Sponsored Webcast: Test Drive Talent: Low Risk/High Reward

Do these challenges sound familiar?

• We need new sources of proven talent.
• We need diverse, fresh perspectives in our early hiring talent pool.
• We need new hires ready to come into our businesses and hit the ground running.
• We have partnerships with many regional colleges and universities. Is there more?
• Intern vs. Co-op? What exactly IS a Co-op?

But why the University of Cincinnati?

Co-operative Education was born at the University of Cincinnati over one hundred years ago as a way for Engineering students to afford college – they went to school for a semester, then worked full-time for a semester to earn money to pay for the next semester of school – rinse and repeat. A very different model from the traditional internship program.

What emerged out of this experience a Co-operative Education philosophy and curriculum, instead of just a financial tool. We built the program from the ground up, working closely with industry to refine our curriculum, to creating a unique degree pathway, and bringing best practices from industry back into the classroom, and vice versa.

Mandatory Co-op programs at the University of Cincinnati include:

• All Engineering majors.
• All Design majors.
• The Information Technology (IT) degree program

These are programs where students are enrolled in a 5-year rather than a 4-year program.

Co-op is our crown jewel and defining differentiator in a competitive higher ed environment. In fact, we are a top five university Co-op program in the nation. We graduate Co-op students with 1.5 years of professional experience so that when they begin their job search, they are years ahead of the competition. They graduate with a diploma in one hand and a robust resume in the other, ready for a fulfilling career.

What this means to you as an employer

• An affordable way to build a talent pipeline for future full-time employees.
• An injection of fresh ideas and perspectives into your own workforce.
• A built-in leadership/mentorship program for your existing employees to coach and grow these students.

Sponsored by:

About our Presenters

Aniketh Rallabhandi

Aniketh is a Senior Test Engineer at Tesla where he works on evaluating battery pack safety under abusive conditions. Originally from India, he attended UC for his MSME on a scholarship. He's currently based out of the San Francisco Bay Area and in his free time, he enjoys running, and reading.

Kyle Liechty

Kyle is a Senior Project Manager in the Recruiting department at Tesla where he supports teams in establishing strategic pipelines with universities and professional organizations. Kyle has served on the board of the Cooperative & Experiential Education Division of ASEE and worked as the Co-op Coordinator at Michigan State University prior to Tesla, bringing perspectives from academia, industry, and program management to the discussion.

Annie Straka

Annie Straka is an Associate Dean and Associate Professor in the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies and has over 10 years of experience in higher education administration. She received her doctorate in Educational Studies with a focus on Educational and Community-Based Action Research and her master’s in communication at the University of Cincinnati and earned her BA in Communication at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Straka has interdisciplinary expertise in cooperative education, experiential learning, career development, and higher education administration. She is a Faculty Success Program Coach through the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity and is committed to supporting fellow educational leaders in cultivating meaningful careers that make an impact on their students and communities.

Kim Demko

Kim is her 5^th year as an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati in the college of Experiential Learning where she teaches several classes preparing students for the workforce and works with over 450 Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering students. Prior to coming to UC, Kim was the Campus Relations Manager for GE Aviation and Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America where she developed and managed the college relations programs across the U.S. Kim’s focus has been on building strategic relationships with key universities. She is completing her doctorate in Education at University of Cincinnati focusing on Educational Studies specifically DE&I Curriculum. Kim resides in Northern Kentucky, with her husband and twin boys.