Show Our Students How It's Done

Create an opportunity for a young person. Recruit a skilled worker in the process. Sound like a fair deal?

At BCTC, students learn concepts that are fundamental to their chosen fields. They learn practical skills and acquire hands-on experience in modern labs. Nevertheless, many students want more. They want to learn on-the-job.

Co-op is the answer.

Co-op, short for cooperative education, is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Employers provide jobs to students who want to apply what they've learned in school. Students bring skills to companies that are often experiencing a shortage of qualified workers. It's a win-win situation.

The purpose of cooperative education is to provide occupational training that supplements the in-school educational experiences of students. The program takes the curriculum beyond the walls of the school and serves as a bridge between the theoretical world of the classroom and the day-to-day experiences of workers on the job. Co-op utilizes the resources of business and industry to give students a first-hand experience of work in their chosen career field.

Students who meet the requirements of basic trade and technical training and have good attitudes and work habits are recommended to employers for on-the-job-training. One half of the day is spent at the sending school district taking academic subjects and the other half of the day is spent on the job. Students are paid at least the prevailing minimum wage for time on the job. For many students, co-op represents the best of both worlds: learning in a real work environment and getting paid for it.

Students become eligible for co-op in May of their second year of enrollment and remain eligible throughout their third year. To be eligible, students must have achieved a sufficient number of competencies and received the recommendation of their instructor. BCTC work-based learning coordinators arrange placement, process paperwork and conduct on-site visitations.

Many large and small businesses in Berks County provide our students with co-op experiences. We'd like to talk to you about involving your organization in this win-win partnership. Our students will thank you for the opportunity, and you just might discover your next star employee.

Please contact Erik Damgaard, our Work-Based Learning Coordinator,
at the East Campus at 610-987-6201, ext. 3342, and at the West Campus at
610-374-4073, ext. 4341.