“The MECOP program is truly a win-win situation for the student, the company, and the University. The student gains insights while earning an excellent wage. The company is able to evaluate top-quality engineering prospects at no obligation to hire long-term. And the University gets the industrial support it needs to stay on the front burner of the educational process.”

—Mark Christensen
1980 MECOP graduate and Intel engineer

REAL WORLD ENGINEERING
The key to the MECOP program is the student internship. Students are interviewed, screened, and selected for a workstudy program that provides industry with truly motivated and academically qualified employees—without the obligation to hire them permanently.

During two six-month internships, MECOP students can take some of the load off the companies’ seasoned projects which a full-time engineer may not have the time or the skills to perform.

Many MECOP graduates, however, are finding permanent jobs at companies where they had previously interned. Typically, they don’t spend a lot of time in entry-level positions because of three important factors:

• The rigors of the program and the intense evaluation
• The actual experience received in internship
• The combination of experience intertwined with their academics

The MECOP program provides students with the opportunity to go to class, apply the theory in a real world environment, and then go back to class and critique the results.

A SOLID R.O.I.
The MECOP program is exceptional because of the high level of participation by the member companies. They’re actively involved in MECOP not only because of their sense of purpose, but also because of the bottom line: the students have proven to be cost effective.

More than 90 percent of MECOP graduates go to work for companies in Oregon; 70 percent with MECOP companies.

YOUR COMPANY: A DECISIVE VOICE
Representatives from member companies form the MECOP Advisory Board. The companies fund the program and provide meaningful, practical work experience for the students. Plus, they assist the University in developing a focused curriculum, and have the decisive voice in the selection of students into the program.

HOW IT WORKS:
Each qualified student must participate in two six-month internships at different MECOP companies before graduation. Students are selected into the program at the end of their sophomore year.

To be admitted to the MECOP program, students must cross two important hurdles:

1. They must be selected by the company representatives who interview the applicants, and
2. They must meet high academic standards of their respective engineering departments. The selection process is very competitive and not all applicants are accepted.

In their junior year, students are required to take several plant tours of member companies to familiarize themselves with the wide variety of internship opportunities.

During the fall quarter, all juniors must attend a College of Engineering seminar at which all returning interns give presentations about their company assignments, projects, and experiences.

ASSIGNING INTERNSHIPS
Each February, juniors and seniors participate in the placement process. First, students and company representatives from all of the member companies get together in an informal session at which the representatives give short presentations about their companies and their potential internship projects. Afterward, students have the opportunity to meet with company representatives and ask questions. Finally, students are interviewed by the company representatives.

The two six-month internships added to the regular course work help to fine-tune the student’s education. The University gets back a more motivated student—one who can take control of his or her own educational process.

Oregon State University Copyright © 1998 OSU College of Engineering Comments & suggestions: webmaster@engr.orst.edu Page last modified: Friday, Oct. 8, 2004. Web Disclaimer