RIT's Cooperative Education program records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArc-0393

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Cooperative Education at RIT records contains various documents and clippings related to cooperative education at RIT. Of significance are two major studies of the program conducted in 1943 and 1960. Also included are newsletters, questionnaires and evaluation forms for students and employers, and statistical sheets that compare cooperative education among various colleges including RIT.

The collection also contains clippings and ephemera, dating from 1912 to 1994 that focus on RIT’s cooperative education plans, RIT student reports on their cooperative education experiences, and general information about cooperative education. Also included are promotional items, unidentified manuscripts, and miscellaneous documents relevant to RIT’s cooperative education plans. Additionally, there is a New York State Legislative Resolution celebrating RIT's 75th Anniversary of its Cooperative Education Program.

Dates

Creation: 1912, 1935-1936, 1940-1945, 1948-1950, 1954, 1957-1960, 1965-1967, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1985-1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006
Creation: Majority of material found within 1935 - 1950

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

RIT’s cooperative education program was established in 1912 by Carleton B. Gibson, president of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute after President Gibson visited The University of Cincinnati and learned about their cooperative education plan for their students. When it was first established at Cincinnati in 1906, there was speculation that cooperative education for students would not be effective. However, the experience at Cincinnati proved this to be false. Students would apply what they learned in classrooms at their work and at the same time, gain valuable real-world experience while they attended school. The program continues to this day, allowing RIT to build good relationships with local and national companies. RIT still remains one of the oldest and largest leaders in cooperative education plans among colleges and universities.

Extent

2 Box(es) (Two blue/gray document boxes. 1 oversized folder. Box 1-Folders 1-8 Box 2-Folders 9-14)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Various documents, clippings, and other types of papers related to cooperative education at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Also included in the collection are newsletters, students’ reports and two major studies conducted in 1943 and 1960.

Arrangement

The materials are contained within two document boxes and one oversized folder. Each folder is arranged by subject and material type and in chronological order. Box 1 contains Folder 1-8 and Box 2 contains Folder 9-14.

Other Finding Aids

In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.

RIT's Cooperative Education program records