual student award called "The Grace Under Fire" award. In order to acknowledge and honor Grace as an inspiration to others, Grace was the first recipient, prior to her retirement from the College. The award has been given each year in her honor to a Southampton Graduate Campus student who demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity with style and "Grace."

Chanta Sun was the first to be honored in 2000, followed by Amber Heavener in 2001, Latasha Planter  in 2002 and Mary Ellen Torissi in 2003.

This annual award continues to celebrate the spirit of Grace Strabuk.

Namesake Grace Strabuck is the first recipient

Latasha Planter, 2002 Grace Under Fire Award Recipient

Mary Ellen Torissi, 2003 Grace Under Fire Award Recipient

Students may participate in Co-op either full-time or part-time during any academic semester, including Summer and Wintersession. Students are eligible for Co-op if they are in good academic standing (2.0 G.P.A. with a 2.25 major G.P.A.) after completion of one full-time semester of study. Students must complete our pre-placement workshop series which covers topics such as resume-writing, interviewing, success on the job, dealing with conflict, and ethics in the workplace. They must also get the approval of their academic advisors before being placed. This system helps ensure a successful placement. Once on the job, students must conform to all workplace regulations and standards of professionalism, company policies and schedules.

Brookhaven National Laboratory's Marcello Vazquez, MD., Ph.D and Science Museum Director Gail Donahue, were honored at an awards ceremony honoring the Laboratory as The 2003 Cooperative Education Employer of the Year.

Most students do more than one Co-op. They may earn as many as 18 Co-op credits - which count as electives - toward their 128-credit degree requirement. Co-op is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, based in part on a successful evaluation by the on-site supervisor and completion of a final paper which is graded by a faculty sponsor.

Cooperative Education and Career Development Receive the 1998 (HIA) Hauppauge Industial Association Award

The Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA)
recently honored the Cooperative Education and Career Development program, as the first recipient of the association's 1998 Business and Education in Partnership Award. Arthur Sanders, President of HIA announced the winner stating, "Long Island businesses could not survive without well- trained employees, and this education must start early. Programs like the Southampton Graduate Campus program should be encouraged to continue to expand." John McCrudden, Director of Co-op and Career Development stated, " the award is a culmination of 20 years of dedication to experiential learning and is evidence of the hard work and dedication of the Southampton Graduate Campus Co-op staff."

Phone 631-287-8273; fax: 631-287-8287
email to coop@southampton.liu.edu