Central Georgia Technical College has recently developed new co-op agreements with several local industries aimed at integrating student academic studies and work experience with the potential for future consideration into employment. The co-ops are available to students enrolled in the Industrial Systems Technology and Instrumentation and Controls Technician associate degree programs.

A cooperative employment program or co-op, is a planned, progressive education program agreed to on the basis for developing mutual understanding and respective responsibilities between an employment facility and an academic institution. It fulfills a need for students to gain real, practical work experience and facilitates an employment pipeline for a company.

Antonio Shelley, the Industrial Systems, Instrumentation and Controls, program chair at CGTC, works directly with the companies to establish and fulfill these agreements. Specifically, Shelley creates healthy relationships with industry partners and assists in maintaining student’s records and providing feedback.

Shelley said the experience gained for students working under a co-op agreement is invaluable and can easily be carried on to any job.

“The Industrial Systems program” Shelley said, “is like a launching pad. From here you can go anywhere”

The launching pad can spring students into one of six co-op agreements with Graphic Packaging International, Frito-Lay®, Georgia Power, Tyson Foods Inc., Purdue Farms Inc., and Kooler Ice Inc.

Within a given agreement a wide range of responsibilities and expectations are laid out for the company, CGTC, and the student. The agreement generally includes, at a minimum, the following five expectations for the companies:

-       Provide a safe working environment

-       Provide job tasks related to the associated program

-       Assign a company representative to serve as a mentor

-       Provide adequate feedback to the student for improvement if necessary

-       Provide timely feedback to the school for student development.

CGTC’s responsibilities are similar, but also include provisions guaranteeing candidate selection, the correlation of study and practice, and progress monitoring.

Students also have responsibilities within the agreements. Students must meet academic, performance and conduct standards set forth by both parties. For employment, students have to be recommended by the employing agency. Although every effort will be made to place students in employment, there is no guarantee that the co-op will lead to a job.

Several CGTC students have earned employment through participation in co-op programs. Since 2010, Kooler Ice Inc., has employed several students from the College with diplomas in Industrial Systems Technology. Today 80 percent of their assembly line is staffed with those having the Industrial Systems Technology diploma.

Georgia Power has also granted employment on multiple occasions to participants, including one student who was hired seven weeks into a 10-week agreement. Perdue Farms Inc., and Blue Bird® have also previously hired CGTC students.

Acceptance into a co-op is based on a particular agreement and the companies staffing needs, as well as standard employment requirements such as age and citizenship. Students must also be enrolled in Industrial Systems or Instrumentation and Controls and have a 2 in Work Ethics and 3.0 or 3.25 GPA, depending on the co-op, in order to apply.

If accepted, students may be paid by the company in accordance with an established pay schedule. Work periods and school periods will be scheduled within the agreement to correspond with duties and expectations.

Students not enrolled in the Industrial Systems program are encouraged to schedule a tour of the program area with Mr. Shelley.