1. Introduction to Co-ops & Internships
Career Services Illinois Institute of Technology

2. Benefits of a Co-op or Internship
Co-op & Internship
Learn how to apply knowledge in “real world”
Learn what you like/don’t like in field
Establish rapport with employer & co-workers
Build your resume & make yourself more marketable
Earn money
Potential of getting hired after graduation
Co-op
More likely to see a project through to the end
Gain increasing responsibility on the job
Internship
Short-term opportunity to gain experience in your field of study
Potential to work with multiple employers over time

3. Eligibility Requirements
Full-time IIT student
Undergrad or Grad; U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident, or International Student in F1 Status
Completion of 2 full-time school terms
Good Academic Standing
UG GPA: 2.25+, Grad GPA: 3.0+
Registration with an up-to-date profile and resume posted in Jobs4Hawks database
Ample time in academic program to complete co-op requirements (2 terms for both UG and Grads)
Co-op: Cannot begin in final term
Internship carries no credits—must take full course load while doing internship during fall or spring semester.
(Stuart School of Business – Internship carries credits)

4. Co-op & Internship Requirements
Work must relate directly to current studies
Start & end dates must coincide with university calendar
Must get approved and register each term
Co-op & Internship: $300 registration fee per term
Fees may be subject to change

5. Co-op Program Structure & Guidelines
Multi-work term commitment with one employer
UG: Complete 2 full-time terms or equivalent
Grad: Complete 2 full-time terms or equivalent
Can be part- or full-time
Part-time: hours/week
Full-time: Over 20 hours/week
2 part-time terms EQUAL 1 full-time term
Co-op can be local or out-of-state
Must continue to make academic
progress

6. Full-Time Co-ops Full-time:
Required to work 2 terms with one employer, but may do more
International students limited to 3 full-time terms for duration of degree program
Terms do not need to be consecutive but cannot be all same (e.g. not all summer terms)
“Administrative Credits”
UG: 12 for full-time
Grad: 9 for full-time
May take up to 2 classes simultaneously (Graduate Students cannot take classes and do a Full-time Coop in the Summer)

7. Part-Time Co-ops Part-time: 10-20 hours/week
Terms do not need to be consecutive
“Administrative Credits”
UG: 6 for part-time
Grad: 4.5 for part-time
MUST take enough additional credits to be considered a “full-time” student

8. Completing Academic Requirements as a Co-op Student
Plan ahead to graduate “on-time”
When are classes offered?
How many classes will you need to take per semester?
Will you work and simultaneously take classes or alternate school and work terms?
NOTE: You may NOT work an entire academic year (FALL & SPRING) without at least one class (summer does not count)
Graduate Students: You can take classes OR do a Full-time Coop or Internship during Summer but not both
Final semester at IIT before graduation must include at least one course

9. Internship Program Structure & Guidelines
Single-work term commitment with an employer
Can be part- or full-time in SUMMER
Part-time: hours/week
Full-time: over 20 hours/week
Must be part-time only in FALL & SPRING
Internships carry NO CREDITS; students must take full course load to maintain
full time student status (except in the summer, which doesn’t count)

10. Co-op & Internship: The Application Process
Receive offer letter from employer
Should contain: Job Title, Detailed Job Description, Start Date, Salary, Location of Work Site, and Supervisor’s Name, on company letterhead.
Note: Once a student has accepted a position they should stop applying/interviewing with other companies. Students will not be allowed to switch companies in the middle of a co-op/internship.
Fulfill your commitment
Your signed Coop agreement confirms that you will work for 2 or more semesters for the same employer
Don’t ask to change employers if you receive a “better” offer.
Attendance and promptness are important on the job—complete your timesheet accurately

11. Violations of Guidelines
Review Board will be organized
Consists of a Career Services Coach and at least 2 other IIT faculty or staff members
Will meet with student to determine if they are guilty of an infraction
Possible Penalties
May include loss of Co-op or Internship Program privileges
May include other penalties as determined by the Review Board

12. Forms for Co-op or Internship
Download Career Services Co-op or Internship paperwork-note that Stuart has different forms! (
Complete all appropriate forms and get all necessary signatures.

13. First Semester Co-op Forms and Offer Letter
1)Faculty Advisor/CPT Recommendation Form (International students)
1)Faculty Advisor Form (US Citizens & Permanent Residents)
2)Student Cooperative Education Agreement and Academic Plan
3)Employer Cooperative Education Agreement and Information

14. 1. Faculty Advisor/CPT Recommendation Form (International Students)

15. 1)Faculty Advisor Form (US Citizens & Permanent Residents)

16. 2)Student Cooperative Education Agreement

17. Academic Plan

18. Coop Employer Agreement and Information Form

19. Internship Forms and Offer Letter
1)Faculty Advisor/CPT Recommendation Form (International students only)
1)Faculty Advisor Form (US Citizens & Permanent Residents only)
2)Internship Employer Agreement
3)Internship Signature Page

20. 1. Faculty Advisor/CPT Recommendation Form (International Students)

21. 1)Faculty Advisor Form (US Citizens & Permanent Residents)

22. 2) Internship Signature Page

23. 2) Internship Employer Agreement

24. 3) Student Agreement Form

25. Co-op & Internship Application Process
Faculty Advisor
(Review of Job Description
& sign necessary forms.)
Career Services
(Enter registration permit &
sign necessary forms.)
Employer
(Sign necessary forms.)
Student
(Visit careerservices.iit.edu. Print
& complete necessary forms.)
START HERE
(Offer Letter
& Job Description.)
END HERE
GO TO WORK
Student Registration & Records
(Co-op/Internship “COURSE” registration)
$$ Fee $$
International Center*
* For international students only!
NOTE: International Center requires 8-10 business days to process your CPT

26. Co-op & Internship: Performance Evaluations
Download & Complete a Work Term Evaluation (WTE) every term
Complete near the end of each Co-op term and the Internship as a review of accomplishments and things learned
Complete the student portion
Have your Work Site Supervisor complete the employer portion
Sign and date document
Submit WTE by scan via , US mail or drop off at the CMC.

27. Co-op Renewal Process Step 2 Step 1 Work Term Evaluation
Submit in person or by mail to Career Services or have employer fax it to Career Services
Step 2
Online Co-op Renewal Form - CAREER SERVICES WEBSITE
May only be used if renewing a CO-OP with the same employer
Your online request may either be approved or denied by CMC Advisor
Special circumstances may require a face-to-face meeting
NOT to be used to switch companies or begin a new co-op
On-line form is automatically forwarded to I Center for International Students for CPT authorization, after Career Services approves renewal and student registers for co-op
Note: If your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement, you will not be able to continue the coop.

28. Work Term Evaluation Forms

29. WTE

30. Financial Aid & Other Money Matters
While on co-op or internship
Student may not be eligible for some scholarships or financial aid
Talk to Financial Aid Department regarding specific matters in your case
Student not eligible for a U-Pass
Student must keep IIT health insurance unless exempted

31. If Problems Arise on the Job
Role of Career Services
To help student
Will contact employer to investigate concerns and try to reach a solution
Student’s Responsibilities
Know what you are getting yourself into before you start
Read contract letters carefully before signing (Non-compete, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Training Agreements etc.)
Do not pay the employer for training or give them a deposit
Try talking to Work Site Supervisor to work out issues in a professional manner
Contact your Career Services Coach as soon as problems arise
Get everything in writing ( s work)
Don’t ask the employer to give you a termination letter or “let you out” of the job
Terminating Co-ops or Internships
Should never be ended without first talking to Career Services Coach and submitting an official Termination Letter from the Employer

32. Career Services 3241 South Federal, Chicago, IL Hermann Hall Suite 113 Phone: (312) , Fax (312) , careerservices.iit.edu
This is a mandatory workshop for all participants in the Cooperative Education and Internship Programs. To receive credit you must:
SIGN IN

33. Introduction to Co-op and Internship
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

34. Overview – Part 2 What is Curricular Practical Training? Eligibility
Time Limitations
Full Time vs. Part Time
I-20 Extensions After CPT
CPT + On-Campus Employment
Your Work Authorization
Special Topics on CPT
Loss of Immigration Status

35. What is Curricular Practical Training?
Temporary employment in the student’s field of study, which is an integral part of an established curriculum.
Alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or other type of required internship which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
A benefit of F-1 immigration status, but not an implicit right as per immigration regulations

36. Eligibility
Must be in continuous full-time student status for one academic year
If changing status to F-1, students must be approved for F-1 status before applying. Students may count semesters spent studying full-time in another immigration status only if the semesters counted are immediately preceding the change of status to F-1
Job offer must be in current field of study

37. Time limitations Available only during the program of study
Can be part time (20hrs/week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours/week)
Must respect academic registration deadlines
Unlimited full or part-time CPT – however, if authorized for more than 12 months of full-time CPT, OPT is forfeited

38. Full Time CPT
If you are authorized for full-time CPT and enrolled in full-time co-op, you are considered to be in F-1 status
You may NOT work an entire academic year (FALL & SPRING) without taking at least one class (summer does not count)
You can take up to two classes per semester in addition to full-time co-op
Final semester at IIT before graduation must include at least one course

39. Part Time CPT
While authorized for part time CPT you must enroll in additional courses to bring your total credits hours up to full-time (9 credits for graduate students; 12 credits for undergraduate students)
Part time enrollment may be approved with submission of the less than full time request form if it is your last semester (i.e. Part Time Co-op with 3 credit course)
Only one on-line course per term is counted toward full time enrollment

40. I-20 Extensions after CPT
I-20 extensions after participation in CPT/Co-Op will not be approved by the International Center
You must finish your degree by the end date listed on your I-20

41. CPT + On-campus Work
You cannot work on-campus or as a TA/RA if you are on Full-time CPT during the academic year
Part-time CPT + on-campus/TA/RA job cannot exceed 20hrs/week
There are no hours/week restrictions during the Summer Semester

42. Forms to Submit to the I-center:
Proof of co-op/internship registration
Advisor’s Recommendation Form with Career Services approval*
*This form is not necessary if CPT is required for your completion of your degree and it is established in your curriculum.

43. Your work authorization
Employer specific: must obtain new authorization forms from Career Services/Int’l Center for each employer
Time specific: valid for a specific duration, typically for the duration of the academic term, part-time or full-time. Must respect work authorization dates and renew prior to expiration.

44. Special Topics on CPT
Taxes: you are exempt from SSN/Medicare taxes while you are a non-resident for tax purposes
You may lose some scholarships/full-time student benefits while you are on full-time CPT (UPASS, etc)
Independent contracting, consulting, or starting your own business do not qualify for CPT
Social Security Number (SSN): If you don’t have a SSN, bring the CPT I-20 with your passport to the Social Security office at 77 W. Jackson, Chicago (IC Letter is NOT required)

45. Loss of Immigration Status
Know the start and end dates of your CPT work authorization – listed on page 3 of your I-20. Working either prior to the start date or after the end date will result in the loss of your immigration status.
Failure to obtain CPT work authorization prior to beginning employment or prior to changing employers will result in a loss of your F-1 immigration status.
The only remedy for loss of F-1 status due to unauthorized employment is to leave the U.S. immediately and re-enter with a new I-20, in initial status, no earlier than 30 days prior to the start of the next semester.

46. Career Services Illinois Institute of Technology
Questions?
Thank You!
Career Services Illinois Institute of Technology