Cooperative Education prepares students for their careers by providing them with work experience in areas related to their field of study. Your experience supplements classroom instruction and clarifies preconceptions about college degrees and career choices. Cooperative Education (Co-op) students generally alternate terms at school and Johnson Space Center until they graduate or complete three tours.
Cooperative Education in the United States began in 1906 in Ohio. It has since grown nationwide to involve approximately 1000 public and private colleges and universities and has a student enrollment of over 200,000.
Johnson Space Center\'s Cooperative Education Program began in March 1961, and since then it has grown to approximately 160 students, representing 50 schools. Today, the program is run by Co-op Program Manager Bob Musgrove, and he is assisted by Shelia Collins, and Anne Roemer, who works with the co-ops in business-related fields. Since its formation, NASA has relied heavily on its Co-op program as a source of potential employees, and co-ops have become vital to the Center\'s continuing commitment to technological advancement and excellence.
While the majority of our positions are for undergraduates majoring in engineering, JSC does hire a limited number of business and computer science students, as well as graduate students. The application and interview process is highly competitive, and typically we receive over 800 resumes each year for 45 new Co-op positions.
'; theText[1] = 'Yes, other NASA centers have Co-op programs for which you may apply. Click here for a list of those centers and contact information for their Co-op programs.
'; theText[2] = 'Approximately 160 students representing 50 schools currently participate in the Co-op program. Below are recent percentages for the JSC Co-op Workforce, broken down according to the students\' academic majors:
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'; theText[3] = 'There are many activities for students to become involved in at Johnson Space Center (JSC). There are five committees, staffed by Co-ops on a voluntary basis, which provide various services. JSC encourages participation on these committees because they provide Co-ops with leadership opportunities and a chance to interact with other JSC employees.
The Housing Committee publishes a brochure which assists Co-ops in locating housing in the Houston area. The brochure lists things like apartment locations and available rooms for rent in houses. We also include information about available facilities, leasing agreements, and utilities.
The Social Committee organizes events year-round, and every Co-op is a member. Past activities include: road trips to places like New Orleans (for Mardi Gras), San Antonio, and Kennedy Space Center in Florida (for launches); parties of every kind; movie nights; sports from roller hockey to basketball to softball; picnics; and activities with astronauts. In addition, the committee provides a hotline that Co-ops can call each day to hear about the day\'s activities. The committee always sees to it that several activities are planned each week.
This committee publishes The Co-op Scoop, a newsletter that serves as a guide to upcoming activities as well as recount funny or interesting stories from recent trips or events.
The Tours and Lectures Committee arranges a variety of informative tours and lectures of interest to co-ops. The tours offer students the opportunity to visit and learn about JSC facilities outside of the areas in which they work. The lectures, given by astronauts, top management officials, flight controllers, and other current or former JSC employees, allow Co-ops to learn more about the center and gain a better understanding of how NASA works.
The Education Outreach program, started by a Co-op in the fall of 1991, is an official NASA program. Through it, Co-ops participate in a variety of activities to get the word out about NASA, scientific and engineering careers, and about the Co-op Program. Following is a description of some of these activities.
High School Aerospace Scholars is an interactive on-line learning experience highlighted by a six-day internship where selected students are encouraged to study math, science, engineering, or computer science by interacting with engineers at Johnson Space Center.
The High School Outreach Program allows co-ops to visit high schools in the Clear Lake area to speak to students about the importance of math and science, the opportunities that NASA has to offer, and share some of what they do at NASA.Each fictional aerospace company will have one full-time hire who will be the CEO and one co-op who will be the president. There will be eight companies for each of the four sessions; thus creating smaller companies and allowing each participant to be completely involved. Mentors will be responsible for
Mandatory training meeting: Feb 19
Dates: Sun-Tues 3/14-16, 3/21-23, 3/28-30, 4/4-6 (Choose one weekend or several, from Sun afternoon to Tues afternoon)
APPLY TODAY TO VOLUNTEER: http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/CAS/Mentors.cfm
I would like some Co-op volunteer help as follows:
Co-ops who have been here a time or two, and have worked in any of the following areas would be welcome to serve as roving subject matter experts for the students on Saturday afternoon and evening from about 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. or so (Feb. 21 or March 6) in the building 9 high bay where the students will be working.
Technical areas are: Life Support Systems and Space Suits, Structures, Automation and Robotics Operations. I could use a couple of people in each of these areas for Saturday afternoon/evening duty on both weekends
I need four Co-ops to help me administratively with the student tours and getting the students to complete and turn in their event evaluation forms on each Sunday afternoon - Feb. 22 and March 7, 2004. This would be from noon till 5 p.m. more or less, in the Gilruth Center.
For folks who can help I will give a Competition tee shirt, and will provide supper at 6 p.m. for the Saturday experts in building 9; and will provide Sunday lunch at the Gilruth Center for the administrative helpers.
If there are volunteers they can contact Jennifer Beall at x33777 or by email (global); or can contact you. -Norm Chaffee, Mars Competition Coordinator
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/mars/competition/index.html
Digital Learning Network (DLN)http://learningoutpost.jsc.nasa.gov/techinfo.cfm
National Engineers WeekThere will be a special broadcast over the Digital Learning Network to students across the nation, and a few co-ops are needed as volunteers to be in the broadcast.
Engineering Career Expo
The Engineering Career Expo is an annual event held in Space Center Houston, this year on Thursday, April 15 from 6-9 pm. Grades 8-12 will be invited to attend to speak with representatives from various local engineering companies, NASA engineers, and Texas schools with Engineering departments. Co-ops have the opportunity to request materials from their own university and set up a booth at the fair to distribute information about their engineering program. I will also need volunteers for a co-op question and answer panel. Contact: Jennifer Beall x35835
http://education.jsc.nasa.gov/K12/CareerFair.htm
KC-135:Student teams submit proposals in the fall to the RGO office. A pannel of NASA engineers select apprx 60 teams to come to JSC over a 6 month period to fly their experiments in the microgravity environment of the K-bird. Each set of teams is in Houston for one week. Traditionally, the JSC co-ops are the "welcoming committee" of sorts. We make sure they have fun during the times that they are not obligated to be at Ellington for training and such. It\'s a nice way to highlight our program.
The Co-op Web Development Committee maintains and develops the JSC Co-op web sites.
Yes, we do have opportunities for students who are not majoring in engineering, most often in places like our procurement, human resources, chief financial, and public affairs office. Some of our contractors (like Kelsey Seybold or Wyle Laboratories) may have opportunities for biology majors. You can get a list of local contractors at http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/.
'; theText[5] = 'Unfortunately, since we are a federal institution, and are federally funded, we are only able to hire U.S. citizens to work directly for NASA. However, our contractors (companies like Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and United Space Alliance), may have different policies. You can find a list of these companies and their contact information by visiting http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/.
'; theText[6] = 'AWESOME!!! Where else can you drive through the gate in the shadow of a huge Saturn V rocket (the kind that took men to the moon), have co-workers that are also astronauts, or watch the shuttle launch and know that you are a part of making it happen!?! It\'s very hard to find Co-ops that would give up the opportunity to work here.
For more information on the center, visit http://visitors.jsc.nasa.gov.
'; theText[7] = 'JSC has many areas where Co-ops may work. Check out any of the links below to find out more. (Documents are in Adobe PDF format; links will open in a new browser window.)
Engineering and Science | Business and Liberal Arts |
The Cooperative Education program at JSC is very well respected. Co-ops are given genuine work that has some priority, and many are also incorporated into existing teams. Many supervisors and mentors were once Co-ops themselves, so they know what tasks a student can and would like to complete. Since Co-ops are encouraged to work in several different divisions during their time at JSC, an unsatisfactory work environment (for the co-op) will only last one term at worst. But the vast majority of Co-ops are very pleased with their work assignments.
'; theText[9] = 'Don\'t worry! Everyone you work with should completely understand the fact that you\'re still in school and may not (in fact, probably don\'t) have all the education you would need to do the project alone. The people working at JSC are extremely helpful, and you\'ll be surprised how quickly you learn and how much you pick up in a short amount of time. It\'s true that the first week or two in a new area can be tedious, and you may find yourself with a huge stack of notebooks full of procedures and systems to learn and feel like you\'re back in school again! But things get exciting soon enough.
'; theText[10] = 'The starting pay for Co-ops varies depending on the number of academic hours completed toward your degree. Undergraduate Co-op salaries range from GS-4 (General Schedule 4) level for a student with sophomore standing to GS-6 level for students with senior standing. Co-ops are promoted on the basis of academic hours completed and performance ratings. Starting pay for graduate Co-ops depends on individual qualifications. As a general rule, master\'s degree candidates are appointed at the GS-7 level and doctoral degree candidates are appointed at the GS-9 level.
Although the pay isn\'t as good as what you might be offered at another job, our Co-ops will tell you that they wouldn\'t give up working here, even if it did mean a pay raise!
You may want to look at the 2005 Houston Salary Table for hourly pay rates to get an idea of what the starting pay is at each level.
'; theText[11] = 'One of the great things about being a Co-op at JSC is that there are so many other Co-ops around. After spending a few weeks getting to know everyone, we promise you won\'t be bored. There\'s always someone to get together with, and Houston is absolutely huge, so there\'s never a lack of things to do. Co-ops do everything--movies, baseball and hockey games, beach parties (sun and sand are less than an hour away!), dinners, bars, clubs, concerts, road trips (Austin, San Antonio, College Station, New Orleans), trips to shuttle launches, softball with the Astronaut Candidates, skydiving, rock climbing, Bible studies, camping, the occasional wild Co-op party...what else have we forgotten?? If you look really carefully, you can even spot a Co-op in the Bruce Willis flick, Armageddon--he was an extra during the filming they did here at JSC!
Check out our Texas-sized Co-op Activies List. (It makes the above paragraph look like Rhode Island....) Not only does it have more activities than you could possibly do in a semester, it lists grocery stores, electronics stores, movie rental places, restaurants, and a host of other businesses you might want to know about.
'; theText[12] = 'Yes, and we will help you find it. Most first time Co-ops rent rooms from homeowners (the majority of them being NASA or contractor employees themselves) in the Clear Lake area. The Co-op Office publishes a brochure each tour that will assist you in locating this sort of housing. You\'ll receive information regarding the rental process and a list of possible locations. This brochure also lists contact information for a few reasonable apartment complexes in the area. If you are hired as a co-op, you will receive a copy of this brochure with plenty of time to find housing.
'; theText[13] = 'Unfortunately, a car is practically a necessity. Some Co-ops are able to borrow a car from their parents, while others in the past have purchased used cars or taken out a lease. That said though, it is possible to survive without a car. Your best bet is to live close to JSC and be prepared to walk about a quarter-mile to work, or room with other Co-ops or NASA employees. We probably have one or two Co-ops per semester that work at JSC without a car.
'; theText[14] = 'This is completely up to you. Most Co-ops spend their first tour living in a house, and this allows you time to get to know the other students and find out who you\'re most compatible with. Apartments are generally expensive (and unfurnished) if you go it alone.
After one tour, some Co-ops choose to continue living in a house for reasons such as the fact that it\'s generally cheaper and easier than getting your own apartment, you have full kitchen (if you cook), a washer and dryer for free, a yard to play in, and a room "bigger than a closet". It\'s also nice for those times when you just want your own space. Not living with another student gives you the opportunity to party all night with the Co-ops but then be able to head back to your place to sleep in quiet. That said, however, it all depends on who your roommates are. Many Co-ops love sharing apartments with each other, and wouldn\'t have it any other way.
'; theText[15] = 'It depends on where you work. If you work in Mission Operations, the dress code is generally a little more formal--usually with men in ties and women in skirts or nice pants. Engineering is usually more casual. The best advice, however, is to plan for "business casual" but bring the good stuff as well (if for nothing else than for presentations you may have to make). Wear ties or skirts for the first couple days and look at what the rest of your branch is wearing. Then, just try to fit in.
As for non-work, bring plenty of short sleeve shirts, shorts, and other summer gear. You will need sweatshirts and pants for the November-March period, but heavy winter jackets can be left at home. Houston gets very hot in the summer, especially towards the end of July and August. High humidity is the rule, not the exception.
'; theText[16] = 'Some Co-ops do, some don\'t. It\'s completely a matter of personal preference. As far as work is concerned, you\'ll have plenty of access to computers of all kinds, and the vast majority of Co-ops get a computer of their own on their desk. Direct internet access is easily available, including e-mail.
However, it is strongly frowned upon to take care of personal business such as e-mail or web browsing while you are at work, so if those things are important to you, it might be wise to bring your own machine.
'; theText[17] = 'There is no doubt that there are questions remaining. This FAQ will continue to grow, but it needs your help. What questions do you have? If you think of anything we haven\'t answered, then email somebody on this web site! You could contact the Web Development Committee or the Co-op Office or any student who put their address in their biography.
We want you to be as informed as possible, so you can make the right decisions throughout. So, let us hear from you. It may take a little time to get the question and answer on this web page, but if you include your e-mail address, we\'ll reply to you directly as soon as possible.
'; theText[18] = 'The Partnership for Public Service and American University\'s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation recently released the results of a comprehensive survey of federal government employees on various aspects of job satisfaction. NASA ranked first among all federal agencies in the survey. The results reflect the positive attitude of our workforce and their involvement in the NASA mission.
This first-ever survey of more than 100,000 government employees graded all the federal agencies on several categories related to employee satisfaction. Survey questions were drawn from the Office of Personnel Management\'s Federal Human Capital Survey. The rankings reflect the opinions of the people who know these organizations best, the federal employees who work there.
NASA took home nearly every "best in class" award across categories ranging from "Work/Life Balance" to "Training and Development."
For more information direct from the source.'; theText[19] = 'When a Co-op is officially assigned to duty at JSC, he/she is given the Co-op Handbook. While the handbook does not detail all the program\'s requirements, it is very useful in starting a Co-op off as an informed employee. Topics inside the handbook include procedures and information regarding the following: work schedules, pay periods, Co-op awards, committees, Co-op to Full-time conversion requirements, JSC services, security regulations, and training. The handbook also includes a section titled From Co-ops to Co-ops. This section includes tips on what to do for fun, weather in the Houston area, transportation, etc.
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