What You Need to Know

Be Co-op WISE – “What's Important? Simple Explanations!"

Students are expected to know the rules, expectations, and essential information needed for success in their co-op program. While the Co-op website offers comprehensive details on every page, reviewing the key topics listed here will help you stay informed and make WISE decisions throughout your journey.

Remember, if you ever have any questions please reach out to a Co-op Program Advisor.

On this page

Communicating with the Co-op Office | When you need someone to talk to | Co-op Term Sequencing | Your Records

Communicating with the Co-op Office

It is your responsibility to be an effective communicator and contact a team member with any questions, concerns, or issues. We are available in person or virtually. Your co-op office is here to help and support you during work and study terms.

The easiest way to communicate with our office is via appointment booking on :

  • Sign into campusBRIDGE, navigate to Engineering Co-op on the left-hand side and select “Appointments”.
  • Alternatively, contact us via email or drop in.

IMPORTANT: Due to a high volume of emails, we ask that students please contact one co-op staff member at a time with questions. We work quickly to respond to messages as soon as possible. If you are unsure to whom to direct your question, please email engineering.co-op@ualberta.ca.

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Getting support when you need someone to talk to

Your wellbeing is priority #1. If you are in need of immediate support, please access these resources.

Feeling overwhelmed? See the list of support resources below:

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Co-op Term Sequencing

Skipping a co-op work term

Students are not permitted to just “drop co-op”. WKEXP courses are a mandatory part of the degree program to which they were admitted. In certain circumstances, one WKEXP course may be waived but that is only at the discretion of the program Associate Dean. A student may not request to have a WKEXP course waived.

Transferring to the traditional program

Students may apply to change programs.

The internal transfer deadline is March 1 for admission to the following Fall term. For more information, visit: Changing Programs — Engineering Students Seeking Admission to a Different Program.

If you are in the midst of a recruitment, you are expected to continue through the recruitment as you normally would until you receive an email from the Co-op Office advising when the co-op recruitment will end — roughly the following dates:

  • Early February for Winter Term
  • Early June for Summer Term
  • Early October for Fall Term

Resequencing your program

Students are expected to remain in their current sequence plan as scheduled and continue their job search as outlined below:

  • Winter Work Term job search will continue until early February
  • Summer Work Term job search will continue until early June
  • Fall Work Term job search will continue until early October

Specific deadline dates will be emailed to you for each recruitment, so continue looking for work until you hear from the Co-op Office.

The following situations can result in a resequence:

  • Students who do not apply for an adequate number of jobs will be required to resequence.
  • If a student accepts a job that is not aligned with their program sequence, they will be required to resequence (see co-op resequencing rules).

In either situation, resequencing may delay graduation since certain required courses are not available in every semester. Please talk to your Co-op team.

Signing up for classes if you have difficulty finding a job

Students may register for classes as soon as registration is open on Bear Tracks. Please visit Student Services: Registration Information and Office of the Registrar: Registration Dates and Deadlines to see latest registration information.

Please note that registration may be restricted to student cohorts that are scheduled to attend certain classes at a specific point in their course sequence. These students will be given registration priority. Students who are unable to register for certain classes due to registration restrictions will need to register in alternate courses.

Students who are scheduled to be on a work term may choose to register in classes or electives that are available to them, but are reminded that they are expected to continue their job search until the deadlines communicated by the Co-op Office. Students must track their job application history for any opportunities applied to outside of campusBRIDGE: see the for a useful job application tracker.

NOTE: You must be signed in to your ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ email address in order to access the Co-op Student Toolkit.

Students who secure a work term placement while enrolled in classes should contact the co-op office immediately. We will assist you in withdrawing from your current classes with no academic or financial penalties.

NOTE : Students cannot have WKEXP 905 waived and would be required to resequence.

Taking a course while on a co-op term

Students should be committed to their employment. Provided it does not interfere with work hours, students are permitted to take a maximum of one course during each 4-month work term. (i.e., you may not take a spring and a summer course — only one 3 credit course in a 4 month period) In the event of crossover between the course and work term hours, a student must obtain permission to take the course from both the employer/supervisor and the Co-op Office. Employers are not required to give you time off for exams, or adjust schedules for night courses. Student services will delete all course overages.

Recruitment dates

Find all of the information you need to succeed with job search and recruitment »

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Your Records

The Co-op office maintains student records in digital format for a period of 7 years. These records may include the following information:

  • Student name
  • Optional self-identification of minority groups
  • Permanent address and phone number
  • Current campus or work term address and telephone number
  • Class and discipline
  • Planned academic and work term sequence
  • Current resume
  • Current transcript
  • Assignment evaluations
  • Work term evaluation reports (midterm and final)

These files are available to be viewed by the student upon request with valid identification. Work term employment data and grades are submitted to the Registrar for inclusion on the student's transcript.

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