A Cooperative Co Op Experience

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ) is a branch campus of the University of Pittsburgh system. Engineering Technology in three departments--civil, electrical, and mechanical--was commenced in the early 70’s. The BSET degree is offered exclusively on the Johnstown campus. Engineering programs are offered in Pittsburgh. In 1977, a co-op program was implemented on the Johnstown Campus for ET students. After four years, it was terminated. The reasons are discussed. Subsequently, the School of Engineering in Pittsburgh developed and implemented a co-op program for its engineering students in various disciplines. In 1995, the ET departments at UPJ began using the School of Engineering’s Co-op Program in Pittsburgh to place ET students in co-op assignments. The paper discusses the challenges of interfacing with and logistics of utilizing a co-op office which is seventy miles away. The success and failures in placing ET students in co-op assignments are discussed.