Women in Engineering Co-op Stream (WECS)
About
Lassonde School of Engineering is committed to diversity and representation including gender and sexual diversity. Lassonde is welcoming and respectful of women, including trans women and those who are nonbinary, gender non-conforming and anyone who identifies as a woman in a way that is significant to them.
In response to a call for action by the Lassonde School of Engineering to increase the representation, retention and success of women in Engineering, the Women in Engineering Co-op Stream (WECS) offers a unique point of entry to the Lassonde co-op program for the first-year women students admitted to Engineering. This is a pilot program for the Fall 2022-Winter 2023 academic term. All qualified candidates who take the status of women will be encouraged to participate in this program.
Program Description
Participation in this program is open and recommended to all women students admitted for Fall 2022 to Engineering including both international and domestic students. Students who opt into the program will have the opportunity to join the Co-op Program with the first work term beginning in Summer 2023.
The current Lassonde co-op program is an optional program traditionally available after the second year. Direct entry into co-op earlier, in the first year, will provide an opportunity for students to build a stronger network and competitive advantage for industry co-op. It allows students to participate in capacity building opportunities and for Lassonde to additionally invest in our women students.
*Lassonde is welcoming and respectful of women, including trans women and those who are nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and anyone who identifies as a woman in a way that is significant to them.
Academic Criteria:
● full time student in Engineering (at least 9 credits per term Fall and Winter; 6 for students with a disability)
● admitted to Engineering program in Fall 2022 academic term
Application Criteria:
● Express intention to join the Women in Engineering Program Co-op Stream by October 14, 2022 (see instructions on “How to Participate” section below)
● Full attendance in the mandatory Co-op sessions (Resume Fundamentals and Interview Fundamentals) must be confirmed
● Submit application to the Program from November 3-7, 2022 through the Co-op Portal
Academic Eligibility for continuous participation in co-op:
● In good standing, full time enrolment, and enough credits to rotate between co-op and academic terms
** We are currently reviewing the program to determine viability of another intake for new students. Please note that all Lassonde students pursuing an engineering degree or Honours degree can apply for the Co-op Program in the fall of the 2nd year of their studies.**
October 12 – October 14, 2022⠀
Express your intention to opt -in to the WECS Program
– Log-in to the Lassonde Co-op Portal to fill out the Intention to Apply to WECS form
Instructions on how to submit the form:
1) Log-in to the Lassonde Co-op Portal*
2) On the left navigation pane, click on Dashboard. Click on “My Forms” (located as second menu towards the top of the page)
3) Click on the gray circle with 3 dots, located on the bottom right hand corner of the page
4) Select “Submit a Form”
5) Select “Intention to Apply to Women in Engineering Co-op Stream” and fill out the questions; then select “submit” at the bottom of the form
*Students without an existing account may be required to create an account in Lassonde Co-op Portal prior to filling out the form.
October 15-17, 2022⠀
Conditional admission and confirmation of eligibility
October 14, 2022, from 12:30 pm–1:30 pm OR October 20, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm⠀
Attend WECS Information Session (virtual)
**You will receive an invitation to register for this event the day after you have submitted your intention to apply.
October 17 – November 4, 2022⠀
Register and attend the 2 Mandatory Co-op Job Search Preparation Sessions from October to November:
1) Resume Fundamentals
2) Interview Fundamentals
⠀October – December 2022⠀
Attend Fall Professional Development Events
⠀November 3 – 11:59 PM November 7, 2022⠀
Submit your application in the Co-op Portal and confirm your program of study
⠀December 2022 International students: submit Co-op Work Permit Application⠀
Formal admission to the Co-op Program and confirmation of program participation
⠀January – April 2023⠀
Access to Summer 2023 job board (off-campus and industry jobs) and application for on-campus co-ops
⠀January – April 2023⠀
Attend Winter Professional Development events
⠀May 2023 – August 2023⠀
Start Summer 2023 Co-op
Unique Program Offerings
The unique offerings of this pilot co-op stream will include women-focused professional development, peer networking and connection, access to extra-curricular leadership activities, and specialized job search support. In addition, this stream will offer an option to apply for on-campus co-op positions during the summer after their first year, providing an opportunity to develop and strengthen employability skills before competing for industry co-op positions beginning in the second year.
2 options for employment opportunities in Summer 2023:
1. Students will have the opportunity to apply and compete for an exclusive list of on-campus opportunities, mainly Lassonde units that hire work/study or LEAP positions during Summer terms.
Examples include:
●
Admissions and Recruitment
●
BEST Lab
●
Communications
●
k2i Mentors
●
Lassonde Education Innovation Studio (LEIS)
●
Lassonde IT
●
LURA Co-ops
●
Student Engagement
2. Believe you are ready to go right to industry? Students can also opt to compete for an industry co-op (off-campus). Access to the job board will be available in January 2023.
Professional Development & Leadership Opportunities:
Workshops and training activities to build your employability skills
Women focused networking opportunities including employer panels, micro mentorships with women engineers and peers
Specialized Job Search Supports: The co-op team will coordinate and provide targeted job search support and resources including conducting industry research on employers with an EDI mission/vision, as well as offer work preparation workshops
A more flexible work term sequence
- For those looking to advance to graduate within 4 years with a co-op designation, this program allows students to complete the 12 months of co-op in 3 summers.
Co-op Sequence Examples (additional options available)
4-years (12 months)
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 1 (Work Term 1 – on campus) |
| Year 2 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 2 (Work Term 2 – off campus) |
| Year 3 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 3 (Work Term 3 – off campus) |
| Year 4 | Study | Study | Graduate! |
5-years (16 months total)
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 1 (Work Term 1 – on campus) |
| Year 2 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 2 (Work Term 2 – off campus) |
| Year 3 | Co-op Work Period 2 (Work Term 3 – off campus) | Study | Co-op Work Period 3 (Work Term 4 – off campus) |
| Year 4 | Study | Study | OFF |
| Year 5 | Study | Study (option) | Graduate! |
5-years (20 months total)
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 1 (Work Term 1 – on campus) |
| Year 2 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 2 (Work Term 2 – off campus) |
| Year 3 | Study | Study | Co-op Work Period 3 (Work Term 3 – off campus) |
| Year 4 | Co-op Work Period 3 (Work Term 4 – off campus) | Co-op Work Period 3 (Work Term 5 – off campus) | OFF |
| Year 5 | Study | Study (option) | Graduate! |