Celebrating a Century of Excellence

Co-op Centennial Celebration
1906-2006

In 2006, the Professional Practice Program at the University of Cincinnati will be 100 years old. In fact, since Dean Herman Schneider of Engineering was responsible for inventing the idea in 1906 and developing it into a university program, co-op education itself will be 100 years old. We are planning to celebrate this remarkable anniversary with a renovation and expansion of the existing Professional Practice Program—responding to suggestions and concerns of our co-op employers and our co-op students. The result will be a stronger, leaner, faster program that will extend itself further across the United States and, through increased opportunities for international co-op, around the world.

As one of the largest co-op programs in the United States, the University of Cincinnati generates approximately 4,000 work terms each year for students enrolled in over 40 programs. Co-op is a mandatory part of degree requirements for Engineering, DAAP, and OMI – College of Applied Science, and is an important component of programs in the College of Business and the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences. The overwhelming majority of DAAP, Engineering, and CAS freshmen name co-op as the number one reason for choosing the University of Cincinnati.

Co-op enables students to expand their learning opportunities by alternating classroom study with paid work experiences in their future careers. These experiences, the critical appraisals by work supervisors, and individualized instruction by Professional Practice faculty give students a realistic test of their career interests and aptitudes. They understand more about the realities of work and gain a knowledge of people, practices, and technology that can only be learned in the workplace.

The first 100 years of co-op education belonged almost entirely to the 20th century, but the next 100 years belong to the 21st , and we must make sure our students are ready. The Centennial Celebration campaign will help prepare them for this future and at the same time send a positive message to the world from Cincinnati—a University with great influence in the professional arena and a city attractive to UC students and our business partners.