Experiential Learning Opportunities

Cooperative Education Experiences

Criteria for Cooperative Education Experiences

Cooperative education experiences are set at 0 to 12 semester hours per term.
A cooperative education experience is one in which the student is an official employee of the participating organization for a significant length of time.
In any given semester, students may register for fewer cooperative education semester hours than they are eligible to receive.
Students may earn up to 30 cooperative education experience semester hours toward a bachelor’s degree program.
International students may only participate in cooperative education coursework if it is a required component of their declared major.

Contact Hour Requirement

Out of classroom work must involve a minimum of 40 contact hours of immersive work experience for each semester hour awarded.
- Example: 12-semester hour cooperative education experience X 40 contact hours = at least 480 hours.
Students may begin a cooperative educational experience a maximum of two calendar weeks before a term start date and end work a maximum of two calendar weeks after a semester ends.
- Start and end work dates must not cross into date spans of a prior or subsequent academic term. As a result,
  - For 7-week terms, a student may register for no more than 9 semester hours of cooperative education experiences.
  - For 10-week terms, a student may register for no more than 10 semester hours of cooperative education experiences.
  - For 14- or 15-week terms, a student may register for no more than 12 semester hours of cooperative education experiences.
- A minimum ¾ of the cooperative experience work hours must be completed within the registered term.
- Zero-semester-hour cooperative education experiences require employment of at least 25 hours per week during the summer term.
- For SEVIS reporting purposes, international students will be considered full-time employees if they log more than 20 hours in a single work week at an employer, regardless of the length of term.
  - Students should be aware of the limitations on full-time employment.
- Note: If a cooperative educational experience has work hour expectations that differ from the standard definitions above, the course must clearly identify the work hour expectation in its description.
  - A student’s participation status may also differ if a non-standard work hour expectation is part of the course.

Eligibility Requirements for Students

Application and acceptance into Cooperative Education Program.
Completion of any prerequisite course(s) or conditions to the cooperative education course, including but not limited to EXP 100 .
Enrollment at Lakeland is required at the point of application for a cooperative education experience.

Process for Obtaining a Cooperative Education Experience Approval

Discuss cooperative education experiences with academic advisor and Director of Career Readiness and Professional Development.
Identify and apply to cooperative education experience.
- Complete hiring process required by employer.
Once the approval process is complete, enrollment processing moves student into the cooperative education course.
International Students have the following additional requirements:
- Visit the International Administrative Specialist at the Office of the Registrar where a new I-20 will be processed for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Students may not begin the CPT/cooperative education placement without a SEVIS I-20 authorizing the cooperative placement.
Any student pursuing a cooperative education experience must complete the applicable processes by the end of the add/drop deadline date for the semester in which the cooperative education experience is to occur.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Students completing full-time cooperative education experiences at Lakeland University may remain eligible for full financial aid support.
Students should consult with financial staff regarding eligibility criteria and level of support.

Internships and Student Teaching

Criteria for Internship Courses/Sites

Internships are set at 1 to 12 semester hours per term. An internship spanning the academic year is set in a two-semester sequence, with 1-12 semester hours of enrollment per term.
All education majors who seek teacher certification, are required to complete a semester long student teaching experience. *Note: Student teaching requires full day, full-semester commitment of time (approximately 18 weeks of student teaching) following the calendar of the cooperating school.
- Specific prerequisites and arrangements are made with faculty/academic advisors within the Education program.
- For more information, contact the Director of the Teacher Education Program.
Students are limited to 30 total internship semester hours toward a bachelor’s degree program.

Contact Hour Requirement

Out of classroom work must involve a minimum of 50 contact hours of educational activity per week for each semester hour awarded.
- Example: 12-semester hour internship experience X 50 contact hours = at least 600 hours.
- A 12 semester hour internship requires 40 hours of internship work per week for 15 weeks in order to complete 600 total hours.
A student may register for no more than 12 semester hours of internship during a regular semester term.
A minimum ¾ of the internship contact hours must be completed within the registered term.

Eligibility Requirements for Students

Completion of any prerequisite course(s) or conditions (test scores, grades) to the internship course.
Cumulative Lakeland GPA of at least 2.50, or GPA standard set for entry to the specific internship course (which may be higher).
Students must have completed two full-time semesters or have accumulated at least 24 semester hours prior to enrollment in internship.
Enrollment at Lakeland is required at the point of application for internship opportunities.

Process for Obtaining an Internship Approval

Discuss internship opportunities with Academic Advisor and/or Director of Career Readiness and Professional Development.
Identify and discuss internship opportunity with site to supervisor.
Once placement is secure, utilize the Handshake platform to complete the application process for the internship site.
Four approvals are necessary: the supervising faculty member, internship site supervisor, Director of Career Readiness and Professional Development and Registrar’s office.
Once the approval process is complete, enrollment processing moves student into the internship course.
International Students have the following additional requirements:
- Obtain a job offer verification completed and signed by the student and the site supervisor.
- Visit the International Administrative Specialist at the Office of the Registrar where a new I-20 will be processed for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Students may not begin the CPT/internship without a SEVIS I-20 authorizing the internship.
Any student pursuing an internship must complete the applicable processes by the end of the add/drop deadline date for the semester in which the internship is to occur.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Students completing full-time (12 semester hour) internships at Lakeland University may remain eligible for full financial aid support.
Students enrolled in internships that are not full-time may be eligible for aid, but eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Students should consult with staff in Office of Financial Aid and Educational Funding regarding eligibility criteria and level of support.

Any exceptions to policy may occur on a case-by-case basis and must have the written sponsorship of a member of the Lakeland University faculty. Requests for exceptions should be submitted to the Provost’s Office for review.