During the Work Term
Mid-term Evaluation
The purpose of the mid-term assessment is to enable both the student and the employer to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by the Co-op program and to ensure the work term is progressing in a positive way. The specific objectives are as follows:
- to confirm that the student is adapting well to the workplace environment;
- to ensure that the student's placement will be an asset to his or her educational program and career;
- to better understand the tasks, the working environment, the required communication and interpersonal skills of each placement;
- to prevent and mitigate potential difficulties; and
- to provide the faculty or department with valuable feedback about academic aspects about the placement and the program.
Final Evaluation by the Employer (in cooperation with the student)
Before the end of the work term, the student and employer need to meet for a final discussion. The meeting generally takes place during the last two weeks of the term. The discussion provides an opportunity to review the student's full range of activities and experiences, what he or she has learned and how well he or she has performed the assigned tasks and responsibilities. The employer and the student discuss and fill out the final evaluation together. The employer completes this final evaluation with the student and they submits this document online and provides a copie to the Co-operative Education Office and the student.
Academic Work Term Report
Another important step in assessing the placement is the completion of the work term report. This report must be written in French, as it will become part of the student's academic record file. The student writes a report based on notes that he or she has taken during the work term, following guidelines provided by his or her faculty or department. Each faculty and department has developed its own format for writing the work term, and the student receives a copy of these guidelines during the preparatory meeting with his or her Co-op Faculty Advisor before beginning the work term.