Co-Op Employer Information

The Engineering Co-Op Program is happy to assist employers as they build a recruiting strategy that increases visibility among York College students:

• Promote your company by posting co-op, part-time and full-time positions on Handshake, York College's internal career search engine. 
• Attend our annual Career Expo, host a recruiting day, or conduct on-campus interviews.
• Host a company tour or schedule a campus visit to speak with students.
• Collaborate on research projects with students and faculty.
• Provide support for scholarships/activities.

York College's Engineering Co-Op Program Director will email reminders about hiring periods, help you post your co-op positions on Handshake, and assist with scheduling interviews and other networking/recruiting opportunities.

Employers are encouraged to post positions at least three months in advance of the hiring date.

A review of credentials, interviews, and offers should be completed at least one month prior to a student's official start date.

*Students have the option to complete experiential learning opportunities.

Length of Co-Op Experiences

Each co-op experience must last a minimum of 12 weeks (summer) and a minimum of 15 weeks (spring or fall). Work weeks must be full-time. (Extra work is permissible if holidays precede or follow the normal work schedule.)

Some students remain on part-time during the academic rotation and often return to full-time for their next co-op work assignment.

Students co-op each semester as follows:

• Summer: May - August (sophomore year)
• Spring: January - May (junior year)
• A limited number of students may be available for fall co-op semesters (August - December) due to unique student circumstances.

Note: Repetitive co-op sessions at the same company are encouraged, although some students may elect to broaden their experience by working for multiple companies. The student's return is to be agreed upon by both the employer and the student.

The goal is to provide each student with significantly challenging engineering work that truly complements the rigor of his/her academic program. Every effort must be made to ensure that work assignments are: 

• Related to the student's academic and career goals
• Properly organized with the goals defined during the first week of the student's co-op
• Planned so that progressively more responsible positions are assigned for each co-op

Students should always be assigned to work with a practicing engineer, but the exact duties and functions they will have in the workplace may vary according to the employer and the abilities and skills of the student. Some examples of potential job functions are:

• Testing of both standard and developmental products or building materials, concrete, soils, water, etc.
• Analyzing test data using statistical methods
• Conducting engineering analysis using thermodynamic, static, dynamic, and vibration analysis, etc.
• Performing engineering design utilizing CAD
• Conducting experiments to assist in the design of products or processes
• Writing operating or processing instructions
• Purchasing, installing and starting up equipment
• Assisting on job sites with project management tasks

An online evaluation of the student is required at the end of the co-op. A faculty advisor will visit the job site about halfway through the semester to discuss the co-op progress with the employer and the student.