Undergraduate Programs
Cooperative Education
Each year, UMaine students obtain interesting, substantial, and career-related cooperative education positions or internships, with employers within the State of Maine and beyond. In a competitive job market a student's career-related work experience can make the difference in obtaining a permanent position. Studies show that compared to students who have not participated in a cooperative education program, co-op students:
- do better in school
- are more likely to graduate
- are ahead in preparation for their field
- are viewed as better candidates in job interviews by employers
- receive more job offers
- earn higher starting salaries
- are more likely to get the job with the employer they want after graduation
More employers, in Maine and nationally, are using relevant experience as a screening device to assess the skills and abilities of a prospective employee. There is a great demand for co-op students, especially in engineering!
Examples of companies recently hiring UMaine engineering students for co-op positions include:
- General Electric
- Bangor Hydro-Electric
- Lemforder Corp.
- Mead Publishing Paper Div.
- Sensor Research and Development
- National Semiconductor
- Pratt & Whitney
How does the University help a student land a co-op position?
Extensive services are offered through the UMaine Career Center. They provide counseling and advising for students, mock interviews, critiquing of resumes, as well as keeping data bases of employers and available positions. Employers often have on-campus interviews at the Career Center.
Visit their Web site or stop by the Center on the second floor of Student Union for more information!
The role of faculty cooperative education coordinators
Each department in the College has a faculty cooperative education coordinator, and each of these faculty members serves as a coordinator, advisor and sponsor of a student's co-op experience within that department. Employers often consult with the appropriate faculty coordinator prior to listing a co-op position to determine what skills and knowledge students in that discipline can bring to a co-op assignment within their company. Here is a list of the faculty cooperative education coordinators within the College of Engineering:
- Chemical & Biological Engineering -Hemant Pendse, 211 Jenness, 581-2290
- Civil & Evironmental Engineering -Thomas Sandford, 308 Boardman, 581-2183
- Electrical & Computer Engineering - Bruce Segee, 113 Barrows, 581-2212
- Engineering Physics - Charles Smith, 204 Bennett Hall, 581-1020
- Information Systems Engineering - Michael Worboys, 348 Boardman, 581-2147
- Mechanical Engineering - Michael Boyle, 213B Boardman, 581-2144
- Construction Management Technology - Mac Gray, 312 Boardman, 581-2181
- Mechanical Engineering Technology - Chuck Maguire, Machine Tool Lab, 581-2797
- Electrical Engineering Technology - John Allen, 11 Barrows, 581-4991
