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Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority (WCRSA) has been utilizing students fromClemson University's Co-operative Education Program for approximately ten years.Students alternate semesters of academic study with paid, career-related semesters ofwork in WCRSA's Engineering Department. Three work periods which include summer,fall and spring semesters are required to obtain what is needed for a co-operativeeducation certificate. The program helps bridge the gap between the academiccommunity and the working environment.The paper discusses how WCRSA incorporates the classroom education of the studentsinto the working environment and how the Co-operative Education Program enhances theskills of the students, increasing the students' job opportunities. Students are exposed toall aspects of work in WCRSA's Engineering Department including permitting,preliminary engineering, design, and construction at WCRSA and introduced toWCRSA's engineering consulting firms. Students assist the Engineering Departmentwith special projects related to tracking electrical costs at WCRSA's facilities, photodocumentation of construction projects, monitoring subdivision growth in the servicearea, interaction with customers regarding sewer line locations, and using and givinginput to WCRSA's Geographic Information System.Most important, the paper demonstrates how the students are introduced to civil andenvironmental engineering careers. With fewer people going into the water andwastewater environmental field, WCRSA has promoted interest in the area with themajority of students pursuing careers in the field. The paper also details what benefitsother agencies and engineering consulting firms can derive from utilizing co-ops and theCo-operative Education Program.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 02/01/2007 Number of Pages: 4File Size: 1 file , 3.7 MB