Cooperative Work Experience

• Explore jobs & careers related to your college major
• Earn academic credit to transfer or apply to degree/certificates
• Get a head start in the competitive job market
• Apply what you learn in the classroom in a real-world setting
• Gain confidence
• Practice on the job skills and knowledge
• Begin to build your resume with current work experience
• Begin to build your professional network in your chosen career field
• Enhance your scholarship and university applications

• Students work 33 hours per college credit.
• Students can opt to work full time or part time in positions related to their college program or career path.
• CWE can be paid or unpaid.

Step 1 – Meet with Your Faculty Advisor & Complete the Application
Meet with the Faculty Advisor from your department (or a Student Advisor if you do not have a Faculty Advisor) at least 1-2 terms before you plan to take your CWE class and learn about CWE requirements for your program. Fill out the CWE application and email to Misty Bateman; Program Manager for CWE. If you do not yet have an employer confirmed, leave the employer information blank.

mbateman@clatsopcc.edu or 503-338-2507

Step 2 – Find a CWE Site
Search for a site with assistance from your Faculty Advisor and the CWE Program Manager. If you have a job related to your program of study, you might be able to use this as your CWE site with approval from the CWE Program Manager. You must have a worksite confirmed before step 3.

Step 3 – Prepare your Application Materials Once an employer is confirmed, with the help of your Faculty Advisor or Student Advisor, complete the Learning Agreement and identify your Learning Outcomes for the internship. This document requires that you, your worksite supervisor, and your faculty advisor agree on what the learning outcomes of the work experience will be and how many credits you will be taking the course for. The signature of the student, faculty lead, and worksite supervisor are required for the document to be complete.

Step 4 – Consent to Register

Send the completed Learning Agreement to Misty Bateman before the term’s registration deadline.
Contact: 503-338-2507 or mbateman@clatsopcc.edu 

We encourage you to be proactive and find a CWE site that is a good fit for your career goals, strengths, and interests. It can take weeks or months to find a site, so start searching at last 1-3 terms before you plan to take your CWE.

The CWE Program Manager and your Faculty Advisor can help you to find a placement that best meets your educational needs.

Students must have a learning outcomes agreement signed by the worksite supervisor in place to be registered for the work experience class.  The Learning Agreement must be completed and signed and turned in to the CWE Program manager no later than one week before the first day of the term.  

What is the difference between CWE, a Clatsop WORKS internship, and Work Study?

CWE is a credit-bearing work experience and partnership between employer, instructor and the student. Can be paid or unpaid. CWE is graded and the working experience must fulfill program of study learning objectives in the students’ degree program. Typically occurs during the academic year.

A Clatsop Works Internship is an employer-created work experience opportunity in the summer for the student to gain skills and experience. It can be in any career field the student chooses. Not for
credit / not graded. All are paid. For more information, visit Clatsop WORKS

Work Study is a financial aid program in which eligible students are paid for working on campus or for a qualifying organization off campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I speak to if I am interested in Cooperative Work Experience?

First speak to your faculty advisor to check program requirements and then speak to Misty Bateman; CWE Program Manager. 503-338-2507, mbateman@clatsopcc.edu.

Why should I participate in CWE?

• Explore jobs and careers related to your college studies
• Improve your professional confidence and job skills
• Gain hands-on job experience to put on your resume
• Earn academic credit toward graduation
• Have an opportunity to work with equipment not available on campus
• Make valuable employer contacts
• Increase chances for a full-time job after graduation.

How many hours of work equals a credit?

The amount of credit you earn is based on the hours you work. 33 hours of work equals one credit. 

Is there a limit to the number of CWE credits I can take?
Work with your faculty advisor to determine how many credits you should take for the term, different programs have different requirements. The maximum number of CWE credits allowable for any degree or certificate is 18 credits. This does not limit the hours you may work, only the number of hours that may be counted for college credit. Most departments list CWE as 2-6 variable credits.

What is the CWE Seminar?
You have the option of enrolling in a (1) credit CWE Seminar before, during, or after taking your CWE course. The CWE Seminar curriculum includes online assignments on career management, job search, and developing skills that will enhance your success in the workplace. The Seminar is listed as CWE281 in the schedule of classes. It is no longer a co-requisite for the work experience, it is optional.

Can a transfer student do CWE?
CWE may be included as part of a transfer program. Approval is determined on an individual basis by the lead Instructor in the department that relates to the program of study. Approval will be subject to certain criteria, as determined by the department. In most cases, CWE credits would be applied as elective credit for a transfer degree on a transcript.

Will a Work-Study position qualify as a CWE position?
Work study is a financial aid program in which eligible students are paid for working on campus or for a qualifying organization off campus, whereas, CWE is an instruction program. It might be possible for your work study position to also work for CWE, IF the work study job meets the guidelines for CWE. In general, your work-study position must be related to your program of study and incorporate learning outcomes.

Can I use my current job for my CWE?
It may be possible to use your current job to fulfill your CWE requirement. Your current job needs to be related to your program of study and your job must allow for some learning to take place beyond what you are currently doing. The CWE Program Manager and your faculty advisor will need
more information about your job before making a determination.

Who can assist me in finding a site to do my CWE?
We encourage you to be proactive and find a CWE site that is a good fit for your career goals, strengths, and interests. It can take weeks or months to find a site, so start searching at last 1-3 terms before you plan to take your CWE. The CWE Program Manager can assist you and provide guidance as you seek out a site.

Can my CWE be paid?
Yes. Your internship may be paid or unpaid.

What is the difference between CWE, a Clatsop WORKS internship, and Work Study?

A Clatsop Works Internship is an employer-created work experience opportunity in the summer for the student to gain skills and experience. It can be in any career field the student chooses. Not for credit / not graded. All are paid. Visit Clatsop WORKS for more information.

CWE is a credit-bearing work experience and partnership between employer, instructor and the student. Can be paid or unpaid. CWE is graded and the working experience must fulfill program of study learning objectives in the students’ degree program. Typically during the academic year.

Work Study is a financial aid program in which eligible students are paid for working on campus or for a qualifying organization off campus.

Will I be covered by Workers’ Compensation coverage?
The college will cover you with workers compensation insurance if you are working at an unpaid CWE site. You must be registered and the CWE Agreement must be completed and submitted to the CWE Program Manager in order for the insurance to be in effect. If you are in a paid training site, your employer is responsible for your workers compensation in accordance with State of Oregon Laws.

What are the CWE programs?
Nearly all programs allow CWE in some form, whether that be a requirement or an elective. CWE classes (CWE 280 and CWE 281) are listed in the Schedule of classes under the department’s prefix. For example, Welding would be WLD 280, Automotive is Auto 280, Business is BA 280, etc. You will need instructor consent from the faculty advisor for your department/program.

Student Guide to CWE (Cooperative Work Experience)

Employer Guide to CWE (Cooperative Work Experience)

FAQ CWE at Clatsop Community College

Clatsop Community College

Student CWE Application

CWE Learning Agreement_Clatsop Community College

How to Write Learning Outcomes

Student Evaluation

Student Timesheet

• Gain driven and enthusiastic employees
• Pre-screen potential employees
• Access students with related skills and knowledge
• Have your input heard on college education and workforce training
• Gain a direct link to skilled workers prior to their entering the workforce.
• Maintain skills/expectations within your industry sector.
• Opportunity to inspire students to join your
  profession.
• Employer Guide to CWE (Cooperative Work Experience)

1. You must be enrolled in a diploma or degree program before a credit by examination petition (challenge) can be initiated. Exceptions may be granted by the Vice President of Instruction. 
2. You must submit a formal application approved by the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction, your advisor, and the instructor who will administer the examination. 
3. You may elect to challenge a course in which you are currently enrolled, provided the class is formally dropped prior to the beginning of the fourth week of classes. Courses in which you have previously enrolled and received a grade may not be challenged. 
4. You may not challenge more than 24 credits. Credits earned through examination cannot be counted for the degree completion requirement of “complete at least 24 credits at Clatsop Community College”. A maximum of six credits, taken by examination, may be in cooperative work experience. 
5. The faculty of the College offering the instruction in the challenged course will be responsible for the formulation, administration, and compilation of the results of the equivalency test in accordance with other provisions of this policy. The examination may be either oral, written, performance, or a combination of these methods of evaluation. Under no circumstances will the requirement for credit by examination exceed the pre-established criteria for the course. 
6. Examination for course credit may be taken only once. If successful, you will receive the grade of pass and the letter “P” will be entered upon your transcript. If unsuccessful, you will receive a “N/C” on your transcript. Credits so earned will not be calculated in your grade point average. 
7. Courses involving laboratory or shop experience may be challenged in the same method as any other course; however, you must supply written references from qualified individuals indicating your sufficient background experience to cause a waiver of the laboratory or shop time. 
8. Credits earned by examination may not exceed the total credits previously earned at Clatsop Community College in regular course work. Should a challenge be approved during your initial quarter at Clatsop, credit for the challenged courses will not be applied until evidence of your successful completion of regular course work is entered into your transcript. 
9. You will be assessed a nonrefundable charge of 50 percent of the tuition for each course challenged. A year-long course series, which must ordinarily be taken in sequence, and which, at the discretion of the instructor, may be evaluated by a single comprehensive examination, may be handled as a single challenge for the standard fee. Upon successful completion of the course challenge examination, you must pay the remaining 50 percent tuition before the course(s) will be entered on your transcript.