4.4 Work Terms

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Engineering work term registration, grading, and tuition fee charges and payments are governed by the University Regulations in this Calendar and those outlined below. Engineering work term placement and opt-outs, conduct, and evaluation are governed by the Engineering Co-operative Education Student Rules and Regulations Handbook. Any changes to the Engineering Co-operative Education Student Rules and Regulations Handbook require the approval of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies.

A student must successfully complete a minimum of four work terms in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. The Bachelor of Engineering degree offers the opportunity to complete up to five work terms beyond academic term 3. A student is expected to complete as many of these work terms as possible. A student who expects to complete the Engineering One requirements by the end of the Winter semester may apply to the Committee on Undergraduate Studies to undertake a work term during the Spring semester of Engineering One. Academic performance is the basis for approving such requests.

All students in academic terms 3 to 7 and any student approved to complete a work term during the Spring semester of Engineering One will be registered automatically during the regular registration period for the next scheduled work term unless the student has opted out. A student may opt out of up to two work terms beyond Academic Term 3 by completing the procedures outlined in the Engineering Co-operative Education Student Rules and Regulations Handbook. Opt-outs normally are approved only in cases where a student has successfully completed a minimum of four work terms.


4.4.1 General Information

  • During work terms a student is brought into direct contact with the engineering profession, exposed to the work place setting, expected to assume ever-increasing responsibility in employment situations as the student's education advances, and introduced to experiences beyond the scope of those which could be provided in the classroom.

  • A student is responsible for finding suitable work placements. The Office of Co-operative Education provides resources to assist in this process. A student who obtains a work placement outside the job competition must have that work placement approved by the Office of Co-operative Education prior to accepting it.

  • A student who cannot meet the demands of the work term may be required by the Faculty to withdraw from the work term until the student can demonstrate an ability to continue in the program.

  • Following the date of automatic registration for a work term, only a student who is registered for that work term will be permitted to continue in, or subsequently join, the job placement process and be approved to begin a work placement.

  • A student in the job competition who refuses all job offers without the prior consent of the Office of Co-operative Education may be subject to penalties that may include the assignment of a grade of FAL (fail) for that work term.

  • A student is not permitted to drop work terms without prior approval of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Office of Co-operative Education. A student who drops a work term without permission, or who fails to honour an agreement to work with an employer, will be assigned a grade of FAL (fail) for that work term.

  • A student who conducts him or herself in such a manner as to cause termination from the job, will normally be assigned a grade of FAL (fail) for that work term.

  • A student who is registered for a work term and who does not opt out from that work term must complete that work term successfully as a requirement for graduation.

  • A student who opts out from a work term is not permitted to work for a co-op employer during that work term.

  • A student who opts out from a work term and who works for a co-op employer during that work term may be considered to have committed an academic offence and will be subject to the penalties listed under the University Regulations, Academic Offences.

  • A student in a work term who does not meet the deadlines stated by the Office of Co-operative Education for the submission of forms and documentation may be awarded a reduced grade for one or both components of that work term.

  • The work term performance grade is assigned by the student’s Academic Staff Member in Co-operative Education (ASM-CE) based upon feedback from the employer and other information gathered from contact with the student.


4.4.2 Evaluation of Work Terms

Two components are considered in work term evaluation: work performance and a communications component, as described in the Engineering Co-operative Education Student Rules and Regulations Handbook.

Each component is evaluated separately and equally weighted resulting in one of the following classifications: Outstanding, Above Expectations, Satisfactory, Marginal Pass, Fail. Both evaluations will be recorded on the transcript. Overall evaluation of the work term will result in the assignment of one of the following final grades:

  • Pass with distinction (PWD): To receive a PWD, a student must obtain an evaluation of Outstanding in both the communications and work performance components of the work term.

  • Pass (PAS): To receive a PAS, a student must achieve an evaluation of Marginal Pass or better in the communications component and in the performance component of the work term.

  • Fail (FAL): A student receiving a Fail in either the communications or performance component of the work term will receive a FAL. For promotion from the work term, a student must obtain PWD or PAS.