What is a professional experience? Professional experiences include cooperative (co-op) education programs, industrial internships, and summer employment in an engineering/industrial setting. The engineering co-op program is a joint work/academic program sponsored by Kansas State University and industry, where students alternate between work assignments in industry and academic study on campus. K-State initiated its co-op program in 1963 as a means of providing engineering students a base of practical knowledge and experience beyond the academic environment, and to help them finance their educations. Industrial internships and summer employment opportunities are not as formalized as a co-op experience and vary depending upon the industries' expectations. How does one apply for a professional experience? The student registers with Career and Employment Services (CES) in Holtz Hall (www.ksu.edu/ces). He or she attends workshops conducted by CES staff to improve job search skills. Students may interview on campus, review Jobs On-Line listings for employment, or find their own position. After accepting a co-op offer, a student will attend an orientation workshop or schedule an appointment to learn about the documentation process. Students must complete the freshman year before beginning a co-op work term. Employers vary in the amount of coursework required before co-oping. Those involved in the co-op program must be making regular progress toward graduation and maintaining a 2.50 grade point average. A co-op student may work from three to nine months, then return to K-State to take classes. This pattern may be repeated throughout the student's academic career. Other forms of professional experiences may include only a summer, or a combination of a summer and academic semester in industry. Why participate in a professional experience? Students realize the following benefits from a professional experience: Receive the opportunity to confirm choice of major. Gain professional work experience prior to graduation and thereby enhance marketability. Increase understanding of classroom theory. Earn money to help pay college expenses. Gain useful employment contacts and enhance permanent employment opportunities. Develop confidence and professional skills. Return to the academic setting motivated to finish degree work. Achieve a competitive advantage over fellow students who do not have engineering work experience. For more information, contact: Experiential Learning Program Career and Employment Services Kansas State University Holtz Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-1701 785-532-6506 www.ksu.edu/ces Office of Recruitment and Leadership Development 1056 Rathbone Hall Manhattan, KS 6506-5201 785-532-5455 Fax: 785-532-7810 engg@dengr.ksu.edu www.engg.ksu.edu Office of Student Services 1042 Rathbone Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-5201 785-532-5592 Fax: 785-532-7810 engg@dengr.ksu.edu www.engg.ksu.edu/ Notice of nondiscrimination Kansas State University is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or other nonmerit reasons, in admissions, educational programs or activities, and employment, (including employment of disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era), all as required by applicable laws and regulations. Responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries, including those concerning Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, has been delegated to Jane D. Rowlett, Ph.D., Director, Academic Services, Kansas State University, 204 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506­0124, (785-532-4392). Internships/Co-ops/Jobs (CES)