CWE Student Workbook

This student workbook has been prepared to provide you with all the pertinent information and forms necessary to meet the course requirements.

DISCLAIMER: At Saddleback College, each CE program manages CWE a bit differently. Some provide CWE as a capstone course to a certificate or degree. Some accept CWE on an individual basis. Some offer CWE during the Summer and others do not. If you have a question about this, contact the Department Chair in the academic program of your internship.

Course Descriptions

SAMPLE Catalog Description

Hands-on experience in business management. Provides basic to intermediate level opportunities for students to extend and apply their business management learning in a workplace environment. Students may enroll in a maximum of 8 units of cooperative work experience education per semester, for a lifetime maximum of 16 units. Students must work 75 paid hours or 60 non-paid hours per unit earned.

Learning Objectives

Students participating in this class will: 

1. Demonstrate appropriate workplace skills, problem solving, and professional interactions as identified by the employer.
2. Communicate their ideas and share them with supervisors and co-workers both orally, and in writing.
3. Interpret company policies and apply them as appropriate to the position.
4. Obtain knowledge of the proper use of tools and equipment used in the position.
5. Acquire new skills or knowledge which will assist them in transitioning from an academic to workplace environment.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing this course satisfactorily will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the standards, expectations, and practices set by employers and apply them to the workplace; and
2. Utilize appropriate industry relevant technologies for communication and organizational operations in a workplace environment. 
3. (Faculty - Insert discipline specific Student Learning Outcome)

Student CWE Training Hours

A timesheet must be submitted showing actual weekly hours worked.  This timesheet must be verified and signed by the employer prior to submitting to your Instructor.

*** STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR CWE EMPLOYER BEFORE REGISTERING FOR CWE TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS TO BE WORKED DURING THE EXPERIENCE.

*** STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK THE AMOUNT OF HOURS REQUIRED FOR THE NUMBER OF CWE UNITS THEY REGISTER FOR. EXAMPLE: A student that registers for a 2-Unit Unpaid CWE course must complete 120 hours with the CWE employer by the end of the experience.

Student's Class Attendance

Students may be required to meet both at their CWE worksite and in class depending on the academic department expectations. Typically, CWE experiences require meetings at their CWE worksite only. CWE Instructors are expected to meet at least two times with the student and supervisor at the worksite during the experience.

Important Student Load Requirements

Students must enroll in the CWE 180 class that corresponds to their program major. Students do not need to be enrolled in any other course to enroll in the CWE 180 unless otherwise noted in their specific program requirements.

FIVE Required Documents to be Signed and Submitted to Instructor

1. Program Enrollment Application - This form gives the instructor and the CWE office important student information that may be needed during the semester. This form should be submitted to your instructor via email to begin the process.

2. Job Oriented Learning Objective Form - The first thing a student/faculty/employer should do is to draft three very specific things to strive to learn on the job. These three objectives must be very specific so that the student can measure their achievement. At the same time, the objectives must be something that can be finished by the end of the semester.

   A learning objective is a measurable goal that you set for yourself (with the help of your supervisor) to be accomplished through your work experience. It will make use of some new habits, skills or information above and beyond your routine performance on-the-job. Guidelines to assist students in writing learning objectives are available in on the "How to write Learning Objectives" webpage.

   The Learning Objectives form is a record of the specific objectives that the student has identified for the current semester. It is also a record of how well the student has accomplished these objectives. This rating is given by a representative of the firm for which the student works and is used by the student as a self-evaluation.

   The objectives form should be completed and signed by the supervisor by the fifth week of instruction. The final evaluation of the completed objectives with all final signatures should be returned to the instructor by the end of the semester.

3. Time Sheet Form - Credit for work experience is based on a certain number of hours worked. The Student Time Report verifies the actual number of hours worked each week to justify unit credit.

   Students will fill in the number of hours worked for each work day. DO NOT list hours worked as "9-5" or "12 to 5", just list the total amount of hours worked per week. DO NOT include lunchtime as hours worked. Holidays and vacation days ARE NOT to be included as hours worked.

   At the end of the semester the student will total all hours worked and indicate hours in the appropriate space. The student and the supervisor must verify the hours worked and sign the Time Report at the end of the semester. Students will submit the signed time sheet to the instructor.

4. Employers Evaluation of the Student Intern - Before starting a work experience, the student should study the Evaluation of Student by Employer form to see how they will be evaluated thus giving them a better understanding of what is expected of them during the Cooperative Work Experience course.

   This form is to be filled out by the student's workplace supervisor at the end of the semester. The supervisor will discuss the evaluation with the instructor during the end of the semester meeting at the work site and the instructor will keep this evaluation for the student file. This information will help the instructor give the student the final grade they have earned for the semester.

5. Student Program Evaluation Survey - In order to keep the Cooperative Work Experience program as viable and efficient as possible, we ask the students to evaluate the program. This evaluation will help us to make any needed changes in our procedures and practices. This evaluation should be completed at the end of the semester and returned to Instructor with all other forms.

Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab is an on-campus work experience education opportunity to learn problem-solving skills and earn CWE credit during fall and spring sessions. The Innovation Lab is based on the Invention and Inclusive Innovation (i3) Initiative. You'll work with student teams and inter-disciplinary faculty mentors on developing products or programs to solve problems in your community. Students must complete at least 60 hours in lab and group activities to meet CWE requirements.

For more info about joining an upcoming Innovation Lab, please contact us at scinnovationlab@saddleback.edu.