1. Pursuing Excellence Through Experience 2012 Review of Co-operative Education at Waterloo Department Chairs’ Forum Thursday October 25, 2012

2. Presentation Outline Process for the Review Co-op at Waterloo, 2012 Highlights of Recommendations –Vision and Mission Statements –Students –Employers –Institution –Metrics

3. Process for Review of Waterloo Co-op

4. Set by the Co-operative Education Council Seven Themes for Examination –Vision and mission statements, opportunities for innovation –Integration between work term and classroom learning –Employment rates, especially for first work terms –University of Waterloo as a model co-op employer –Connections to student success initiatives –Talent management for employers –Engagement among all stakeholders Terms of Reference

5. Committee Members Chair: Judene Pretti, WatCACE Associate Deans: Ron McCarville, Wayne Parker Co-operative Education and Career Action Directors: Rocco Fondacaro, Ross Johnston Student Leaders: Natalie Cockburn, Eric Cousineau, Adam Garcia, Bryanne Pashley

6. Timelines for Review June 2011: terms of reference established September 2011: committee started work April 2012: self-study prepared by committee submitted to Co-op Education Council June 2012: external review visit November 2012: expected completion of final report

7. Input to the Review Progress towards recommendations from the 2005 review Stakeholder research project initiated by CECA and conducted by PostStone Inc. –More than 30 input sessions with employers, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and sr. admin Feedback from external review team

8. External Review Three day visit in June 2012 Norah McRae, Co-op Director at University of Victoria, BC and President of Canadian Association for Co-op (CAFCE) Dr. Kettil Cedercreutz, Associate Provost, University of Cincinnati Mike Esch, Sr. Director, Christie Digital

9. Co-op at Waterloo, 2012

10. Size/Growth Competitive Landscape Faculties and Co-op Largest Co-op Employer Feedback from External Reviewers Emerging Strategic Priorities from PostStone project Co-op at Waterloo, 2012

11. Size/Growth of Co-op

12. Competitive Landscape 80 institutions in Canada offering co-op programs Companies post positions at more than one institution and may prefer hiring local talent Other institutions are strategic about ways they can differentiate themselves with employers (e.g. earlier or more flexible dates, longer work terms)

13. Each Faculty has an Associate Dean responsible for Co-op Co-operative Education Council meets monthly Some Faculties using co-op data to inform program reviews and accreditation requirements Prism Publication by CECA Referrals for job leads from faculty to CECA Faculty Relations Managers in CECA Faculties and Co-op

15. Feedback from External Reviewers “The University of Waterloo has a world class reputation for co-operative education excellence and this reputation is well deserved.” Identified themes to explore: integration increased flexibility for students collecting and using feedback from employers and students

16. Highlights of Recommendations

17. Co-operative Education at Waterloo Vision “Pursuing Excellence Through Experience” Mission “Enhancing learning through workplace experience”

18. Students Pre-arrival communication strategy about how to best prepare for co-op Research on correlations between Admission Information form and co-op success Interventions for two high risk groups Increase opportunity and awareness for non-traditional work terms

19. Employers Work with Faculties to examine where opportunities exist to give students and employers more flexibility in the length of work terms Continue work underway to formalize a strategy to help employers meet short and long term hiring needs Provide opportunities for employers to network and receive recognition for their contribution to Waterloo co-op

20. Institution – Outcomes Engage faculty at the program level by ensuring that the role of co-op in developing outcomes of graduates is considered during outcomes assessment exercises such as those mandated by COU (UDLE) and CEAB.

21. Institution - Integration Explore alternate forms of co-op assessment –New Student Performance Evaluation form (by employers) to connect to UDLE and CEAB –Alternatives to work reports (Accounting, Pharmacy, AHS) Work with CTE and newly appointed Teaching Fellows

22. Institution - Model Employer Spring 2012: Research project conducted by 14 co-op students working for 7 different departments Fall 2012: Presentations on findings and next steps Winter 2013 –Pilot welcome package of best practices –Establish a cross-campus working group

23. Framework for Co-op Metrics StudentEmployer Experience between student and employer -Recruiting experience -Work term quality -Support on work term -Recruiting experience -Work term quality -Organizational outcome Process-Enough relevant job postings -Job search process -Process changes managed smoothly and communicated effectively -Recruiting process -Work term support -uW relationship management -Process changes managed smoothly and communicated effectively

24. Questions? Comments?