Checklist of Items Necessary for Planning Your Co-Op Experience

NOVA students must submit the following documents:

• The Co-op office will need 30 days written notification from students prior to the semester in which they want 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 and the agreement has been signed by the student; employer and Co-op Coordinator.
• A list of 5 specific behavioral objectives. Based on the job description given to you by your employer, create a list of specific objectives that you hope to achieve from your co-op experience. After you have created this list of objectives, schedule an appointment to review them with your employer and then submit them to the Co-op Coordinator. These objectives are the cornerstone of the internship as they will be your course objectives; the criteria by which your employer will evaluate your performance (which accounts for 40% of your grade) and will serve as the basis for your last assignment where you will be asked how you achieved them; what challenges you encountered and what you learned in the process. Students should allow 5 to 7 business days in order to revise objectives. I must have these objectives before I can fax an agreement to any employer. See information below on how to write behavioral objectives.
• If you are anything other than a U.S. citizen or permanent resident you must go the International Student Center to obtain a letter verifying your eligibility for employment. You must submit a letter verifying your eligibility to work each semester when you want to register for co-op.
• An unofficial copy of your NOVA transcript or if you are currently enrolled at another college or university, you should submit your transcript from that school.
• An Academic Advising Worksheet that lists the curriculum of your degree program. Students must first complete their academic advising curriculum sheet on their own. They can obtain this form at their division office or at the Counseling Center. The purpose of this exercise is for the student to become knowledgeable of their degree requirements, the courses they have completed and the courses they have remaining to finish. Once students have completed this form they should ask their faculty advisor to review it and make sure that they have completed it correctly. In addition students should ask the advisor to note on their academic advising how their co-op will apply to their program of study. If the advisor suggests applying the co-op as substituting for another course, then the student needs to complete a course substitution form and submit it to his advisor in order for this co-op to be counted toward graduation requirements.
• A Co-op contact sheet
• A copy of an updated resume which includes, but is not limited to:
• A list of skills and experience you bring to your co-op experience
• A list of previous jobs you have held
• A description of the type of co-op position you hope to secure
• Skills you would like to learn or develop further as a result of your co-op experience
• A brief statement of your career goals
• The name and title of your supervisor, his/her telephone number, fax number and email address.
• Please provide the names of two NOVA faculty whom I could contact as references.
  Please complete and sign the document attached to this link and give the original to the faculty member from whom you are asking the reference and fax a signed copy to me at 703.323.3015. Students should allow 3 to 5 business days for Coordinator to contact faculty. I must have this signed release form 30 days before the last day of classes. Click here for attached release form.

Students from other colleges and universities who want to enroll in co-op should submit the following documents:

• The Co-op office will need 30 days written notification from students prior to the semester in which they want 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 and the agreement has been signed by the student; employer and Co-op Coordinator.
• Complete an application for admission and an application for in-state tuition rates (if they are VA residents) via NOVAConnect on our website at: http://www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect/ The Co-op Coordinator cannot register any student for co-op until the college has processed their application. Students should allow 3 to 5 business days for their applications to be processed before they can register.
• A list of 5 specific behavioral objectives. Based on the job description given to you by your employer, create a list of specific objectives that you hope to achieve from your co-op experience. After you have created this list of objectives, schedule an appointment to review them with your employer and then submit them to the Co-op Coordinator. These objectives are the cornerstone of the internship as they will be your course objectives; the criteria by which your employer will evaluate your performance (which accounts for 40% of your grade) and will serve as the basis for your last assignment where you will be asked how you achieved them; what challenges you encountered and what you learned in the process. Students should allow 5 to 7 business days to revise objectives. I must have these objectives before I can fax an agreement to any employer. See information below on how to write behavioral objectives.
• A transcript from the college where you have been enrolled or are currently enrolled which confirms that you are in good academic standing
• A Co-op contact sheet
• A copy of an updated resume which includes, but is not limited to:
• A list of skills and experience you bring to your co-op experience
• A list of previous jobs you have held
• A description of the type of co-op position you hope to secure
• Skills you would like to learn or develop further as a result of your co-op experience
• A brief statement of your career goals
• The name and title of your supervisor, his/her telephone number, fax number and email address.

When you have collected all the items listed above please email me at loquinn@nvcc.edu and provide me with a list of dates and times when you can meet me at my office in room 327 of the CM building.