Partnering for
Student
Success
Educate
Mentor
Engage
As you know, today’s job market is extremely competitive for new graduates. You are looking for more than just a degree from those you hire. You
want the candidate who has both the strong education and work experience
in their desired field. The CIS Co-Op will help students from the Monte Ahuja
College of Business at Cleveland State University achieve their goals of a career
in CIS/IT.
The CIS Co-Op is a formal, accredited academic program that integrates
classroom theory with work experience. A student alternates semesters of
work and study, beginning the summer after their freshman year. The student
will complete a minimum of two and a maximum of four Co-Op semesters. The
degree will be completed in five years with the equivalent of at least one year
of meaningful CIS/IT experience.
Why Become a Partner Company?
Students come prepared with at least two semesters of relevant coursework
Discover and connect with new talent
Evaluate skills of students for potential future positions
Keep the best and brightest CIS talent in Cleveland
Help students acquire real-world experience
Create a pipeline to fill your company from within
Employer Responsibilities
•• Provide meaningful, challenging work assignments, closely related to the
student’s chosen CIS/IT field
•• If possible, begin planning your Co-Op needs a minimum of one-year in
advance. The CIS Co-Op coordinator can provide numbers of available
students and resumes to assist in your planning
•• Submit a detailed position description to the CIS Co-Op coordinator
•• Make offers during the semester prior to the student’s availability to begin
the assignment (or earlier)
•• Provide full-time employment for the duration of the semester, adhering
to the alternating work/study semester requirement
•• Pay a wage commensurate with experience. While the employer makes
the hiring and salary decision, the Co-Op coordinator can provide current
Co-Op salary information based upon industry best practices, experience
and academic classification. Resumes of available students who meet the
position qualifications will be made available and on-campus interviewing
may be arranged
•• Maintain communication with the CIS Co-Op coordinator regarding scheduled interviews, pending offers and job acceptances
•• Mentor, supervise and formally evaluate the student to enhance their
learning and professional development
Student Responsibilities
•• Complete at least two semesters of CIS coursework prior to the first Co-Op
semester
•• Complete a career orientation course prior to the first Co-Op semester
•• Apply to the CIS Co-Op program as early as freshman year. Prepare and
begin the Co-Op position search up to one-year prior to the first Co-Op
semester
•• While at the Co-Op position, work full-time (40 hours per week) completing
a minimum of two Co-Op semesters, following an alternating work/study
sequence (see tables below)
•• During the Co-Op semesters, register and successfully complete the CIS
Cooperative Education Experience course. Course duties include the
preparation of Co-Op objectives, a final report approved by the employer
and evaluations of the Co-Op experience by the student and work
supervisor
Co-Op starting in Spring and ending after the first half of Summer
Summer 2 Fall
Spring
Summer 1
Year 1 (Freshman)
Courses
Courses
Year 2 (Sophomore)
Courses
Co-Op
Co-Op
Year 3 (Pre-Junior)
Courses
Courses
Co-Op
Co-Op
Year 4 (Junior)
Courses
Courses
Co-Op
Co-Op
Year 5 (Senior)
Courses
Courses
Courses
Co-Op starting in the second half of Summer and continuing through Fall
Summer 2 Fall
Spring
Summer 1
Year 1 (Freshman)
Courses
Courses
Year 2 (Sophomore)
Courses
Courses
Courses
Year 3 (Pre-Junior)
Co-Op
Co-Op
Courses
Courses
Year 4 (Junior)
Co-Op
Co-Op
Courses
Courses
Year 5 (Senior)
Co-Op
Co-Op
Courses
If you are interested in becoming a CIS Co-Op partner company, have
questions or need more information, please contact Dr. Sharen Bakke,
Faculty Advisor and CIS Co-Op Coordinator.
Dr. Sharen Bakke
s.bakke@csuohio.edu
216.875.9803
1860 E. 18th St, BU344
Cleveland, OH 44115
P: 216.687.4760
F: 216.687.5448
E: cis.coop@csuohio.edu
www.cis.csuohio.edu/coop