Purpose of this Web-Page

This webpage serves as a resource for students and employers who want to learn more about the Cooperative Education Internship Program (Co-op Program) at NOVA's Annandale Campus. Each campus manages their own cooperative education program. Students whose home campus is one other than Annandale need to contact the dean of their division about enrolling in co-op through their home campus.

Co-op Policies and Procedures

Internships must relate directly to degree programs or certificates that Northern Virginia Community College awards and all must be reviewed by the Cooperative Education Coordinator. Students should note that if they qualify academically for the co-op program, the internship is approved and they are selected for an internship, they then must register for the Co-op course (a series of research and practical application papers and meetings with a professor throughout the semester). Students can only register for the co-op course when NOVA has a session of classes (i.e., fall and spring, two 8 week and one 16 week semesters; summer a 12 week and two 6 week sessions. You may access the college list of sessions at this link http://www.nvcc.edu/calendars/). These internships MUST be done for credit. Please note that students who begin internships and do not register for Co-op will not be awarded credit retroactively.

• The Co-op office will need 30 days written notification from students prior to the semester in which they wants to register for the internship. This time allows the Co-op Coordinator and faculty time to review job descriptions; review the students’ academic eligibility and contact faculty references. Students must submit their packet of information (see the link for materials students must submit) three weeks prior to the semester during which they intend to conduct their internship. The Co-op Coordinator will not register students until they have submitted all documents; approval has been granted by the division for the content of the internship and the agreement has been signed by the student; employer and Co-op Coordinator.
• Take note that students who fail to submit assignments or meet with their professor by a given deadline will be withdrawn from their internship course and their employer will be notified that they are no longer enrolled in the NOVA Co-op program.
• Students should also note that the Co-op Office will only facilitate students’ participation in internships which are conducted in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia.
• It is not the mission or responsibility of the Co-op Office to conduct personal internship searches for students, nor do we place students in internships.

NOVAtrak Website

We invite you to access NOVATrak where employers can post internship and job openings and students can post resume and access employment opportunities. You may access NOVATrak at http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/novatrak Note all internships are subject to the approval of the Cooperative Education office.

Listed below is a series of links that provide information about the Co-op Program. We hope you find them to be helpful. After students have thoroughly read the website they may direct specific questions to the Coordinator, Dr. Lisa O’Quinn at loquinn@nvcc.edu.

For the most recent information on register dates please access this link http://www.nvcc.edu/curschedule/dates.htm

Catalog URLs: Instructional Programs, Academic Degrees/Programs/Courses

	Employers' Role in the Cooperative Education Experience		How Co-op Works
	How Co-op Works: The Co-op Process		Walt Disney College Program
	Eligibility Requirements		NOVA-Annandale Career Start
	Internship Evaluation Criteria		Working Hours vs. Academic Credit Hours
	Materials Students Must Submit		How Co-op is Different from other Courses
	Career Planning Workshops		Tips on Searching for an Internship
	Are You a Good Candidate for an Internship?		The Co-op Registration Process
	Websites to Search for Internships		Co-op Course Assignments
	Co-op Student Contact Sheet		Behavioral Objectives
			Internship Expectations