NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION WEEK (2010)
MARCH 22 - 26, 2010

Highlight March 22-26, 2010 on your calendar to celebrate National Co-operative Education Week!

It is time to begin preparing to celebrate co-op successes and student achievements during National Co-operative Education Week during 2010. Have an open house and invite all departments from your institution, submit articles to your local newspaper and school newspaper, send out a newsletter, do a show on the local cable channel, highlight co-op on your schools website, offer to speak at departmental, community meetings on the benefits of co-op..and don’t forget to take a couple of co-op students. Be creative and innovative. We are all experiencing economic uncertainties which is causing enormous challenges in job development and recruitment for co-op positions. It is important to get the co-op message out there and demonstrate that co-op is alive and well.

We encourage you to use our 2010 flyer by clicking here to download a copy. Simply click in the centre and put your institutions logo and info. Let us know what you are planning.

Lisa Whalen Chair,
Co-op Week Committee

Media and Promotional Activities:

• Publish an article in your local college/university newspaper featuring a Co-op Student at their workplace;
• Publish advertisements in local newspapers recognizing your Co-op Employers and Co-operative Education program;
• Feature a Co-op Student (or your Co-op Student of the Year recipient) on your campus radio station regarding their Co-operative Education experiences;
• List Co-op Employer profiles and their history with your Co-operative Education program in your internal/external newsletters as well as on your web site;
• Participate in a “Phone-Blitz” to encourage new companies/organizations to hire your Co-op Students;
• Attend a trade show or company seminar to network with industry professionals;
• Include Co-op Students when promoting your Co-operative Education program on/off campus;
• Set up a Co-op Awareness Booth on campus to attract non-Co-op Students at your college/university or local highschool.
• Create a contest

How to Develop a Media Kit (.pdf)

Social Activities:

• In the spirit of continuing partnerships, arrange a social event for Co-op Employers, Faculty, Staff, and Students to mingle. Activities may include hosting an Open-House, a Wine-and-Cheese Reception, a Co-op Party, a Coffee & Cake Break, a Pizza Party, a Fundraiser for a local charity, or a BBQ;
• Strengthen Co-op Employer and Student relationships by facilitating fun events such as a "Co-op Olympic Games" where they compete against each other;
• Recognize Co-op Employers at a breakfast/luncheon/dinner and invite an established Employer as your Keynote Speaker; and
• Host a Co-op Student Resume Clinic or roundtable and invite Co-op Employers to participate.

Co-op Student and Employer Recognition Awards:

• Create your own college/university Co-op Student the Year Award (Getting Started) and invite your Co-op Employers to nominate their outstanding Co-op Student employee(s);
• Honour your Co-op Student of the Year recipient with a cash award/plaque/certificate during National Co-operative Education Week;
• Nominate your college/university Co-op Student of the Year recipient for the national CAFCE Co-op Student of the Year Award;
• established Co-op Employers by recognizing them with a plaque/certificate during National Co-operative Education Week; and
• highlight your institution's Co-op Student of the Year winner on your institution's homepage.

We would be happy to add more ideas to the list of activities so please send your ideas to cafce@cafce.ca to share will your co-op colleagues.