(a) Purpose. The College Cooperative Education Program is designed to combine collegiate classroom education with full-time practical employment experience through alternating periods of work and study.
(b) Institution eligibility. In order to be eligible to participate in the cooperative education program, a higher education institution must:
  (1) be located in the United States;
  (2) be an institution with a college or graduate, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum that is accredited by an association of colleges and schools, or licensed by a state agency;
  (3) have the authority to administer requirements, standards, and credits necessary to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates; and
  (4) have a cooperative education program.
(c) Student eligibility. In order to be eligible to participate in the cooperative education program, a student must:
  (1) be at least 17 years of age;
  (2) be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, or a non-citizen with proof of eligibility to work in the United States;
  (3) be enrolled in an eligible institution's cooperative education program, other than by correspondence;
  (4) have attended that institution for at least one semester;
  (5) have passed at least 28 semester hours toward formal degree requirements in a master or doctorate degree program, a baccalaureate degree program, an associate degree program of no less that one academic year, or an undergraduate certificate or diploma program of not less than one academic year; and
  (6) have an overall institutional grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale.
(d) Application. To apply for the cooperative education program, the student must:
  (1) attend an orientation at the institution concerning the cooperative education program; and
  (2) submit a completed application to the institution on a form prescribed by the department.
(e) Interview. If the institution's cooperative office refers a student to the department, the student must interview with the department.
(f) Selection criteria. The department's selection is based upon the student's:
  (1) current enrollment and participation in a field of study related to the assigned work;
  (2) skill, knowledge, and ability as related to the job description;
  (3) grade point average;
  (4) relevant previous work experience; and
  (5) availability to work for three successive alternating periods of employment between three successive alternating periods of study.
(g) Employment eligibility. If selected, the student must:
  (1) complete a Form I-9 Employment Verification;
  (2) if the student's work assignment in the cooperative education program will be to a position for which a medical examination is required under §4.16(a) of this chapter (relating to Medical Examination), pass the medical examination; and
  (3) if the cooperative employment requires driving, pass a driver's record check.
(h) Role of eligible institution. The institution will:
  (1) provide an orientation briefing which will include application instructions;
  (2) screen and refer the student to the department based on the criteria in the job description;
  (3) schedule the student's initial interview with the department;
  (4) forward the student's application, degree plan, and transcript to the department;
  (5) enter into a written cooperative education agreement with the department;
  (6) visit the department as requested; and
  (7) review supervisor reports and evaluations.
(i) Role of department. To implement this program, the department will:
  (1) provide the eligible institution with a job description;
  (2) interview and select the student;
  (3) enter into a written cooperative agreement with the institution;
  (4) determine the work assignment;
  (5) consider the cooperative student eligible for the same benefits and training as a full-time employee;
  (6) retain the college cooperative student for three successive alternating periods of employment between three successive alternating periods of study as long as the student's performance is satisfactory; and
  (7) evaluate the college cooperative student as provided in subsection (l) of this section.
(j) Role of the college cooperative student. The college cooperative student must:
  (1) abide by the program's rules and the department's policies and procedures;
  (2) adhere to the established work schedule;
  (3) notify the institution's cooperative education office and the department of any changes in academic status;
  (4) meet the academic and conduct standards set forth by the institution;
  (5) maintain at least an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale during the cooperative education period;
  (6) meet the conduct standards set forth by the department; and
  (7) notify his or her department supervisor in writing if the overall job assignment is significantly incompatible with the academic degree.
(k) Duration. A college cooperative student is eligible to work as a regular full-time employee during alternating academic semesters or quarters. A college cooperative student must apply separately to participate in the department's summer program as a regular employee.
(l) Evaluation. The department will evaluate the performance of the college cooperative student at the end of work semester or quarter by:
  (1) using the department's student cooperative program performance evaluation;
  (2) discussing the evaluation with the college cooperative student;
  (3) submitting the evaluation to the institution for inclusion in the institution records; and
  (4) conducting a student exit questionnaire to assess the overall education experience.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.22 adopted to be effective September 16, 1994, 19 TexReg 6919; amended to be effective August 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 4558