The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Cooperative Education Program combines learning in the classroom with learning and application of students’ education, in the workplace. As such, it is considered a “work-integrated learning” program. All co-op work experiences are administered and monitored by the Career Management Center (CMC) at IIT.

Co-op involves a partnership between a student, an employer, and the university. This partnership helps ensure that the work the student does is meaningful, relevant to their professional and educational goals, and will add value to the student’s academic program.

Benefits to Employers:

• Co-op provides an excellent source for entry-level professionals eager to gain knowledge and apply academic skills in a work setting.
• Employers gain access to new theories and concepts and assistance with integrating them in the workplace.
• Recruitment potential—Employers can hire proven candidates already familiar with company culture and procedures for full-time career positions.

Co-op Structure & Regulations:

• Students in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5+ for undergraduates and 3.0+ GPA for graduate students) are eligible to participate in Co-op, including U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents and International Students on student visas (F-1).
• Co-op is an academic program that follows the university calendar. Work terms must coincide with university academic terms and students must begin working no earlier and can work no later than the dates determined by the IIT Career Management Center. Dates and deadlines are posted for each academic term on the CMC website.
• Co-op terms must cycle through the academic year and may not occur only during summer terms. Co-op terms may be successive or alternating academic terms. The terms are determined by the employer, student, and the CMC, before the co-op is approved.
• Students and employers must commit to multiple work terms. Undergraduates are required to work the equivalent of at least 3 full-time academic terms and graduate students must work the equivalent of at least 2 full-time academic terms, with one employer. Full-time is defined as over 20 hours per week. Two part-time sessions (10 – 20 hours per week) equal one full-time session of co-op. Working multiple terms with a single employer gives students an opportunity to take on increasingly responsible tasks as they continue to develop their skills and make viable contributions to the company.
• Employers are required to complete Employer Co-op forms: the Employer Agreement and Employer Information form, as well as sign the third page of the Student’s Co-op Forms (a schedule that shows all coursework completed and planned, during the student’s program of study).
• Employers must provide an offer letter which includes the student’s name, job title, work location, start date, and salary (all co-ops are paid employment). A job description is also required, for approval by the student’s academic advisor, and may be included in the offer letter or on a separate sheet. The CMC can approve only original signatures on co-op forms. Faxed and scanned documents are not accepted.
• Students are required to renew their co-ops for each academic term they plan to work and must register for the co-op each term. A Work Term Evaluation must be completed by the employer and student and then submitted to the CMC near the completion of every co-op work term. This 4 page document can be downloaded from the CMC website and is used to measure students’ accomplishments and progress each term. The Work Term Evaluation is required for co-op renewal. Students must also complete an on-line renewal form to request renewal.
• International students on F-1 visas are permitted to work full-time as Co-ops for less than 12 months during their program of study, and can work part-time (10 – 20 hours per week) for an unlimited number of academic terms. For additional information, please go to: http://www.iit.edu/~internat/forms/CPT_guidelines.pdf.
• International students will provide their employer with a SEVIS I-20 Work Authorization which includes the employer’s name and address, as well as the dates approved to work each term, for completion of the I-9 form.
• Students are permitted to take up to two courses during each academic term that they are working as a co-op.
• Students are expected to maintain contact with their CMC advisor throughout their participation in the Co-op program. Employers are also encouraged to contact the co-op student’s CMC advisor, if there are any questions about the program or the student’s work performance.
• For more information about the Coop Program at IIT, please visit the Career Management Center website www.cmc.iit.edu or call 312/567-6800.

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Internship Program combines learning in the classroom with learning and application of students’ education, in the workplace. As such, it is considered a “work-integrated learning” program. The Internship Program is administered and monitored by the Career Management Center (CMC) at IIT.

An internship involves a partnership between a student, an employer, and the university. This partnership helps ensure that the work the student does is meaningful, relevant to their professional and educational goals, and will add value to the student’s academic program.

Benefits to Employers:

• An internship provides an excellent source for entry-level professionals eager to gain knowledge and apply academic skills in a work setting.
• Employers gain access to new theories and concepts and assistance with integrating them in the workplace.
• Recruitment potential—Employers can hire proven candidates already familiar with company culture and procedures for full-time career positions.

Internship Structure & Regulations:

• Students in good academic standing (GPA of 2.5+ for undergraduates and 3.0+ GPA for graduate students) are eligible to participate in the IIT Internship program, including U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents and International Students on student visas (F-1).
• Internship is an academic program that follows the university calendar. Work terms must coincide with university academic terms and students must begin working no earlier and can work no later than the dates determined by the IIT Career Management Center. Dates and deadlines are posted for each academic term on the CMC website.
• Internships may take place throughout the year. However, internships during fall and spring academic terms must be part-time (10-20 hours per week). Summer internships may be full-time.
• An internship requires a commitment of only one academic term. Students and employers wishing to extend the experience are advised to change the internship into a co-op, which involves working for multiple semesters.
• Employers are required to complete Internship Employer Agreement and sign the Internship Signature Page .
• Employers must provide an offer letter which includes the student’s name, job title, work location, start date, and salary (all approved internships are paid employment). A job description is also required, for approval by the student’s academic advisor, and may be included in the offer letter or on a separate sheet. The CMC can approve only original signatures on internship forms. Faxed and scanned documents are not accepted.
• A Work Term Evaluation must be completed by the employer and student and then submitted to the CMC at the completion of the internship. This 4 page document can be downloaded from the CMC website and is used to measure students’ accomplishments and progress.
• International students on F-1 visas are permitted to work full-time for less than 12 months during their program of study, and can work part-time (10 – 20 hours per week) for an unlimited number of academic terms. For additional information, please go to: http://www.iit.edu/~internat/forms/CPT_guidelines.pdf.
• International students will provide their employer with a SEVIS I-20 Work Authorization, which includes the employer’s name and address, as well as the dates approved to work each term, for completion of the I-9 form.
• Students working in internships during academic terms are required to register for a full program of courses to maintain their status as full-time students. They are also required to register through the IIT Office of the Registrar for the internship after the internship application is approved by the CMC. Internships carry no academic or administrative credit.
• Students are expected to maintain contact with their CMC advisor throughout their participation in the Internship Program. Employers are also encouraged to contact the intern’s CMC advisor, if there are any questions about the program or the student’s work performance.
• For more information about the Internship Program at IIT, please visit the Career Management Center website or call 312/567-6800.