The Stevens Career Center hosted a Focus Group discussion for co-op students to discuss changes and possible improvements to the Co-operative Education program this past Wednesday. The two-hour discussion was the first of a series of semesterly discussions to be held by the Career Center in order to hear student’s opinions on co-op.
In light of recent changes to the co-op program, specifically the switch from paper-based interview sign-ups to a new electronic system, Career Center Executive Director Lynn Insley and Senior Assistant Director Sabrina Sanichar wanted to organize a formal discussion for students to provide feedback. “What we’re trying to do with the focus group is interact with students after they’ve seen these changes,” says Insley. “We also want to solicit students’ ideas for program improvement”.
Among the topics discussed during this first Focus Group discussion were refining the interview sign-up process, creating a forum for students to post reviews of their previous co-op positions, and putting forth more expectations of employers in order to assure a more efficient selection process for students. Insley and Sanichar discussed the feasibility of these ideas and several others proposed by students during the discussion. The Career Center hopes to receive feedback from students regarding not only the current state of the co-op program and its recent changes, but also any changes that will come to the program in coming semesters. In  order to do so, the Career Center will hold one or more Focus Group discussions during each of the three co-op term semesters, Fall, Spring, and Summer. “What we want is moving input as to how change is affecting the co-op students,” said Insley.
The significance of this series of Focus Group discussions is that it is the first formal means of providing student input regarding the co-op program to the administration since the Co-op Student Council disbanded in 2013, which served to advocate for the rights of co-op students and organize events for co-op students living on-campus. When asked if this Focus Group would evolve into a similar student organization, Insley said “We’re at the point where we’re just gathering information and assessing what students have to say. This group of students seems more interested in supporting the program.”
In order to receive more input, the Career Center hopes to have more students attend the next Focus Group discussion. Insley stresses the fact that the co-op program exists in order to supplement students’ education and prepare them for their careers. “I think all of us who work in the co-op program genuinely care about our students’ experience, and we want to make the co-op experience the best we possibly can for our students,” says Insley. Anyone interested in participating the next discussion is encouraged to email Lynn Insley at lynn.insley@stevens.edu.
