Failure of Co-op (Failed Work Term)
A student who fails co-op is not entitled to a change of co-op cycle or a refund or adjustment of tuition.
Dropped for Poor Scholarship
The university registrar informs the SCDC if a student has been dropped from the university by the student’s college or school due to poor scholarship. If the student is dropped for poor scholarship during the term immediately prior to a co-op term, the student will not receive credit for co-op. Instead, the co-op course will be removed from the student’s academic record. If the student appeals to the academic department and the department agrees to keep the student active, the co-op registration will not be removed.
If a student is dropped for poor scholarship and not readmitted back into Drexel before the end of the 2nd week of the first co-op term the SCDC will notify the student’s employer in writing that the student is no longer an active student at Drexel University. At that time it is the employer’s decision whether to continue employment with the student or not, realizing that the student is no longer eligible for credit for his or her work experience. Students with F1 or J1 visas are not permitted to continue employment if they have been dropped for poor scholarship.
Co-op Probation
Reasons for probation include, but are not limited to, the following: refusal to honor a co-op pairing, termination from a co-op experience, engaging in inappropriate behavior anytime during the co-op process, failure to obtain approval for a co-op position, failure to obtain proper work authorization, failure to complete a student co-op agreement and registration form, violations of SCDC policy in the job search process, violations of University policy.
While on co-op, students continue to be under the jurisdiction of the University. While working at a participating co-op employer’s work site, students are required to adhere to the employer’s policies and procedures in addition to the University’s policies and procedures. If students encounter difficulties with their employer or the University while participating in the co-op program, they are to contact their coordinator immediately.
Probation is designed to help students learn from mistakes before they graduate – something that will better prepare them for the professional workplace. Unlike academic probation, co-op probation is not viewed in DrexelOne and will not prevent access to academic records; however, it can still affect a student’s ability to graduate on time.
Co-op probation is tailored to the student and the situation. If a student is placed on co-op probation, the terms of the probation may include one or more of the following: an official letter of reprimand in the student’s SCDC file, additional written assignments, permanent removal from the co-op program, suspension from the University, a failed work term (noted as NCU on student’s transcript). The SCDC reserves the right to remove students from the co-op program.
Claiming Unemployment
Students sign a co-op agreement form that states, “I understand that my co-op is only for a specific period of time while I remain enrolled as a student at Drexel, that my co-op will expire automatically and that I will not seek unemployment compensation benefits at the expected end of my co-op.” Students who file for unemployment must withdraw their unemployment claim or they will automatically receive failed work terms for the time spent working.
Co-op Termination
In the event that students are terminated from their co-op position they need to contact their co-op coordinator immediately. The co-op coordinator will investigate the situation by discussing it both with the student and with the employer. Once this process is complete the student will attend a probation meeting with the co-op coordinator and an assistant director in the SCDC. If, during this meeting, the student is placed on co-op probation (see co-op probation above) the terms of the probationary period will be outlined. The student will also receive a written letter from the SCDC defining the terms of the probationary period and the conditions the student needs to adhere to for resolution of the probation. If the student does not adhere to the terms of the probation, he or she will receive a failed work term and a No Credit Units (NCU) notation will appear on the student’s transcript.
If a student decides to end their co-op employment early without first speaking with their co-op coordinator, a co-op probation meeting may also be necessary.
