Students must complete a minimum of three cooperative education experiences before graduation. To receive full credit for each co-op experience, students must complete the following:

1. Register for BIOE 3940:00x prior to the start of each co-op rotation. The section number of BIOE 3940 reflects which co-op experience a student is completing - BIOE 3940:001 for the first co-op, BIOE 3940:002 for the second co-op, etc.
2. Submit the student co-op evaluation form prior to the end of each co-op rotation. Accessing this form requires a browser with 128 bit encryption. Refer to the following links to install 128 bit encryption on Microsoft Internet Explorer or on Netscape Navigator.
3. Have the immediate supervisor complete the employer co-op evaluation form prior to the end of each co-op rotation.
4. Pay the co-op fee for each co-op assignment. Students must pay this fee prior to the end of the semester of their co-op rotation to avoid being charged a late fee on their account.

The schedule of co-op rotations is determined by the curriculum plan assigned to students during their first year. Most students are assigned to Plan A or Plan B; varsity athletes, ROTC and students qualifying for the accelerated pre-med option are eligible for Plan C (summer co-ops only). FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE ASSIGNED SCHEDULE OF CO-OP ROTATIONS MAY DELAY GRADUATION BY A YEAR OR MORE. Students that wish to switch plans or with other special circumstances must submit a written request for an individualized plan, along with supporting documentation, to the Undergraduate Program Director.

After the first three co-op assignments have been completed, additional work assignments with a co-op employer prior to graduation will be considered to be a co-op rotation. When students fail to register for a work assignment that qualifies as a 4th or 5th co-op, they will be registered for BIOE 3940 and the co-op fee will be billed in the normal manner.

The role of the Engineering Co-op office is to help students find co-op employment. However, the ultimate responsibility for obtaining a position lies with the student. This means the student must research, select, and successfully interview with companies for which they want to work. To receive placement assistance from the Engineering Co-op office, students should do the following:

• Register with the Career Management Center to submit an updated resume and updated contact information to the co-op office at the beginning of semester.
• Keep in regular contact with the co-op office about potential opportunities during the semester before a scheduled co-op rotation. This includes reading emails on your ENG account regularly to receive notices of available positions.
• Inform the co-op office of all interviews, offers, and work assignments. Students must notify the co-op office if any workplace problems should arise during the co-op rotation.

Students are permitted (and encouraged) to seek positions from employers outside of those that have existing relationships with the co-op program. Any position obtained by the student should have a substantial bioengineering component, and students must provide a written description of the position to the Undergraduate Program Director for approval.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of bioengineering, students are allowed to complete one co-op experience in an engineering position that does not involve a biomedical application. All positions must be full-time (40 hours per week) for a minimum of 16 weeks during the Fall and Spring semesters, 12 weeks during the summer semester. Co-ops must coincide with academic semesters.