What is a Co-operative Education Program ?

The Co-operative Education Program (C.E.P.) is an educational process which combines two learning methods, the academic programs of the University and practical applications of the business world. The CEP is based on a rotation of both learning methods. Students not only gain job training and experience throughout different periods of the year, but also get a progressive preparation for their entrance into the professional world.

Why hire a Co-op student?

Hiring a Co-op student could offer many advantages.

• You can count on the abilities of competent and motivated individuals who have a clearly marked interest for the forest and the environment.
• Co-op students will permit you to re-assign permanent staff to more specialized tasks.
• Co-op students will be available to satisfy your Company's needs throughout all periods of the year.
• By hiring a Co-op student, you will be able to undertake specific short-term projects without having to hire a full-time worker who will have to be laid off at the end of the project.
• Co-op student salaries are generally lower than those of permanent workers.
• By hiring a Co-op student, ties between your Company and the University will improve and grow stronger.
• Hiring a graduate Co-op student significantly reduce the cost of orientation and initial training as compared to non-Co-op graduates.

A recent study of Co-operative Education in Canada undertaken by the Science Council of Canada demonstrated that employers believe that Co-operative Education allows them to continously recruit and select potential full-time employees and enhances the image of the organization at the educational institution. The study also showed that Co-op students were able to handle more difficult job assignments (than non Co-op students) and were able to become productive employees more quickly.

What are the qualifications and skills of the Co-op student?

The forestry sciences CEP includes four mandatory work sessions distributed throughout the year. The level of competence of Co-op students increases with each academic and work session and it is important that the tasks assigned to them are geared to their qualification and skill levels. The following is a brief description of the level of education received before the start of each work semester.

Work Semester 1 - Summer: The student has acquired knowledge in the basic sciences, economics, sociology, communications and report writing, forest botany, dendrology, tree physiology, quantification of forest ressources, forest fauna, and remote sensing.

Work Semester 2 - Summer: The student has acquired all the knowledge necessary for his first work session and also knowledge in the following areas: pedology, geomorphology, meteorology, hydrology, forest flora, computer programming, statistics, ecology, decision-making techniques, and Geographical Information Systems.

Work Semester 3 - Autumn: The student has acquired all the knowledge necessary for his second work session and also knowledge in the following areas: forestry statistics, silviculture, forestry operations, entomology, fire management and forest pathology.

How are the students selected?

The Co-operative Education Program is not accessible to all students enrolled in the forestry science bachelor's degree program. Only those with the necessary qualifications may apply for the Co-operative Education Program. The criteria are as follows:

• The student must have successfully completed the following courses:
  • forest botany
  • dendrology
  • social and economic role of the forest
  • quantification of forest ressources
  • quantification of forest resources laboratory
  • ecology of forest vertebrates
  • ecophysiological processes
  • remote sensing in forestry
• He or she must have maintained a GPA of 2,5/4,0
• He or she must not have failed any course from the forestry science program.

Candidates meeting all of these requirements may complete an application form in themonth of October preceding the first work session. The application form must be accompanied by the student's curriculum vitae and two letters of reference. After an initial selection, the candidates retained will be asked to attend an interview so that a final decision can be made. This final selection will take place in January, preceding the first work session.

What is the procedure to follow in order to obtain a Co-op student?

Employers wishing to obtain a Co-op student must follow these procedures:

1. Job description and posting
   This step may be completed in cooperation with the Coordinator of the Co-op Program who can help you prepare the work session job description. The description must include the nature of the project and the responsibilities to be given to the student, the basic qualifications required for the position, the place and duration of the position, and the name of the supervisor. In order to standardize these descriptions, an application form for a Co-op student must be completed by the employer.
2. Interviews
   After the period allowed for applications is completed, the curriculum vitae will be forwarded to the employers. At that time, they will be requested to make a preselection, and then communicate with the Coordinator of the Co-op Program so that arrangements for interviews can be made (dates, length, etc.).

   Most of the interviews will be held at the Faculté de foresterie, and can be preceded by a general information session with the candidates. This procedure enables the employer to introduce his Company and specify its objectives, allowing him or her more time to select the best candidates during personalized interviews.

3. Final selection
   Once the interviews have been completed, employers will do a final choice. If the student has not accept a job at that time, he will become this employer's student for the next practical session.
4. Job offers
   After the previous step is completed, the student will be required to complete a job acceptance form. At that time, the student should receive the specific information related to the date he or she should start to work, where to meet on the first day, and the name of his or her supervisor.

How does a work session operate?

1. Duration of a work session
   The work session is normally the length of an academic semester (16 weeks), but it mustn't in any case be less than twelve weeks.
2. Salary
   A Co-op student's salary is determined by the employer. Generally, it should increase with the assigned responsibilities of the work session. Statistics concerning salaries payed to students may be obtained at Co-operative Educative Program Office. Benefits are also at the employer's discretion.
3. Evaluation
   All Co-op students will be visited by the Co-ordinator or another representative of the ÉSF midway through the work session. This meeting will allow a verification of the students' performance, the relationship between the original job description, the actual tasks assigned and the level of satisfaction of the employer.

   At the end of the work session, the supervisor will be asked to complete an evaluation form concerning the student's performance. It is strongly suggested that the employer and the Co-op student meet to discuss the student's strong points and those that could be improved. This meeting may lead to discussions concerning the possibility of a subsequent work session and the additional tasks to be accomplished for the Company.

4. The work session report
   Co-op students will be requested to produce a detailed report of their activities during the work session. This exercise will enable the student to become familiar with report writing and the report may also be used as a reference by the employer.

   The report will also be used for a final evaluation of the Co-op student's work session. In the event that the report contains confidential information, the employer will be requested to evaluate the report. Following this, the Coordinator and the employer could meet and determine if the student has successfully completed his work session.

What services can we offer you?

The Faculté de foresterie de l'Université de Moncton is managing its cooperative program independently. To accomplish this, we have appointed a coordinator who is responsible for establishing contacts between employers and students and providing the following services:

• Meeting with the administrators of your Company in order to identify your needs and help you formulate job descriptions for one or more students.
• Offer a student recruiting and hiring service. This service involves posting job descriptions, mailing curriculum vitae to employers, and the co-ordination of interviews and employment.
• Offer information sessions to students in order to prepare them for the work place.
• Visit students at least once during their work session in order to make sure that everything is going as planned, and that the objectives of the work session are being achieved.

Where can we obtain more information concerning the Co-operative Education Program?

For more details concerning this Program, you can communicate with the Co-ordinator of the Co-operative Program by writing, telephoning or e-mailing at the following address:

Programme coopératif
Faculté de foresterie
Université de Moncton - Campus d'Edmundston
165, boulevard Hébert
Edmundston, N.-B.
E3V 2S8
Phone: 1-800-561-9064 or (506) 737-5238
Fax: (506)737-5373
Email: coop@umce.ca