This study sought to identify, quantify, and analyze the benefits to faculty resulting from involvement in cooperative education and to determine how faculty and cooperative education directors perceived the importance of that involvement. (JOW)

Reviews the status of cooperative education research; presents an analytical discussion on issues related to the evolution of cooperative education research (dissemination, graduate programs, co-op practitioners); and offers suggestions for enhancing research in cooperative education. (JOW)

Cooperative education directors from 525 of 841 colleges identified 56 of 60 issues as important; core issues were similar to those in a 1980 study. These directors were older and more experienced than those in 1980. Few differences appeared between two- and four-year colleges. Top issue in both studies was best techniques for developing…

Performance appraisal is an appropriate method for evaluating cooperative education students. Coordinators should use them to give students feedback on job performance, help improve communication between co-op students and job supervisors, measure student progress for grading purposes, and help students establish performance objectives for the…

Cooperative education professionals (n=59) rank ordered 22 research topics. Most critical were those dealing with the impact of cooperative education on learning outcomes, graduate rates, retention, academic performance, and long-term career success. (JOW)

Respondents (n=158) from 23 institutional members of the Cooperative Education and Internship Association evaluated cooperative education/internship students' competence and supervision issues; 56% felt they were more difficult to supervise than regular employees but perceive their work-related skills to be the same or better; 63% were interested…

Training mentors perform critical roles for cooperative education students: induction, performance evaluation, and career counseling. Mentors should be sincerely interested in working with students, understand co-op, be able to motivate, be competent, and have good interpersonal skills. (SK)

Results of a national survey of 285 cooperative education directors from postsecondary institutions indicate that strategic planning in cooperative education is not widely used and somewhat unsophisticated. Results also indicate that strategic planning may be associated with positive program outcomes. (CH)

Responses from 93 of 300 employers familiar with cooperative education identified benefits of their participation: hiring motivated workers, screening students for permanent employment, and creating positive interactions with colleges. Most employers felt that co-op students had better technology and technical knowledge, but were less well…

This study examined the nature of strategic planning practices and their performance effects in 285 cooperative education programs in institutions of higher education. An examination of performance effects using Porter's (1980) typology indicated that different strategies were associated with different program outcomes. (Author/MLW)

Describes a study aimed at the identification, quantification, and analysis of issues facing higher education cooperative education. A set of five purposes was formulated to identify and quantify the important issues. (CT)

Proposes and describes the Statement of Student Trainee Learning Objectives (SSLO), an alternative (which combines the individual student's behavioral learning objectives and the management by objectives used by business and industry) to the traditional training plan for the on-the-job learning experiences of business/distributive education…

In order to determine the actual and ideal role of the cooperative education director as perceived by the director, immediate supervisors, and faculty, a random sample was drawn from 474 two-year colleges with cooperative education programs. Responses were received from 73 directors (77%), 54 supervisors (84%), and 38 faculty members (66%). The…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contribution of the leadership styles of cooperative education directors and organization structural characteristics of the program and institution to cooperative education program outcomes in colleges and universities in the United States. The target population was all cooperative education…

Due to the expansion of cooperative education programs, critical issues facing them were examined. The issues as perceived by cooperative education directors were identified, along with their relative importance as perceived by directors and their immediate supervisors. The study aimed to determine whether differences exist between directors and…