Work Experience Policy

Requirements & Process Before Start of Work Experience

The student must hold a valid Study Permit and Co-op Work Permit that adequately covers the entire duration of the study and work portions of the program.

Student must have successfully completed minimum required academic courses and be in good academic standing before being considered for work experience. Exceptions to this may be considered under extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the College.

Canadian Job Search Skills and Strategies: Students must successfully complete both courses before beginning their work experience component.

Individual meeting and/or group meetings are organized to go through findings, discover additional information relevant to student’s co-op success and obstacles, and provides advice and information of interest to support a path with successful employment.

The Co-op program coordinator will monitor students job search progress, checking to ensure that the student is remaining on track with their co-op search plan. The Co-op program coordinator will continue to provide additional job interview performance support to increase student’s opportunity to secure a program relevant position.

The process by which the student will be placed in a work experience

The process of HAR 195 starts with students submitting personalized co-op training plan completed in BUS 191 and final copy of resume and cover letter developed towards a targeted employment goal.

After the student has completed all required courses successfully, either the President or the Co-op program coordinator will hold a mandatory meeting/orientation with the student. The orientation includes a detailed explanation of the Co-Op placement process. During the meeting, students will sign the CNC Co-Op Placement Registration Form which includes Co-Op Placement Terms and Conditions.

Students will also receive additional coaching and support from the Administrator/Coordinator on how to conduct job search, prepare resumes & cover letters and practice job interviews.

Once students are ready for the Co-Op placement, Co-op coordinator/ Administrator assistant will contact a host organization to discuss a possible placement, and training plan, and to arrange an interview.

Self-Placement Process and Policy: If a student wishes to find their own placement, they must inform either CNC’s president, administrator assistant, or the coordinator. The student must find an acceptable self-placement for their entire Co-Op period and must have it approved by CNC at least 4 weeks prior to the expected start date of their Co-Op program.

If a student finds an appropriate Co-Op placement and it is approved by CNC: The student and the host organization will be provided with the CNC’s Letter of Agreement. If no placement is secured: The Co-Op coordinator and administrator assistant will assist the student in finding a placement to ensure that they can start their Co-Op on time.

Commencement Co-op Work Experience

The Co-op Coordinator will liaise with relevant host organizations (employers in various industries) to seek a placement. Once a suitable host has been identified, an interview with the employer and the student will be arranged. A “suitable host” is an employer that is qualified in a career occupation that is relevant to the program of instruction in which the student is enrolled.

The Co-op/practicum host (employer) reserves the right to accept or decline a student for placement with the company. Acceptance for Co-op practicum at the company is solely dependent on the student’s performance at the interview and their personal suitability for the position as determined by the employer.

If the student is accepted for placement, the student must discuss the work schedule directly with the employer and confirm the Co-op/practicum start date.

At this point, the Letter of Agreement form will be jointly completed and signed by the student and the employer. The completed Letter of Agreement form must be returned to the College’s President to be counter-signed at the earliest opportunity upon starting the placement. A copy of the Letter Agreement form will be emailed to the student and host employer and filed in the student’s folder.

Process of Evaluation During Work Experience

Monitoring Of Student Progress and Performance/Reports: student’s work hours are reported through weekly reporting system designed to monitor student’s performance, challenges and hours worked. Official weekly reporting starts from the student’s official Co-op start date until the student reaches their required work hours.

The student will also submit a monthly reflective journal to the Co-op Coordinator as well as take part in a mid-term review.

By submitting all weekly reports, monthly reflective journals, and the employer’s final evaluation as well as taking part in the mid-term review the student meets all assessment criteria for SLS 195. Cloud Nine College will monitor the student during the work experience by reviewing each week whether the student is attending the work experience and whether the student is meeting the learning objectives of the program.

In addition to the other program requirements, student must complete BUS 191(preparation for Co-op), BUS 195 (Co-op placement) and BUS 198 (Capstone) in order to receive the program credential.

The student will be provided with at least one written evaluation in relation to the work experience component.

End of Work Experience

Final Evaluation by Employer: The host employer will report on the experience near the end of the work experience term. The employer will provide a final evaluation on the overall performance of the student. The President will meet with the student to discuss these reports if there are any issues.

Successful graduation of Co-op Programs of study: If there are no concerns or issues arising out of these reports, the administrative assistant will update the student records accordingly and inform the President of the student’s Co-op/practicum work experience completion.