Title V Guidelines
For Internships & Cooperative Work Experience

Title V Education
Division 6 California Community Colleges
Chapter 6 Curriculum and Instruction
Subchapter 3. Cooperative Work Experience Education

§55250. APPROVED PLAN REQUIRED.

Any program of Cooperative Work Experience Education conducted by the governing board of a community college district pursuant to sections 55250.2-55250.7, 58051, and 58009.5 shall conform to a plan adopted by the district. The plan adopted by the district shall set forth a systematic design of Cooperative Work Experience Education whereby students, while enrolled in college, will gain realistic learning experiences through work. This plan shall be submitted to and approved by the Chancellor.

§55250. 2. LAWS OR RULES APPLICABLE TO STUDENTS IN WORK EXPERIENCE.

All laws or rules applicable to minors in employment relationships re applicable to students enrolled in work experience courses.

§55251. REQUIREMENTS OF PLAN.

a) The district shall contain the following provisions:

(1) A statement that the district has officially adopted the plan, subject to approval by the State Chancellor.

(2) A specific description of the respective responsibilities of college, student, employer, and other cooperating agencies in the operation of the program.

(3) A specific description for each type of Cooperative Work Experience Education program.

(4) A description of how the district will:

(A) Provide guidance services for students during enrollment in Cooperative Work Experience Education.

(B) Assign a sufficient number of qualified, academic personnel as stipulated in the district plan to direct the program and to assure district services required in section 55255.

(C) Assure that students' on-the-job learning experiences are documented with written measurable learning objectives.

(D) With the assistance of employers, evaluate student's on-the-job learning experiences.

(E) Describe basis for awarding grade and credit.

(F) Provide adequate clerical and instructional services.

b) Prior to implementation, any changes or revisions to the district plan shall be submitted for approval to the Chancellor.

§55252. TYPES OF COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE EDUCATION.

a) Cooperative Work Experience Education is a district-initiated and district-controlled program of education consisting of the following types:

(1) General Work Experience Education is supervised employment which is intended to assist students in acquiring desirable work habits, attitudes and career awareness. The work experience need not be related to the students' educational goals.

(2) Occupational Work Experience Education is supervised employment extending classroom based occupational learning at on-the-job learning station relating to the students' educational or occupational goal.

b) Participation may be under either of the following formats:

(1) A Parallel Plan is a form of Cooperative Work Experience Education designed to offer students the opportunity to attend college classes and earn college credit for concurrent learning on the job as specified in section 55254.

(2) An Alternate Plan is a form of Cooperative Work Experience Education designed to offer students opportunities alternately to attend college and work as stipulated in the district plan.

§55253. COLLEGE CREDIT

For the satisfactory completion of all types of Cooperative Work Experience Education, students may earn up to a total of 16 semester credit hours or 24 quarter credit hours, subject to the following limitations:

a) General Work Experience Education.

(1) Under the Parallel Plan, a maximum of three credit hours per semester or five credit hours per quarter may be earned up to a total of six semester credit hours or nine quarter credit hours.

(2) Under the Alternate Plan, a maximum of six semester credit hours or nine quarter credit hours may be earned.

b) Occupational Work Experience Education.

(1) Under the Parallel Plan, a maximum of four credit hours per semester or six credit hours per quarter may be earned up to a total of 16 semester or 24 quarter credit hours.

(2) Under the Alternate Plan, a maximum of eight credit hours may be earned during one enrollment period up to a total of 16 semester or 24 quarter credit hours.

§55254. STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS

a) In order to participate in Cooperative Work Experience Education Students Shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Pursue a planned program of Cooperative Work Experience Education which, in the opinion of the Instructor/Coordinator, includes new or expanded responsibilities or learning opportunities beyond those experienced during previous employment.

(2) Have on-the-job learning experiences that contribute to their occupational or education goals.

(3) Have the approval of the certificated personnel.

(4) Meet the following condition if self-employed: Identify a person who is approved by academic personnel to serve as the designated employer representative. This representative shall agree in writing to accept the following employer responsibilities:

(A) Assist the student in identifying new expanded on-the-job learning objectives.

(B) Assist in the evaluation of the student's identified on-the-job learning objectives.

(C) Validate hours worked.

b) In addition, students shall satisfy one of the following three criteria:

(1) Be an apprentice as defined by Labor Code Section 3077 who is enrolled in related or supplementary courses required of the apprenticeship program; or
(2) Be enrolled in the parallel plan.

(A) During regular semesters or quarters, student must enroll in a minimum of seven (7) units including Cooperative Work Experience Education. Enrollment in an accredited secondary through four-year institution or equivalent course work may meet this requirement.

(B) During summer sessions, students must enroll in one other class in addition to Cooperative Work Experience Education; or

(3) Be enrolled in the alternate plan. Concurrent enrollment will be limited to one other class.

§55255. DISTRICT SERVICES.

a) The district shall provide sufficient services for initiating and maintaining on-the-job learning stations, coordinating the program, and supervising students. The supervision of students shall be outlined in a learning agreement coordinated by the college district under a state-approved plan. The employer and the qualified Community College Instructor/Coordinator shall share responsibility for the on-the-job supervision, which shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Instructor/Coordinator consultation in person with employers or designated representatives to discuss students' educational growth on the job.

(2) Written evaluation of students' progress in meeting planned on-the-job learning objectives.

(3) Consultation with students in person to discuss students' educational growth on the job.

b) The district shall provide the above services at least once each quarter or semester for each student enrolled in the Cooperative Work Experience Education. Qualified adjunct faculty may be hired from other institutions to develop the learning contracts and make the 'in-person" consultation for a student that is out of a college's geographical region, state, or in another country. For legally indentured apprentices, the requirements of this Section may be delegated to the Joint Apprenticeship Committee in order to avoid duplication of supervisory services. The responsibility for compliance with Education Code and Title 5 Cooperative Work Experience Education requirements remains with the college.

§55256. RECORDS.

a) The district shall maintain records which shall include at least the following:

(1) The type and units of Cooperative Work Experience Education in which each student is enrolled, where employed, type of job held and the basis for determining whether the student is qualified for Occupational or General Work Experience Education; signed and dated by academic personnel.

(2) A record of work permit issued if applicable; signed by designated issuing agent.

(3) The employer's or designated representative's statement of student hours worked and evaluation of performance on the agree-upon learning objectives. Work hours may be verified either by weekly or monthly time sheets or by a summary statement at the end of the enrollment period.

(4) New or expanded on-the-job measurable learning objectives which serve as part of the basis for determining the student's grade signed by academic personnel, employer or designated representative, and student.

b) Records must be maintained which are signed and dated by certificated personnel documenting:

(1) Consultation(s) in person with the employer or designated representative.

(2) Personal consultation(s) with the student.

(3) Evaluation of the student's achievement of the on-the-job learning objectives.

(4) The final grade.

§55256.5 WORK EXPERIENCE CREDIT.

a) One student contact hour is counted for each unit of work experience credit in which a student is enrolled during any census period. In no case shall student contact hours be counted for any classroom instruction and Cooperative Work Experience Education. The maximum contact hours counted for a student shall not exceed the maximum number of Cooperative Work Experience units for which the student may be granted as described in section 55253.

b) The learning experience and the identified on-the-job learning objectives shall be sufficient to support the units to be awarded.

c) The following formula will be used to determine the number of units to be awarded:

(1) Each 75 hours of paid work equals one semester credit or 50 hours equals one quarter credit.

(2) Each 60 hours of non-paid work equals one semester credit or 40 hours equals one quarter credit.

§55257. JOB LEARNING STATIONS.

Job learning stations shall meet the following criteria:

a) Employers or designated representatives agree with the intent and purposes of Cooperative Work Experience Education for students and are given a copy of each student's approved on-the-job learning objectives.

b) Job learning stations offer a reasonable probability of continuous work experience for students during the current work experience enrollment term.

c) Employers or designated representatives agree to provide adequate supervision, facilities, equipment, and materials at the learning stations to achieve on-the-job learning objectives.

d) Employers as required by law agree to comply with all appropriate federal and state employment regulations.

§58051. METHOD FOR COMPUTING AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.

b) For the purpose of Work Experience Education programs in the community colleges meeting the standards of the California State Plan for vocational Education, "immediate supervision" of off-campus work training stations means student participation in on-the-job training as outlined under a training agreement, coordinated by the community college district under a state-approved plan, wherein the employer and academic school personnel share the responsibility for the on-the-job supervision. The student/instructor ratio in the Work Experience program shall not exceed 125 students per full-time