Co-ops

Students secure a co-op in different ways. Some find positions on their own and come to the Career Development Hub for assistance in processing their co-op contract. Others need more assistance in finding and applying for positions and may seek help from their college’s Career Centers earlier. No matter how you secure a co-op, once you have accepted an offer, you will need to submit your information to the Career Development Hub’s Field Experience Office.

All Undergraduate students who are doing a Co-op will submit an Undergraduate Co-op Experience Contract online by logging in to Handshake with their SPIRE Net ID and SPIRE Password. Filling out this form and the attached documents will put you on co-op status with the University. 

Complete the Handshake Co-op Experience Form:

• Log into Handshake and complete an online Experience form for a Co-op. 

  1. Click on the Career Center tab on the top right

  2. Click Experiences

  3. Select Request an Experience

  4. Fill out the form. If you do not have all the required information, you can click "Save as Draft" at the end of the form. You will need to do this in order to upload the forms indicated below.

• While filling out the contract, you will need the following forms. Fill them out, collect any required signatures, then scan and upload them into the contract.

  • Department Permission Form

  • Undergraduate Placements Requirements Form

  • Field Experience Risk Acknowledgement Form

  • Undergraduate Dean's Approval Form (only if you do not have a minimum of 45 credits completed or do not have a minimum GPA of 2.0)

If you are an international student:

For a co-op position in the United States, attach a PDF copy of your offer letter into the contract.

For a co-op outside of the United States, attach a signed PDF copy of an Undergraduate International Internship and Co-op IPO Approval Form into the contract.

After completing the form: 

Once you complete and submit your Experience contract form with any applicable attachments (see above), Field Experience Program staff will review the form and notify the Registrar to place you on co-op if it is during a fall or spring semester.

Undergraduate International students who have been offered a co-op position in the United States must follow the UMass International Programs Office (IPO) procedure for obtaining Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization: https://www.umass.edu/ipo/node/18162. 

Students must contact their academic department to be sure the work experience is suitable for CPT. Be sure to get your department’s permission for CPT authorization before accepting a position. Undergraduate international students will need to attach a PDF copy of their job offer letter to their Undergraduate Co-op Experience contract in Handshake.

International students completing a co-op position in the United States must attach a PDF copy of their offer letter into the Handshake Experience. If the co-op is outside of the United States, a signed PDF copy of an Undergraduate International Internship and Co-op IPO Approval Form must b e added into the Handshake Experience.

All undergraduate students must get approval for an international co-op from the UMass International Programs Office (IPO) at least six months in advance. This applies to both domestic undergraduate and international undergraduate students. You will have to attach a signed copy of the Undergraduate International Internship and Co-op IPO Approval Form to your online Co-op Experience Contract. You can find that form in the section below.

Status with University

Co-op status is a special status with the University that does not withdraw you as a student. This ensures you will not get a tuition bill for the semester you or on co-op and that you will not have to re-enroll with the registrar when you return from your co-op.

Undergraduate Registrar's Office

213 Whitmore Administration Building
Phone: 413-545-0555 | Email: regtrans@registrar.umass.edu

If necessary, change your graduation date in SPIRE with the Registrar’s Office so that you will be able to pre-register for classes for the semester when you will return to campus.

Residential Life Student Services

235 Whitmore Administration Building
Phone: 413-545-2100 | Email: living@umass.edu

If you are living in on-campus housing, remember to cancel on-campus housing for the semester you’ll be away and arrange for on-campus housing for the semester after your co-op.

UMass Dining Services

Phone: 413-545-2472 | Email: @email
If you currently have a meal plan, cancel it. This can also be done in SPIRE.

Financial Aid Services

255 Whitmore Administration Building
Phone: 413-545-0801 | Email: finaid@finaid.umass.edu

Students who receive financial aid should meet with Sharon Ruth, the Financial Aid liaison for internship and co-op students to discuss how being on co-op will impact your financial aid.

Veterans Services

Education Benefits and Enrollment Verification Questions:
Lynn Gates
215 Whitmore Administration Building
Phone: 413-545-5792 | Email: vetbenefits@umass.edu

Students currently receiving veteran’s benefits should contact this office for information about what impact a co-op may have on their benefit eligibility.