Kettering University

Kettering University's professional co-op model is unique in two important ways. First, employers can hire Kettering students as early as their freshman year. This provides businesses with an unprecedented opportunity to groom students for entry-level, full-time positions.

Second, our students are encouraged to remain with a single co-op employer throughout the program. This promotes long-term relationships between employers and students. Most co-op employers have come to expect students to be truly productive before reaching their junior year.

Additional benefits of this program include

• observing and evaluating potential full-time employees in the work environment;
• receiving productive work for wages paid;
• benefiting from the results of the senior thesis – a major, practical research project assigned by the employer and completed by the student;
• realizing an early return on investment;
• developing future employees within the organization’s culture and philosophy;
• helping recruit a diverse work force;
• reducing recruiting, training, and orientation costs by hiring graduates who have experience with the organization;
• increasing retention of full-time employees by hiring graduates who are already committed to the organization;
• contributing to the academic and professional development of tomorrow's workforce; and
• enhancing the relationship between education and industry.

Co-op is a proven, cost-effective way to meet immediate and long-term human resource needs.