This term’s 3B 8-stream chemical engineering class is piloting a new program for 8-month co-ops. Students were told that up to 25 of the approximate 57 people in the class would be allowed to complete an 8-month co-op and switch into the 4-month stream, as opposed to doing two separate 4-month co-ops in their last year instead. Of the 8-month positions, it is hoped that approximately 20 will be filled. In an informal survey, over 50% of the students reported that they would not be considering the 8-month co-ops.
Most students’ opinions on 8-month co-ops are divided. With a good job, it can mean a better work term with more depth and responsibility. Dave Evans, an engineering student who recently finished an 8-month co-op said that “with eight months you can actually see a project from beginning to end”. A mediocre job, however, can become downright terrible if it is stretched from the typical four months into eight months. Many students freely choose to complete more than one work term with the same company; however, this choice is guided by the fact that they know based on the first work term that the job that they are returning to is fulfilling and useful.
The alternate double work-term commitment also works better than a straight 8-month co-op in most of the regular-streamed programs. By committing to two work terms instead of doing 8-months, students get to stay in their own streams. They also get the mental “break” of work terms between two school terms. Waterloo engineering students are adaptable; the constant switching every four months forces that mentality. However switching streams presents challenges such as arranging housing, having to build new friendships, and needing to fix lab groups or FYDP groups. Even the student health and dental insurance program must be notified so that students can maintain their coverage until the following school term.
Despite the potentially more interesting experience of an 8-month work term, many students also want more 4-month terms because it gives them more variety. One of the most common reasons for which many students choose to enter a co-op program is so that they can figure out what kind of job they want in the long term. If students choose to do 8-month co-ops, they get fewer opportunities to test the waters with various jobs.
University of Waterloo students also often complain about the lack of student life on campus. Despite the Engineering Society running a strong system using the alternating A-Soc and B-Soc system, problems still remain. If more programs begin to run in the 4s or 8s stream, or using 8-month co-ops, how will this affect our student life? Will it foster more communication between A-Soc and B-Soc, or will it just cause a breakdown in the structure and continuity that we depend on to run our student life?
While 8-month work terms may be what employers and the CECA department want, there seem to be more disadvantages than advantages to taking an extended work term for most students. Ultimately individual students must decide what they prefer.p
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