notification and registration
Intro to Co-op | Programs by Major | Finding a Co-op | Responsibilities and Ethics | Co-op Profiles
Accepting a Job Offer
Congratulations! Once you accept a co-op job offer, even verbally, you are expected to honor this commitment. You must not back out, or renege on the job, to work for another employer! Make sure you confirm your start and end dates, work hours and other work site expectations with your employer prior to starting your job.
Co-op employers expect RIT and its students to operate according to accepted business ethics and standards. Further, RIT expects your behavior at all times, whether on or off campus to be in accordance with the standards articulated in the RIT Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook and the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services' Co-op Student Agreement.
International students need work authorization from the RIT International Student Services and cannot co-op until after three consecutive full-time academic quarters of study have been completed (http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/iss/).
Once
you have accepted a co-op job offer
Reporting Your Co-op Job and Registering For Co-op
After you have accepted a co-op job, two steps are required to ensure that you will receive the appropriate co-op "credit" for each quarter you will be on co-op:
1. Notify the Office of Co-op and Career Services. You will need
to complete the form electronically through the main student
page of our site. Click on the Report Your Job link and provide
the information requested.
2. Register with the Registrar's Office for co-op. You
must register for co-op as a course. You will find the course
number in the schedule of courses. By registering for co-op
as a course, you will maintain your full-time student status
and thus your eligibility for financial aid, student housing,
etc. Also co-op will appear on your transcript for the quarter
- an important asset! Some students need to have their academic department register them for co-op. (Major-specific registration details can be found in your Co-op Quick Guide).
If you are an international student, you must file form I-538
to INS and get work authorization stamped on your I-20 by
a foreign student advisor in the Center for Student Transition
and Support. Omission is considered to be one of the most
serious violations of INS rules and regulations.
Your Co-op Salary and Income Tax Information
Your employer determines your compensation level. Salary rates are based on a number of variables, including your academic major, year level, prior work experiences and established company policies. There may be some room for negotiation based on circumstances. Check our web site for the latest co-op salary data listed by academic program.
According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), salaries/wages paid to co-op students are fully subject to applicable federal and state income taxes.
Registering for the next quarter while out on a co-op assignment
While out on co-op you will receive registration information from your department to telephone register or register online for the next quarter. If your next quarter is part of a double block co-op, you must register for the second co-op as well.
Employer
evaluation of co-op performance
Your Co-op Evaluation
To receive a “Satisfactory “ (“S”) grade for co-op on your transcript, the following evaluation documents must be completed and returned to the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services:
1. Employer Evaluation of your performance. A link to a customized evaluation form is emailed to your employer by the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services during the midpoint of each quarter you are on co-op.
2. Student Co-op Work Report. Most, but not all, students need to complete a report. (Check your Co-op Quick Guide to see if is a requirement of your program). This report is available to you via the student portal page of our site during the midpoint of each quarter you are on co-op.