RIT provides students important guidance for co-op assignments

Students currently on co-op should follow their employers’ guidelines related to Coronavirus and reach out to RIT career services coordinators with questions.

Students should continue their assignments, and follow guidance from their employers about workplace policies, according Maria Richart, director of the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.

“RIT co-op students are employees of the university and should follow human resources guidance for RIT employees as to whether they report to work,” Richart said. “Co-op students should contact their RIT supervisor with specific questions.”

Students with questions about how their co-op jobs have been affected by coronavirus should speak with their co-op manager if they are concerned about their job, Richart noted.

Students who have accepted a summer co-op should reach out to their employer as soon as possible to see if there have been any changes and to confirm employment details.

“Unless advised by the co-op employer, students should report for their assignments and follow guidance from their employers about work policies,” said Richart, who emphasized that RIT career services coordinators are available to students and employers to help facilitate discussions.

Richart recommended that students contact their career services coordinator if COVID-19 has impacted their previously agreed upon co-op plans. The university will provide flexibility to help students meet their degree requirements for cooperative education, she said.

 “Our career services coordinators will work closely with students and academic departments to determine how to best proceed based on their unique circumstances,” Richart said.

For students traveling for co-op assignments, Richart strongly recommended that students follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) and federal guidelines.

“Co-op students who travel to any countries designated as Level 3 according to the CDC’s travel health notices will not be allowed back on the RIT campus for 14 days after their return,” Richart said. “RIT co-op employees are covered by RIT travel policies.” 

​RIT career services coordinators will work with students and academic departments to determine how to best proceed when a student is reluctant to travel to an employer’s location based on travel restrictions.

“Before a student makes a decision to change agreed upon employment terms, they should contact their career services coordinator for guidance,” Richart said.

International students who cannot return to the U.S. to complete a co-op assignment due to travel restrictions or VISA issues should contact RIT’s International Student Services.

According to Richart, RIT academic departments will provide some flexibility about completing co-op requirements. “Each student's situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”

For more information about frequently asked questions about co-op, go to the Classes and Academics coronavirus information page.