Cooperative Work Experience is a venture in which students, employers and Saddleback College work together to provide relevant, quality education and valuable work-related experiences for the student. It is called Cooperative Work Experience because it is dependent upon employers and educators cooperating to form a more complete educational program for the students. This is a unique plan of education combining classroom education with planned, supervised work experience and allows the student to earn college credit for work experience. This combination of instruction provides the student with educational opportunities that lead directly to productive employment in the community.
Students can use the student workbook for all procedures and forms.
Student Benefits
- Receive college credit for on-the-job experiences (paid or unpaid).
- Learn or improve employment skills under actual working conditions.
- Apply classroom theory to "real job experience" thus gaining a perspective on career goals.
- Develop a better understanding of human relations as it relates to the workplace.
- Be able to test personal abilities in selected work environments.
- Refer to work experience education on resumes and future job applications.
In Cooperative Work Experience, the student's education, career and personal development advance simultaneously. Students earn college credit for what they learn and contribute on the job.
Employer Benefits
The program helps maintain a flow of trained personnel into the occupational field, reducing the cost of employee turnover by employing people who are on a career path. The CWE student develops work objectives with his or her supervisor which furthers the employer's goal and the employee's work performance. The employer is provided with the opportunity to communicate business and industry needs to the college thus helping the college to remain current with industry standards.
Community College Benefits
Cooperative Work Experience strengthens the relationship between the college and the business community. The interaction of student-instructor-employer provides valuable, current input concerning labor market conditions and the implications for curriculum. Student success and a skilled work force benefit the college and the community at large.
Shared Responsibility
The student is responsible for regular attendance at work and college, appropriate appearance and performance, positive attitude and good human relationships, job skills, and educational progress.
The employer's responsibility includes providing a suitable work station, work experiences which have educational value for the student, and supervision to help the student progress on the job and accomplish specific on-the-job learning objectives.
The college provides organization, coordination, program supervision and maintenance of student records. A college instructor will visit and counsel with the student and employer during the semester and, together with the supervisor, determine the student's grade.
College Credit
Students can receive transferable college credit toward their CTE certificate or degree by successfully completing CWE. CWE units are often transferable and will receive credit toward their occupation certificates based on the individual certificate requirements. Units for CWE are based on total hours worked during the semester as follows:
*** STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR CWE EMPLOYER BEFORE REGISTERING FOR CWE TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS TO BE WORKED DURING THE EXPERIENCE.
*** STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK THE AMOUNT OF HOURS REQUIRED FOR THE NUMBER OF CWE UNITS THEY REGISTER FOR. EXAMPLE: A student that registers for a 2 Unit Unpaid CWE course must complete 150 hours with the CWE employer by the end of the experience.
| # OF CWE UNITS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Unit | 2 Units | 3 Units | 4 Units | |
| UNPAID CWE Required hours | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 |
| PAID CWE Required hours | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
NOTE: Only students enrolled in a CTE certificate program are eligible for CWE at Saddleback College. If a student is currently working in the field of their major, those work hours can also be used to fulfill the program requirements.
If you are currently working in the field of your major, those work hours can also be used to fulfill the program requirements.
Enrollment
Students interested in the CWE / Internship program at Saddleback College should visit the CWE Student Workbook page for details.
NOTE: Students are advised to contact the CTE Department Chair if they have a question about enrolling in CWE in that academic department. Unfortunately, not all of our CTE Departments offers CWE at this time.