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Fall 2005 Volume 9 Number 1 |
Home » MSC Today Magazine » Fall 2005 » Partnership
Macon State's Co-op Partnership By Renee Pearman Sonia Cervantes had a terrific senior year at Macon State College. During honors convocation in the spring, she was selected the top marketing major by the Business and Economics Division faculty, as well as the 2005 President's Scholar, the College's highest academic honor. What happened next was the icing on the cake. After receiving her bachelor's degree in business last spring, Cervantes, 25, stepped right into a full-time position as contract specialist for the Directorate of Contracting at Robins Air Force Base. The job offer followed her participation in Macon State's Student Career Experience Program, a cooperative education, or co-op, opportunity with Robins. She was among the 10 Macon State students chosen to take part in the College's first co-op with the Base. “I've had the opportunity to start my career in a professional area with very knowledgeable people,” said Cervantes, who lives in Warner Robins. “The training received has been way above my expectations, and I am continually learning new things.” The first Macon State/Robins AFB co-op began in January 2004. Ten of the 20 students selected were from Macon State, which was among three midstate colleges and universities signing on for the program. Another co-op, this one also in Contracting, got underway earlier this year. David Taylor is one of the five MSC students taking part in that round, which he called “on-the-job training at its best.” “Having an opportunity to be trained by people who have been performing the job for over 20 years is a plus,” Taylor added. “This type of training sets you up to succeed in the job.” All Macon State juniors and seniors who are business majors with at least a 3.0 grade point average are invited to apply for the Base co-op. The selection process includes an interview with a panel of Robins' civil service supervisors. Students work 20 hours per week at the Base while attending Macon State. They must be able to complete at least one year in the co-op before graduating. The college juniors are paid at the federal GS-04 level, currently $11.80 per hour, while seniors receive GS-05 pay of $13.20 per hour. They also receive benefits including life and health insurance, annual/sick leave and holidays. If offered jobs after graduation, they come in at a GS-07 pay grade ($31,830 in 2004) and within two years move to GS-11 pay ($47,110 in 2004). “From our first group of 10, nine are now working full-time at the Base,” said Dr. Linda Cooper, professor of business and coordinator of MSC's Student Career Experience Program. “It's a great opportunity for our students because it provides them with the chance to earn good part-time money while applying the skills they are learning in college to an actual work experience.” The Contracting Directorate co-op students hone their skills in market research, acquisition planning, procurement and price negotiations. Each student partnered with a qualified, experienced contracting officer who is responsible for his or her training. By the end of each co-op, students will have completed approximately 640 hours of work at Robins. Eleven Macon State juniors and seniors are part of a third co-op, which started in September and is with the Directorate of Logistics. A fourth Base co-op is in the interviewing stage. With about 40 percent of Robins workers now -- or soon to be -- eligible for retirement, the co-op partnership is one of the ways Macon State will help the Base replenish its professional workforce. “The co-op experience provides Robins the chance to train its employees and determine if these students will work well there before hiring them full time,” Cooper said. “Both parties get the chance to see prior to full-time employment if the partnership is a good fit. It's a win-win situation for everyone.” Macon State College business majors interested in learning about future co-op programs with Robins Air Force Base can contact Dr. Linda Cooper at (478) 471-2724 or lcooper@maconstate.edu. |
