This page includes frequently asked questions that are organized by the following topics:
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Experiential Software (CORE ELMS and WaterlooWorks)
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PDPHRM Requirements and Grades
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Co-op Requirements and Processes
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Co-op Evaluations
List of frequently asked questions:
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What is CORE ELMS? Who do I contact for help with CORE ELMS? How do I reset my CORE ELMS Login?
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What is WaterlooWorks? Who do I contact for help with WaterlooWorks?
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How do I know if I successfully completed the distribution or patient care competencies?
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Can I complete the distribution and patient care competencies in one co-op work term?
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What are the requirements for a position to be considered acceptable for co-op work term credit?
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How many positions can I apply to in WaterlooWorks each interview cycle?
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What should I do if I have an interview conflict, or I'm overwhelmed by my interview schedule?
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What should I do if I feel like I am being harassed or bullied in the workplace?
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Where can I find information about due dates, resources, and helpful guides while I am on co-op?
1. What is CORE ELMS? Who do I contact for help with CORE ELMS? How do I reset my CORE ELMS Login?
CORE ELMS is the Experiential Learning Management (ELM) software that Waterloo Pharmacy uses to collect post-admission requirements (e.g. standard first aid and CPR certification, OCP registration, and Immunization Record Forms) as well as pharmacy-specific evaluations while you are on co-op. In fourth year, patient care rotation evaluations and requirements are also managed using this software.
For help with CORE ELMS, please contact the Pharmacy Co-op Administrative Coordinator for assistance.
To reset your CORE ELMS login, click the “Forgot password” link on the login page and enter your University of Waterloo email address (e.g. username@uwaterloo.ca). A password reset link will be emailed to that account.
Emails from CORE ELMS may occasionally be filtered to your junk mail. Please check your junk mail folder if you do not receive the password reset link in your inbox.
2. What is WaterlooWorks? Who do I contact for help with WaterlooWorks?
WaterlooWorks is the recruitment software used by all University of Waterloo co-op students. It can be used to:
- Communicate with your Co-op Advisor
- Search and apply for co-op jobs
- View your co-op work term records
- Complete the Co-op Student Performance Evaluation
Whereas CORE ELMS is managed by Waterloo Pharmacy, WaterlooWorks is university-wide software. For assistance with WaterlooWorks, see WaterlooWorks Help.
3. Do I need to self-enrol in a PDPHRM course or am I automatically enrolled like many of my other PHARM courses?
Students are automatically enrolled in one PDPHRM course each work term.
4. How many PDPHRM courses do I need to take?
PDPHRM courses allow you to reflect on various professional development aspects of your work term. Four PDPHRM courses are required over the course of the program:
- PDPHRM 1 (Intro to Co-op) is completed before your first work term and goes over the co-op recruitment process, resumes, applications, workplace expectations, etc. It typically begins mid-August of your first year before the application process starts in September. Please note - If you have completed PD1 prior to admission to Pharmacy, you may be able to receive credit for PDPHRM 1. Please see co-op and PDPHRM credit for more information.
- PDPHRM 2 is completed during work term 1
- PDPHRM 3 is completed during work term 2
- PDPHRM 4 is completed during work term 3
5. What PDPHRM course should I enrol in?
All student are automatically enrolled in one PDPHRM course each work term.
6. How do I receive credit for a PDPHRM course?
To received credit for your PDPHRM 2, 3 and 4, students must achieve the following:
- Receive as least "Satisfactory" on the PDPHRM Reflection Assignment each work term (completed by student and submitted in LEARN)
- Receive at least "Good" on Communication and "Meets expectations" on Professionalism on the PharmD Inventory of Skills evaluation each work term (completed by co-op supervisor in CORE ELMS).
- Receive at least "Good" on Overall Distribution during one of three work terms (no more than two "not applicable" permitted).
- Receive at least "Good" on Overall Patient Care during one of three work terms (no more than two "not applicable" permitted).
7. How do I know if I successfully completed the distribution or patient care competencies?
Review the PharmD Inventory of Skills evaluation that was completed by your co-op supervisor in CORE ELMS. If you receive at least an overall “Good” on the distribution or patient care section (with less than two “Not Applicable”) you will receive credit.
8. Can I complete the distribution and patient care competencies in one co-op work term?
Yes. To meet the distribution and direct patient care requirements, students must have received at least an overall “good” rating (no more than 2 "Not Applicables") in that section of the PharmD Inventory of Skills evaluation.
9. Will I automatically get a co-op job each term?
Co-op is a competitive recruitment process. It is not a placement where each student receives a position assigned by the School. You will apply to jobs, interview and compete for positions with your classmates. It is up to you to decide which jobs you would like to apply to.
10. How many co-op work terms do I need to complete?
By the end of the program, you must complete three co-op work terms starting second year winter term, unless otherwise authorized.
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Winter Term (Jan-Apr) |
Spring Term (May-Aug) |
Fall Term (Sept-Dec) |
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Year 1 |
Academic (1A) |
Academic (1B) |
Academic/Interviews (2A) |
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Year 2 |
Co-op Work Term 1 |
Academic/Interviews (2B) |
Co-op Work Term 2 |
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Year 3 |
Academic/Interviews (3A) |
Co-op Work Term 3 |
Academic (3B) |
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Year 4 |
Academic/Rotations (4A) |
Academic/Rotations (4B) |
11. What are co-op fees and when are they due?
Co-op at Waterloo is predominately funded by a student-paid co-op fee. Similar to tuition, this fee is associated with being enrolled in a co-op program and is paid in installments throughout your time at Waterloo. The fee is paid by all undergraduate co-op students, as well as some graduate students whose co-op programs are supported by the Department of Co-operative Education. PharmD students pay the co-op fee four times over the course of the program, during the 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B term.
For more information about the co-op fee and how it’s used, please see the co-op fee website.
12. What are the requirements for a position to be considered acceptable for co-op work term credit?
The standard work term is:
- Creditable co-op position (job description to be reviewed for approval)
- 16 weeks in duration
- 35-40 hours per week (full-time hours)
- Paid position
- Student must have a supervisors or access to a mentor for duration of the work term
- Employers must complete required student evaluation
Some variations are possible, such as humanitarian, international, enterprise co-ops, etc. For more information, please contact your Co-op Advisor.
13. What other co-op requirements do I need to be aware of?
Please familiarize yourself with your co-op roles and responsibilities. You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner in all aspects of your participation in the recruitment process as well as during your work term.
There are also pharmacy-specific student co-op requirements, such as:
- No more than two work terms with one employer
- Minimum of two different practice settings over the course of three work terms
- First or second work term must have drug distribution component
- Second or third work term must have direct patient care component
14. Can I self-arrange my co-op work term?
Yes, with some exceptions. Please see student co-op requirements for self-arranging for more details.
15. Can I go through the WaterlooWorks recruitment process and try to self-arrange a work term at the same time?
Yes you can. However, if you submit an Arrange Own Job (AOJ) Form by the due dates below, and have any active applications on the Full-Cycle Service job board, co-op will remove you as an applicant and from any interviews or rankings.
- Interview due date - 12 pm ET (noon) one business day before scheduled interview
- Rankings due date - 12 pm ET (noon) two business days before student rankings open.
If you do not submit your form before the due dates above, you must attend the interviews or go through the rank/match process as planned.
16. Can I complete my co-op work term internationally?
Possibly. It depends on the position and the location. Contact your Co-op Advisor to discuss. We have had students who have completed work terms in Korea, Dubai, Australia, and Tanzania. Others have incorporated shorter international experiences during their work term in places such as Peru, Haiti, and Malawi.
17. How many positions can I apply to in WaterlooWorks each interview cycle?
You can apply to a maximum of 10 unique positions each interview cycle. Only apply to jobs that you are willing to accept, and keep in mind that if you apply to many jobs, you may end up with many interviews!
Please note - we count multiple positions to the same retail chain pharmacy (e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart retail stores) as one application. For other positions (e.g. Grand River Hospital), each position equals one application.
For example - if a student applies to three Costco retail positions, four Shoppers Drug Mart retail positions, two different Grand River Hospital positions and three different Hamilton Health Science positions, this would be considered seven applications.
For Costco retail positions, only apply to a maximum of two locations and indicate which other Costco locations you have applied to on your Costco application cover letter.
18. Do I need to re-apply to a job in WaterlooWorks if the position is not filled in the first interview cycle?
Yes, if you are interested in the unfilled job from the first interview cycle, please apply again in the second interview cycle.
19. What should I do if I have an interview conflict, or I'm overwhelmed by my interview schedule?
For interview conflicts, please see interview conflicts for step by step instructions. Depending how many interviews you receive, this will likely be unavoidable. Please take steps to manage interview conflicts as soon as they arise.
If you're feeling overwhelmed with your interview schedule, you can contact your Co-op Advisor to discuss available options and/or fill out a Request for Interview Relief Form on WaterlooWorks. Depending on your situation, you may be able to choose to be removed from one or more of your upcoming interviews.
20. What should I do if I feel like I am being harassed or bullied in the workplace?
Please see identifying and responding to harassment for more information and contact your Co-op Advisor for support.
21. Where can I find information about due dates, resources, and helpful guides while I am on co-op?
Please see co-op evaluations and other work term submissions for information about due dates and what’s required of you while you’re on your co-op work term. Information is also available from student resources and employer resources. All information will also be provided during your pre-departure session before the co-op work term begins.
22. What does it mean if I receive a grade of “NCR” or credit information is blank in Quest beside my co-op work term record?
“NCR” or “No Credit” usually means that the Co-op Student Performance Evaluation was not completed by your supervisor in WaterlooWorks. Please contact your supervisor to complete the evaluation. This evaluation should be completed before the last day of your work term.
“NCR” can also occur if the evaluation was completed but at least a “marginal” rating was not achieved. Students may need to repeat the work term. This situation is extremely rare. In situations where there are issues, please contact your Co-op Advisor as soon as possible.
23. What evaluations need to be completed each work term?
Please see co-op evaluations and other work term submissions for information.
There are two co-op evaluations required:
- PharmD Inventory of Skills – Pharmacy-specific co-op evaluation in CORE ELMS. This evaluation must be completed for PDPHRM credit. If it is not completed, you will not receive credit for your PDPHRM course.
- Co-op Student Performance – University-wide co-op evaluation in WaterlooWorks. This evaluation must be completed for CO-OP credit. If it is not completed, you will not receive credit for the work term.
24. What if my supervisor made a mistake filling out the PharmD Inventory of Skills Evaluation or would like to make a change?
Contact us at phrexper@uwaterloo.ca and we can open up the evaluation in CORE ELMS for your supervisor to re-submit. Your co-op supervisor can also contact us directly.
Further questions? Contact us at phrexper@uwaterloo.ca or (519) 888-4567 x21305
Last updated: July 25, 2024