SECTION 4.22. College Cooperative Education Program

(a) Purpose. The College Cooperative Education Program is designed to combine collegiate classroom education with full-time practical employment experience through alternating periods of work and study.

(b) Institution eligibility. In order to be eligible to participate in the cooperative education program, a higher education institution must:

(1) be located in the United States;

(2) be an institution with a college or graduate, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum that is accredited by an association of colleges and schools, or licensed by a state agency;

(3) have the authority to administer requirements, standards, and credits necessary to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates; and

(4) have a cooperative education program.

(c) Student eligibility. In order to be eligible to participate in the cooperative education program, a student must:

(1) be at least 17 years of age;

(2) be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, or a non-citizen with proof of eligibility to work in the United States;

(3) be enrolled in an eligible institution's cooperative education program, other than by correspondence;

(4) have attended that institution for at least one semester;

(5) have passed at least 28 semester hours toward formal degree requirements in a master or doctorate degree program, a baccalaureate degree program, an associate degree program of no less that one academic year, or an undergraduate certificate or diploma program of not less than one academic year; and

(6) have an overall institutional grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale.

(d) Application. To apply for the cooperative education program, the student must:

(1) attend an orientation at the institution concerning the cooperative education program; and

(2) submit a completed application to the institution on a form prescribed by the department.

(e) Interview. If the institution's cooperative office refers a student to the department, the student must interview with the department.

(f) Selection criteria. The department's selection is based upon the student's:

(1) current enrollment and participation in a field of study related to the assigned work;

(2) skill, knowledge, and ability as related to the job description;

(3) grade point average;

(4) relevant previous work experience; and

(5) availability to work for three successive alternating periods of employment between three successive alternating periods of study.

(g) Employment eligibility. If selected, the student must:

(1) complete a Form I-9 Employment Verification;

(2) if the student's work assignment in the cooperative education program will be to a position for which a medical examination is required under §4.16(a) of this chapter (relating to Medical Examination), pass the medical examination; and

(3) if the cooperative employment requires driving, pass a driver's record check.

(h) Role of eligible institution. The institution will:

(1) provide an orientation briefing which will include application instructions;

(2) screen and refer the student to the department based on the criteria in the job description;

(3) schedule the student's initial interview with the department;

(4) forward the student's application, degree plan, and transcript to the department;

(5) enter into a written cooperative education agreement with the department;

(6) visit the department as requested; and

(7) review supervisor reports and evaluations.

(i) Role of department. To implement this program, the department will:

(1) provide the eligible institution with a job description;

(2) interview and select the student;

(3) enter into a written cooperative agreement with the institution;

(4) determine the work assignment;

(5) consider the cooperative student eligible for the same benefits and training as a full-time employee;

(6) retain the college cooperative student for three successive alternating periods of employment between three successive alternating periods of study as long as the student's performance is satisfactory; and

(7) evaluate the college cooperative student as provided in subsection (l) of this section.

(j) Role of the college cooperative student. The college cooperative student must:

(1) abide by the program's rules and the department's policies and procedures;

(2) adhere to the established work schedule;

(3) notify the institution's cooperative education office and the department of any changes in academic status;

(4) meet the academic and conduct standards set forth by the institution;

(5) maintain at least an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale during the cooperative education period;

(6) meet the conduct standards set forth by the department; and

(7) notify his or her department supervisor in writing if the overall job assignment is significantly incompatible with the academic degree.

(k) Duration. A college cooperative student is eligible to work as a regular full-time employee during alternating academic semesters or quarters. A college cooperative student must apply separately to participate in the department's summer program as a regular employee.

(l) Evaluation. The department will evaluate the performance of the college cooperative student at the end of work semester or quarter by:

(1) using the department's student cooperative program performance evaluation;

(2) discussing the evaluation with the college cooperative student;

(3) submitting the evaluation to the institution for inclusion in the institution records; and

(4) conducting a student exit questionnaire to assess the overall education experience.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.22 adopted to be effective September 16, 1994, 19 TexReg 6919; amended to be effective August 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 4558