Co-op Work Term FAQs

Please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor to let them know that there has been a delay in your start date and to discuss your options and next steps. Students are strongly encouraged to register in full-time studies as a backup plan. You will need to be mindful of the deadline to drop courses for a full fee adjustment. Please see the following link for more information: https://calendar.carleton.ca/academicyear/.

The main deliverable for your work term is the work term report. You can find more information and guidelines about how to complete your work term report in your work term course in Brightspace.

You will also need to complete the co-op site visit or email check-in. Your Co-op Student Advisor will be in touch with you approximately halfway through your work term with more information.

The work term report is due on August 16^th for summer work terms, December 16^th for fall work terms, and April 16^th for winter work terms. Please see the work term course in Brightspace for more information.

Accounting students ONLY: Due to tax deadlines, the winter term deadline for Accounting students is extended. Accounting students have until May 7^th to submit their work term reports for the winter term.

All students must submit a full report at the end of their first four-month co-op work term. Full reports are expected for every co-op work term that follows UNLESS the student’s position is longer than 4 months (i.e., is 8, 12, or 16 months in length) and all of the following criteria are met:

• the student has the identical job title;
• the student is with the same employer;
• the student is at the same location.

If a student’s work term meets the conditions above, they may submit a follow-up report.

Please see the work term report guidelines in the work term course in Brightspace to determine if you must write a full report or a follow-up report.

Below are the steps you will need to follow to complete your work term report. Alternatively, click here to watch a video walkthrough.

1. Write your work term report following the criteria outlined in the work term report guidelines in the work term course in Brightspace.
2. Provide a copy of your work term report to your supervisor before the due date so that they can determine if the report contains confidential information.

Complete the “Work Term Report Release Confirmation” in Brightspace. This is a quiz in the work term report section of the work term course that will ask you for information about your work term including your supervisor’s name, email, and whether your work term report is confidential.

If your work term report is non-confidential, you can then submit your report in the assignment submission. If your report is confidential, our office will email the grading instructions to your supervisor.

Co-op students can take a 0.5 credit course while on a work term. This 0.5 credit course must be offered in the evening, or be asynchronously online, so that it does not conflict with your co-op position. See the Co-op Participation Agreement.

The worksite information form collects information about your work term including your supervisor’s name and email. This information is needed for site visit scheduling and to send out the end of term evaluation. The worksite information form can be submitted by following the below steps. You can also click here for a video walkthrough.

1. Log in to mySuccess
2. Select the “Co-op” tab
3. Select the current work term from your co-op sequence
4. Click the “Edit Work Site Information” button
5. Complete the entire form
6. Click “Save”

Site visits are for students who are on their first work term, whereas check-ins occur by email and are received by all other co-op students. Both help your Co-op Student Advisor monitor your work progress and performance.

Students on their first work term will receive an e-mail invitation to set up a virtual site visit approximately halfway through the work term. All other students will receive an email check-in. You do not need to wait for your formal site visit or email check-in to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your Co-op Student Advisor.

A site visit is a 30-minute meeting between you and a Co-op Student Advisor that is held virtually during regular business hours. The purpose of the meeting is the learn about your work environment and understand your overall experience during your work term.

Your work supervisor does not attend this meeting, they are sent a check in email halfway through the term to provide feedback and a final evaluation form a month before the end of your work term.  

Approximately halfway through your first work term, a Co-op Student Advisor will connect with you to set up your virtual site visit. The email will provide some insight into the topics that will be discussed at your site visit.

The end of term evaluation will be sent to your supervisor in the last month of each work term using the email you provided in the worksite information form. Once your supervisor completes the evaluation you will be able to view it in mySuccess.

Here are some things to consider if you are searching for a co-op work term while completing a work term:

1. This only applies for students with a work/study pattern where they are scheduled to work the term after their current work term and have not yet secured a position.
2. Consider whether you want to be extended in your current role (if possible) or if you would like to secure a different position.
3. Be upfront with your supervisor that you are searching for your next work term.
4. Update your resume to include your current work term, security clearance (if applicable), etc.
5. Provide your supervisor with as much notice as possible for interviews and offer to make up the time.

Please connect with your Co-op Student Advisor as soon as possible. The information you share with you Co-op Student Advisor will be kept confidential and will not be shared with your employer without your consent.

Students on a fall, winter, or summer work term are charged for the U-Pass once they are registered in the appropriate work term course. Any student on a work term can opt out (whether in town or not). You can find information on renewing your U-Pass or opting out while on a co-op work term here:  https://carleton.ca/upass/.

If you are working in the fall semester you are NOT automatically covered under the CUSA Health Plan (for undergrads) or the GSA Health Plan (for grad students) at any point during the school year. Those who wish to opt into the plan for the year must contact the CUSA office (undergrads) or the GSA office (grad students) by the posted deadlines, which are in early fall of every year.

If you are on a co-op work term, you will not have access to the on-campus athletics facilities. Those who wish to opt into athletics must visit the Athletics Welcome Centre.

The Federal TD1 form and the Provincial TD1ON forms are used to determine the amount of income tax to be deducted from your pay. You must complete these forms and submit them to Human Resources/Payroll. If you do not submit these forms you will be set up with the Basic Personal Amount only. Here are some tips for completing these forms:

– Use your permanent address
– Read each of the sections carefully

Calculating your claim amount: Everyone is entitled to the Basic Personal Amount and students can claim Tuition and Education amounts. Calculate the amount you have paid (or will pay) for the tax year (e.g. Winter 2023, Summer 2023, and Fall 2023 for the 2023 tax year) and use your best estimate if you do not yet have amounts for upcoming terms.

Additional information can be found here