The close nature of the relationship developed between the Supervisor and co-op student assistant frequently results in a productive mixture of established and innovative views. Most workers are too busy keeping the company operating to do that needed statistical report, quality control study, layout experiment, comparison study, inventory check or that vital market study. These activities are excellent projects for co-op students. This position differs from the assistant position because more independent work assignments are required. Probably the most popular approach is the Alternating Structure.
Students work a term and alternate the next term with academic study.
This process is continued until work sessions are completed. This popular method allows companies the opportunity to view two prospective employees for future human resource needs. In the Consecutive Structure, the student works a full year and then returns to finish studies. This structure is somewhat limiting, to both the student and the employer. Often, knowledge gained in the senior year cannot be applied on the job when the student works one year prior to senior classes.