By implementing Provincial and Federal legislation, in addition to Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada) guidelines, we make sure that you, and our co-op students, are protected.
This page outlines the roles and responsibilities put in place for the University of Waterloo, Waterloo co-op employers and students in relation to the University’s co-operative education program.
This information was last updated in March 2022.
Roles and responsibilities: University of Waterloo |
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Roles and responsibilities: Co-operative Education and the University of Waterloo
Co-op accreditation
The University of Waterloo is a full member of Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. All of Waterloo’s undergraduate co-op programs and select graduate programs are accredited. Accredited programs meet the following criteria:
- Every co-op job is verified and approved by Co-operative Education.
- Students should be engaged in productive work rather than just observing.
- Students should receive some form of remuneration for their work.
- Student progress on the work term should be monitored by Co-operative Education.
- Student performance on the work term should be evaluated by their employer.
- At least 30% of the time in a student’s degree must be spent on co-op work experiences (for graduate programs under two years: 25%).
- Students should be progressing through a formalized study/work sequence, as set by their academic program.
Important: Waterloo co-op programs are designed to meet and/or exceed all accreditation requirements and are administered solely by the University and not CEWIL Canada.
Co-operative Education will:
- Develop co-operative education employment opportunities with public and private sector employers that fulfil the co-operative education degree requirements.
- Maintain and enhance relationships with existing employers.
- Manage and administer the co-op recruitment process for employers and students (e.g., job postings, interview scheduling, interview facilities, computer matching, etc.).
- Present offers of employment (via rankings) on behalf of employers to students.
- Maintain contact (work term consultations, e-mail or telephone) with students and employers during the work term through the hiring process and work term support representatives.
- Provide advice and support to students and employers if difficulties arise during a work term.
- Ensure that any relevant and required documentation is provided to students, the employer and the appropriate University department and/or faculty.
- Establish and maintain records with information that reflects students' co-op activities in accordance with Waterloo Policy 46.
Ethics
It is the University of Waterloo's responsibility to:
- Inform students, employers and other interested parties of their policies and procedures.
- Provide equal services to all students and employers.
- Accommodate employers' reasonable requests for job postings, interview space and presentation facilities.
- Provide students with accurate information on all recruiting employers.
- Notify the employer of any hiring limitations prior to them conducting interviews.
- Follow ethical and legal guidelines in providing student information to employers.
- Comply with all Provincial and Federal Freedom of Information, Human Rights and Employment legislation.
- Attempt to resolve violations of recruiting ethics at the local level. Where local resolution is not possible, violations should be brought to the attention of the National Board.
Note: These ethics are reprinted with permission from Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. For additional information, please review the CEWIL's Recruiting Ethics for employers, students and institutions.
Feasibility studies
In order to support Waterloo’s Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), Co-operative Education will conduct feasibility studies in conjunction with the development of new or evolving co-op plans/programs as well as when significant changes in curriculum or any course realignments may affect the employability of co-op students.
Feasibility studies allow us to assess potential shifts in demand for students who are admitted to new programs, following new study/work sequences or learning new skills in the classroom. They also allow us to assess the lead time and resources anticipated to develop appropriate job opportunities for the projected supply of students.
For more information about our process around feasibility studies, visit this page.
University closures
Snow day closure
Snowstorms occasionally cause the University to close. When this happens, Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) also shuts down. All interviews scheduled for that day are cancelled and postponed to another date. The new dates will appear on your WaterlooWorks dashboard.
You can find out if the University is closed by doing any of the following (after 6:30 a.m.):
- Check the University of Waterloo homepage for a closure notice.
- Call the University (519-888-4567) or our front desk (519-888-4026). A recorded message will tell you if the University is closed.
- Check our websites for a closure notice. The notice will appear on the Co-operative Education student homepage, Hire Waterloo employer homepage and WaterlooWorks login page.
Other closures
There may be other reasons that cause Co-operative Education to cancel and postpone interviews. In these cases, we will post notices on the website and if possible, attempt to contact students with scheduled interviews to explain the cancellation or postponement.
Pandemic guidelines and procedures
Pandemic instructions, guidelines, and procedures will be posted on this page, in the event of major disruptions, should an influenza pandemic strike occur. In the case of a pandemic event, check back to this page.
Pandemic resources
