Co-op/Internship Program

How Can Our Company Participate?

• Connect to Handshake. This will allow you to post and manage your positions in the system and gain access to search resumes of prospective candidates from all three campuses, as well as to students from over 900 college career centers if you choose.
• Post your the position(s) in Handshake.

Employers are also encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation to the Co-op/Internship Assistance Program for our Daytona Beach, Prescott, or Worldwide campus students (each campus has its own fund).

What Types of Jobs are Suitable for Co-Op/Internship Students?

• Assistant to a position: Using a Co-op/Internship student in this manner is an excellent way to free a manager, planner or other personnel.
• Project work: Often, employees are too busy to tackle the to-do list. Statistical reports, quality control studies, layouts, inventory controls and market studies are excellent projects for Embry-Riddle students.
• Trainee: Such a position allows for more independent work assignments.

What Time Structures are Available?

• Semester: Students work one 15-week semester. This is the most popular time period.
• Alternate semesters: Students work a term and alternate the next semester with academic study. Typically, students would repeat this sequence two or three times.
• Consecutive: Students work longer than one term. The work term may be as long as one year.
• Parallel: Students work part-time while attending classes part-time.

What are the Benefits of Hiring Students for Co-Op/Internship Programs?

• Reduced labor costs: Benefits often account for 25 to 35 percent of personnel costs. Using Co-op/Internship students can significantly lower these costs.
• Reduced recruitment costs: Traveling to campuses and interviewing is costly. The Co-op/Internship Program allows an employer to evaluate a potential employee’s productivity in your environment with no risk. Consider the 15-week Co-op/Internship semester as an extended interview.
• Improved employee retention: Job expectations of Co-op/Internship students are more realistic. As a result of learning the company’s corporate culture, Co-op/Internship students generally remain with their initial employer longer than traditional students. Employers have had great success in hiring former Co-op/Internship students on a full-time basis.
• Improved work performance: Knowledge gained while on Co-op/Internship enables our students to enter full-time positions at a higher level of productivity than an inexperienced graduate. Embry-Riddle students are committed to the highest standards and have a strong aviation/aerospace background. The Co-op/Internship student will help with professional-level work assignments in areas related to the student’s academic major.

What are the Indicators of a Superior Co-Op/Internship Program?

• Orientation: Each new Co-op/Internship student should have an orientation consisting of company procedures, meeting supervisors, and an overall introduction to the company. At the orientation, the student should also be informed about what the community has to offer and be encouraged to participate in social activities. Each Co-op/Internship student should be an integral part of the company, and supervisors should be encouraged to make the students comfortable at their appropriate position. This may include an email address, ID badge, workstation, and equipment that employees need to accomplish required tasks.
• Mentoring: It is recommended that each new Co-op/Internship student be provided with a mentor for guidance throughout the Co-op/Internship experience. This creates a great working relationship for both the student and mentor.
• Supervision: Select and develop work supervisors. These people should have strong people skills and have an interest in working with and training students.
• Compensation: Compensation is offered at the company’s discretion. Although there are no University requirements governing this, compensation makes an opportunity more attractive to potential candidates. If you are a for-profit private sector employer, please review the U.S. Department of Labor fact sheet on Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (updated January 5, 2018) to ensure you are in compliance. Most companies offer compensation in one or more of the following forms: monetary, specialized training, flight benefits, housing, and/or relocation assistance. Any compensation to be offered should be indicated on the position description form.