CWU Career Services
Cooperative Education Internship Process
Your major advisor, Career Services, and our web site can assist you with locating an internship
and the interview/application process. Drop by and see us in Bouillon 206!
Requirements:
 You must be in good CWU academic standing and maintain at least a 2.0
GPA to participate in a co-op/ internship.
 Ensure that you have no holds on your SAFARI account.
 Credit requirements prior to enrolling for co-op / internship. Must have a
cumulative total of:
45 credits, including a minimum of 15 CWU credits, prior to a co-op 290 (1-5 credits)
90 credits, including a minimum of 15 CWU credits, prior to a co-op 490 (1-12 credits)
Graduate students may receive 1-8 credits for a co-op 590 or 690 experience
(If doing a FS 590, please contact your department).
All internships and sites need approval from your academic department. Your faculty
instructor must be involved in your learning agreement preparation and internship process.
Tuition for your internship is like any other class, and is due through Financial Aid or the
Cashier's office upon registration.
1. Download and Complete the Learning Agreement and Student Release Form.
http://www.cwu.edu/career/cooperative-education-and-internships

Make sure you read and complete all items on the learning agreement
 You must create at least 3 Learning Objectives and Activities for yourself to achieve
throughout your internship. You should come up with 1 or more Learning Activities
for each Objective. Be sure to focus on your career goals, your internship
description, what you would most like to gain from this internship and new skills and
information you could obtain from the company.
 Credits are determined by using a minimum of 40 hours of approved field experience
for each credit hour you want to earn. Clock hours may include time spent to
complete the work phase and the academic phase (term paper/project, journal or
log, progress reports, assigned readings, final report etc.) of the field experience.
 Credits for your Co-operative Ed Internship will be registered for the quarter in
which the majority of hours for the experience were acquired. We cannot go back
and give credit for past experiences.
 If doing multiple quarters of internship, a new learning agreement must be
submitted for each quarter with additional or enhanced objectives and activities.
2. All students will be required to take the Online Sexual Harassment and Employment
Discrimination Training through CWU’S Human Resources Department
(https://cwu.adobeconnect.com/_a787149012/p1znfe5ex92/) prior to starting their
internship. When the student has completed the online training, they must print the
certificate of completion and attach it to the Student Release Form that is
included with the Learning Agreement.
3. Submit your completed forms to Career Services for registration at least one
week prior to the CWU quarterly add/drop deadline. (MUST have all required
signatures)
Late agreements will be charged a late fee, and may cause you Financial Aid problems.
If your Co-op will put you in credit overload, you must submit a Schedule Change Form/
Overload Slip (with proper approval signatures) with your Learning Agreement.
Summer Financial Aid is not automatic, you must apply for it.
International Internships: If this internship will be performed outside of the continental
United States, an additional signature from the International Studies Office is required. You will
need to process additional paperwork through International Studies before you can be
registered.
Awarding of Credits:

Credits will be awarded based on quality, magnitude, and level of learning in the
field experience. Use your time wisely and ensure that what is asked of you by your
supervisor gets accomplished in a professional and timely manner.
 A mid-term and final evaluation will be completed by the employer supervisor during
the quarter and sent to your faculty advisor to aid in determining your grade.
 If your field experience is terminated by the employer or academic department, you
will not receive credit.
 A S/U grade will be given at the end of the quarter by your internship faculty
advisor.
 If you leave the internship or do not complete the required hours, an Incomplete or
Unsatisfactory grade will be given.
 An IP grade will be given if the internship carries over into the next quarter. Upon
completion, your internship advisor will need to submit a Change of Grade Form to
the Registrar’s Office.
Responsibilities of the Student:
 Maintain regular attendance at the site, notifying the site supervisor of any
anticipated absences.
 Abide by all state, federal, internship site and university rules and regulations.
 Immediately inform the work site supervisor and faculty advisor of any problems,
concerns, and accidents/injuries.
 Fulfill obligations of the Learning Agreement (including academic requirements and
learning objectives) and the training site pre-internship requirements.
Get the most out of your Internship:
 Know what to expect. Most internships give you a basic day-to-day look at a day
in your future line of work. Many interns may have to file, photocopy, arrange
meetings, and complete other tasks that may strike you as drudgery. In exchange,
you get exposure to the field and work experience to add to your resume. It is
important to do these tasks cheerfully and to the best of your ability because you
may then be trusted with more difficult tasks.
 Pay attention to office culture. Observe how others in the workplace act, it will
help you to know what is expected of you. Pay attention to the dress code. For the
first day, dress as professionally as possible. After that, never dress less
professionally than anyone in the office. No flip flops, visible bra straps, sweat
pants, short shorts, etc. If you dress like you don’t care, people will assume you
don’t.
 Focus. Take your work seriously, no matter what the task. Do not use social
network sites (unless it is part of your job) or text friends during your work time. If
a mistake is made, it could potentially affect the whole office so be sure to also
focus on who can assist you in these sorts of situations.
 Approach your internship as a real job. Be on time, stick to your work schedule
and do not take unnecessary absences.
 Ask for feedback. Every so often, ask your boss how you are doing or if there is
anything you could be doing differently. This sort of input will help you grow.
 Learn from your coworkers. Ask them about their careers. How did they get
into the field? Do they enjoy it? What do they find challenging? What advice they
might have for you? More often than not, they will be flattered by your interest in
their experiences, and be willing to help you.
 Say “Thank You.” Always thank your supervisor and/or anyone that helps you or
gives you an opportunity to grow in your field. Everyone loves a little appreciation,
so don’t be shy about offering it.
Insurance Coverage:
Central Washington University does not have an obligation to, nor does it, provide health,
accident, and hospitalization insurance.
Washington State Laws do not allow the University to extend any of its professional or general
liability coverage to students to cover their personal actions or negligence while performing
work or volunteering at any Program site.
Central Washington University has no liability for injury or property damage which may result
from the use of a personal vehicle by an intern for the benefit of the organization with whom
they perform in the Program.
The Cooperative Education Program is for the intern’s personal gain and academic credits, and
interns will not be entitled to any labor and industries or unemployment compensation benefits
from the University during or after the completion of the Program.
For More Information About Internships, Go To:
http://www.cwu.edu/career
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