Co-Op Experience | Career Services

UNL defines a co-op as a full-time work experience, which are always paid and must meet federal employment guidelines. A co-op experience must be relevant to the student’s degree program and designed to connect a student’s academic and professional work experience.

For students who are considering or have accepted a Co-op, the following steps should be taken:

Set up a meeting with your College Co-Op Coordinator to help guide you through the Co-Op process.
Review the policies and FAQs below to help prepare you for the meeting.
During the meeting, your College Co-Op Coordinator will guide you through the electronic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Handshake where you will be required to initial and sign that you under your rights and responsibilities associated with a Co-Op Experience.
During your meeting, your College Co-Op Coordinator will assist you enrolling for your college's section of UGEP 350 (0 credits, Pass/No Pass).
You will need an official offer letter from your employer stating that you've been offered a Co-Op as proof of the experience and will also be required to be uploaded with your digital copy of the MOU housed in Handshake.
Throughout your Co-Op experience, you must complete the required assignments for the course to receive a pass for the experience. Additionally, you should keep in touch with your College Co-Op Coordinator to keep them informed of your return to campus and if questions arise.

Policies and FAQs

What policies must I adhere to be eligible for Co-Op?

Adhere to the college and/or degree program’s requirements to pursue a co-op.
Agree to NOT take additional courses while on co-op (except in rare circumstances, determined by your college career services/academic advisor), because a co-op is a full-time work experience.
Agree to discuss plans with your college’s career services staff and/or academic advisor.
Agree to maintain contact with your college’s career services staff and/or academic advisor while on co-op, including checking your university email regularly.
Agree to comply with the policies of your employing organization while employed in the co-op.
Pursuant to section 3306 C (10)C of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, agree that you understand that you are ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits because of being employed for this co-op.

How do I maintain full-time status while on my Co-Op and can I take other courses?

Students participating in a co-op while enrolled at UNL must register for their college’s section of the university co-op course, UGEP 350 (0 credits, Pass/No Pass). Students on co-op may not enroll in other courses while participating in a co-op because it is a full-time employment experience (except in rare cases, as determined by your college career services/academic advisor).
Enrolling in this course will allow UNL to report you as a full-time enrolled student ONLY for the purpose of preventing the start of a grace period on any student loans you may have borrowed from any lender, and to keep you connected to UNL while you may be away from campus during your co-op employment.
Your full-time student status while on co-op is NOT the equivalent of taking 12 credit hours for the purpose of being awarded scholarships/aid that require full-time enrollment, nor for the purpose of student fee-based services (like Campus Recreation) because you are not paying student fees while on co-op.

How do I enroll for my College's UGEP 350 course?

Check the list of College Co-op Coordinators below and connect with your Co-op Coordinator.

What should I do if I have a University housing contract?

If you have or will have a University Housing Contract for the academic year in which you intend to co-op, it is your responsibility to contact University Housing Contracts Office to decide to either (1) remain living on-campus while on a local co-op, or (2) cancel your housing contract for the term in which you are on co-op away from campus.
University Housing may request a letter proving you are going on co-op. Please work with your college’s career services staff/academic advisor to obtain this letter.
Contact University Housing Contracts at housing@unl.edu

How will this impact my scholarships and Financial Aid?

If you have scholarships, loans, grants, or other aid for the academic year in which you intend to co-op, your co-op may impact that aid. For the purposes of Scholarships & Financial Aid, you will not be considered a full-time student in eligibility for receiving aid during the co-op term. (FOR EXAMPLE: If you have a scholarship that requires you to be a full-time student, 12 credit hours minimum, you may not receive that scholarship during the co-op term when you are taking 0 credits.)
If you are approved to take additional credits while you are on co-op, it is your responsibility to speak to the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid to discuss how any scholarships or aid might apply.
For all students on co-op if you have questions about your scholarships or aid: contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid at huskerhub@unl.edu.

Will I be charged student fees?

While on co-op, you will not pay student fees if you are solely enrolled in the co-op course because it is 0 credits (again, only rare exceptions would allow you to take another course at the same time). Because of this, you may have limited access to student fee-based services. To determine your access to these services while on co-op, it is your responsibility to work directly with the service office.
Student Health Insurance: Please work directly with Student Health Insurance by contacting the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid at huskerhub@unl.edu
Campus Recreation: Please work directly with Student Affairs to discuss any fees required studentaffairs@unl.edu
University Health Center: Please work directly with the University Health Center uhc@unl.edu.

Do you need proof of employment?

You will need to attach a copy of your offer letter from your employer so your college reviewer can verify your employment. If you have not received an offer letter, please communicate with your employer/supervisor that you need one.