North Dakota State University

1. What is CEIP?
2. Why participate in CEIP?
3. What kind of employers or worksites might students find?
4. Will students have enough of the skills that employers might expect?
5. Will other students be working there?
6. How can students work and still be a student?
7. How does CEIP fit into my schedule?
8. How do students find a CEIP position?
9. How many credits can students earn?
10. Enrollment requirements
11. Why would students want to register for CEIP?
12. How do students register for CEIP credits?
13. What is the cost?
14. How does CEIP fit into graduation requirements?
15. How are CEIP credits graded?
16. What is needed for a passing or satisfactory grade?
17. Under what circumstances would a student receive a failing or unsatisfactory grade?
18. Are students eligible for financial aid?
19. Does an incomplete grade affect financial aid for the following semester?
20. Are there additional requirements for international students?

The NDSU Career Center defines Cooperative Education and Internship as paid work experience related to students’ academic major or career goal and taken for academic credit. Employers hire Cooperative Education and Internship students to achieve company goals by providing work opportunities to students who apply current skills to the position that is offered.

• Test a career decision before graduation
• Gain a competitive edge in the professional job market
• Gain real life experience
• Earn money to help with college expenses
• Network with professionals and potential employers
• Improve resume writing, job search and interviewing skills

Students will find a broad range of opportunities. Some are large corporations representing a wide scope of career fields such as technology, manufacturing, financial services, sales and communications. Many students work in smaller businesses, gaining important entrepreneurial experience. Others are employed at nonprofit agencies and government offices.

Employers realize students are developing their skills as they continue their education and plan appropriate work levels. Students can work with a Career Specialist to develop or review their resume.

It depends on the employer. Smaller businesses are less likely to have other students while larger companies may employ multiple students each term.

By registering for 3 credits through the NDSU Cooperative Education and Internship Program, (working 300 hours or more per semester), students maintain full-time student status even if they are not taking any additional credits. During this time student loans do not enter repayment.

Cooperative Education and Internship Program assignments may be completed during any semester. Options include:

• Parallel: Students work part time with a local employer and still take classes at NDSU
• Alternating: Students alternate between attending classes on campus full time for a semester and working full time on a CEIP assignment for a semester
• One Semester: Students work on a CEIP assignment for one semester only
• Consecutive: Students work 2 or 3 semesters in a row

Many students will find the CEIP position of their choice through CAREERlink. Employers list opportunities for students to view and apply.

Some students find positions related to their major on their own and want to earn CEIP credit. Other areas to search include:

• Career Fairs
• Company websites
• Academic departments
• Networking
• Newspaper/independent job search
• Schedule an appointment with a Career Specialist to discuss your position.

Credits are earned on the number of hours worked per semester.

• 100-199 hours per semester = 1 credit
• 200-299 hours per semester = 2 credits
• 300 + hours per semester = 3 credits

• Minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA prior to CEIP registration
• CEIP is directly related to the student's academic major and/or career goals
• Duties are defined and at the professional or paraprofessional level
• Students must be engaged in learning by actively participating in the work experience
• Students must work on site (working remotely is not allowed)
• Students must be paid at least minimum wage
• Students must be covered under employer’s Worker’s Compensation insurance or comparable vocational training insurance

Students who participate in the program are in a stronger position for obtaining a job in their field after they graduate because they have the kind of prior, related experience sought by employers.

Additionally, students registered for the program have the benefit of maintaining full-time student status and have the academic credits reflected on their transcripts.

Appointments are required to register for credits and to complete the necessary forms. Call 701-231-7111 to schedule an appointment. Students will come to the Career Center at 306 Ceres Hall and should plan to spend 20-30 minutes completing the registration packet.

If a student is extending an out-of-town experience (or is registering from out-of-town for the first time), contact the Cooperative Education and Internship Program Coordinator at 701-231-7111.

Cost per credit is always the same as in-state tuition based on students major plus university fees. There are no additional continuing education fees.

Payment for credits is the responsibility of the student, unless covered by the employer or a third party. A growing number of employers are making the investment in NDSU students by paying the cost of the student’s credits; however this payment is not required of the employer, so this will depend on each experience credits.

Every college recognizes the credits differently, so it is important for students to discuss where CEIP credits are applied to their curriculum with their faculty advisor.  Most commonly, students use the CEIP credits in the following areas:

• Fulfill a curriculum requirement
• Technical elective credits
• Free elective credits

• Undergraduate students are graded Pass/Fail and Graduate students are graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
  • Pass does not affect students GPA; Fail is calculated into students GPA
  • Graduate students GPA is not affected unless the CEIP is part of the students’ course plan
• If all required items are not retuned on time, students will receive an incomplete grade.  All incomplete grades must be resolved by mid-term of the following semester or it will be converted into a failing grade. 
• Credits are not given a letter grade intentionally.  CEIP is intended to give students an opportunity to test a career decision, not to impact students GPA.

All students are required to return:

• Work agreement
• Midterm evaluation
• Final evaluation (completed by the student and supervisor).
• Some students have an assignment due to their faculty advisor given at the beginning of the semester, due at the end of the semester.  Once the advisor reviews the assignment and deems it satisfactory, the advisor will notify the Career Center.

• The student does not return required documentation by midterm of the following semester
• The student separates employment early without due cause
• The student is terminated from employment for poor performance or unprofessional conduct

Maybe.  Students are able to receive a Pell grant at 3 credits if they are Pell grant eligible.  If students are only participating in CEIP, financial aid will not be disbursed.  Students must be enrolled for additional classes to be eligible for financial aid, and must be enrolled for 6 credits in order for financial aid loans to be disbursed.

For more information on financial aid, contact Student Financial Services at 701.231.6200.

Yes.  Incomplete grades are treated as failing grades for financial aid.  If a student’s financial aid is affected, the student will receive an email from the financial aid office notifying them of financial aid warning or financial aid disqualification.   This email will include details on what students need to do to remedy their status. 

For more information on financial aid, contact Student Financial Services at 701.231.6200.

Yes.  Although the Immigration and Naturalization Service considers the Cooperative Education and Internship Program a form of curricular practical training (CPT), F-1 students must complete 9 months (2 semesters, excluding summer) at NDSU prior to participating in an off campus experience.

Prior to registering for Cooperative Education and Internship Program credits, students need to contact the Office of International Programs to complete the CPT application.

For more information, contact the Office of International Programs at 701.231.7895.