Non-NOVA students must submit transcripts; employer information; their 5 objectives. Once faculty and the co-op coordinator have approved their internship description the co-op coordinator will fax the agreement to the employer for their signature and the student’s signature. The co-op coordinator will register the student for the course; the student must pay the same day. The coordinator will then send a packet of materials (copies of the agreement; assignments; due dates and performance evaluations to the employer; student and faculty member). The student must meet with the faculty member and complete the assignments by the stipulated deadlines and give an oral presentation at the end of the semester where they address the objectives they established at the beginning of the semester. This course is conducted as an independent study and does not meet on a weekly basis. Employers must complete performance evaluations and submit them to the coordinator. If the student does not submit assignments by the midpoint of the semester, he/she will be withdrawn. If students complete assignments on time, a grade will be given at the completion of the semester.

How Co-op Works for NOVA Students:

Students must secure their own internships and then submit their employer information (name of supervisor, phone and fax numbers, mailing address and email address). The Co-op Coordinator will determine if the position is directly related to their major. This review process requires at least one week. Students should not assume that their position will be approved, as the internship must directly relate the courses they have completed and students must be academically eligible (have earned 15 credits; 6 credits in their major and have a 2.0 GPA). Given that some internships may not be approved, students who need to maintain full time status requirements (especially F-1 students) are advised to register for 12 credits and if the internship is approved, they can drop one of their courses and take the internship, provided that they have received permission by the International Student Center to engage in CPT.

Students submit transcripts, letter of eligibility from the International Student Office (if applicable), and completed academic advising sheet (which lists all the courses they have completed to date in their program); their 5 objectives based upon their job description to the Co-op Office to determine eligibility for co-op. Students must submit this information each semester they want to apply for co-op, as their eligibility status may change (Students who are matriculated in Business Management, Marketing, Real Estate and Business Administration programs at the Annandale Campus must first meet with their advisors). Students may only register for co-ops during an academic semester.  No credit will be given for prior learning. 

The Co-op coordinator will notify the International Student Advisor of any F-1 students who are registered for a particular number of co- op hours and provide him with all the employer information and the number of hours they will be working. Students will then be asked to bring their I- 20 to him for his signature. Only after the international student advisor has signed the I-20 may students begin their internships.

The coordinator will provide students with a packet of information including the name of their professor, their assignments, syllabi, and performance evaluations. Students should contact faculty to set up a time to meet with them and review the course information. Class meeting times noted on the registration are not valid, they are used only as a means of listing the course on NOVAConnect.

Students will be required complete the assignments which will be posted on the Co-op Website and are contained in their packet of information. Note: If they fail to submit the first three by the due date stated on the syllabus they will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Students should contact the professor overseeing their co-op and make arrangements to meet with them during the first week of class. At this meeting they should review their objectives, assignments and due dates. Students should meet with their faculty members a minimum of three times during the semester, once at the beginning of the semester, at the midpoint of the semester to discuss their progress and at the end of the semester for their final presentation. Students should submit all assignments via email to their faculty members and the Co-op coordinator via email.

The co-op coordinator will send performance evaluation forms to the employer and students. Employers and students will complete a preliminary evaluation of the internship and the students' performance. Employers will complete the final evaluation of students at the end of the internship, which will be forwarded to the faculty member and incorporated into the students' grades. Students will be asked to complete an evaluation of the internship opportunity and will be asked to send this evaluation to the co-op coordinator.

Students will submit assignments via email at the mid point of the semester to the co-op coordinator and faculty member.

Students will be asked to submit the last three assignments at the end of the semester and make a final presentation to the faculty member overseeing the co-op and the co-op coordinator.

Students may earn 3 credits each for their first two co-ops and 4 credits for their third co-op. (i.e., the first semester a student will earn 3 credits of co-op; the second semester they will earn 3 credits of co-op and the third semester they will earn 4 credits of co-op for a total of 10 credits, the maximum number of co-op credits which may be awarded under the Virginia Community College System).