This
is
how breakthroughs happen.
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Experiential learning and career education are key components of higher education. At the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies, our work extends beyond the traditional boundaries of the university.
We develop and deliver innovative, high-impact courses, programs and services—all with the goal of promoting immersive career opportunities and tailored learning experiences for students, fostering their growth as dynamic, thoughtful, global citizens.
MICHELLE CLARE Dean, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
BREAKTHROUGHS BEGIN HERE
Advancing co-op and career innovation through philanthropy.
As the birthplace of cooperative education, the University of Cincinnati is a global leader in co-op, running one of the largest and most innovative programs in the United States.
Last year, UC students benefited from more than 8,300 co-op placements—enhancing their education and launching their careers.
Drawing on UC’s pioneering work that dates back to 1906, the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS) is expanding the definition of experiential learning. With a new online Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies degree, a one-stop hub for non-credit learning and an emphasis on service learning, we serve students and learners at all stages in their educational and professional growth.
In collaboration with university, industry and community partners, we are bridging the gap between academic achievement and career success. We focus on priority areas where investment will translate into life-changing impact.
Our goal is to provide every Bearcat with an opportunity for experiential learning. With your support, we can break through to lead the nation in cooperative education. Thank you for joining us in this pivotal moment for the future and impact of co-op at UC.
The next chapter begins with you.
Mechanical engineering student Brooke Boeding, CEAS ’26, credits her advisor, Kelly Thompson, with helping her prepare for multiple engineering co-ops and launch a career. Boeding received a job offer from one of her former co-op employers while still in her senior year.
“Professional development and career planning is very much in the forefront of what we do. We are there from that first co-op class through their postgraduation job search.”
KELLY THOMPSON UC co-op faculty advisor
CO-OP STUDENT SUCCESS PRIORITIES
Building the foundation for every Bearcat’s journey.
To ensure Bearcats thrive in their co-op experiences, the college is investing in essential infrastructure that supports access, readiness and resilience. These priorities focus on removing barriers and equipping students with the tools, guidance and financial support they need to succeed— no matter their background or starting point.
Funding priorities:
Advising and mentorship
Increase the number of co-op advisors, coaches and mentors. Students cite one-on-one engagement with an advisor or mentor as a top benefit of CCPS.
Career tools
Scale access to essential licenses and platforms by removing cost barriers for thousands of students.
Emerging skills development
Support training in high-demand areas like AI, data analytics and digital tools not typically taught in the classroom.
Student co-op support
Remove financial barriers to the top co-op placements by increasing wrap-around funding to cover travel, housing and other expenses.
Emergency co-op support
Provide rapid financial aid to co-op students facing unexpected hardships during placements, ensuring continuity and success.
Service-learning co-op at UC
In 2024, more than 132 UC students participated in service-learning co-op, supporting 71 nonprofits in our community with $332,000 collectively earned.
“I love my UC interns. They come prepared, they understand the importance of hands-on experience and they’re serious about the work. UC students know this is part of their professional training, not just checking a box.”
LAUREN BURLILE Course experience coordinator Pig Works, Cincinnati nonprofit
CO-OP EXPANSION PRIORITIES
Opening doors to transformative co-op experiences for every student.
The college is committed to broadening the reach of cooperative education by creating new pathways for students who have historically been underserved. Our priorities focus on expanding access to meaningful, mission-driven co-op experiences and developing programming that reflects the diversity and ambition of UC Bearcats.
Funding priorities:
Elevated programming
Unlock student potential by creating new co-op opportunities across all UC colleges and extending programming to non-traditional students.
Nonprofit co-op stipends
Fund stipends for students working unpaid co-op jobs in nonprofits, enabling access to mission-driven career experiences.
Expanded visibility
Share UC’s unique approach to experiential education nationwide, through partnerships and outreach, so more students can access the life-changing power of co-op.
In summer 2025, Tamara Nasr was the first UC student to co-op at Steven Holl Architects in New York, a top-ranked, internationally recognized firm headquartered in Manhattan. Nasr was also aided by UC’s National Co-op Ambassador Scholarship.
Since 2021, the ambassador scholarship program has supported 760 placements across the country, with $2.1 million for UC students pursuing co-ops in high-cost cities.
“This program has taken me to another level. It’s given me a deeper perspective—not just as an architect, but as a researcher and thinker.”
TAMARA
NASR, DAAP ‘26
Master of Science in Architecture program College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
PHILANTHROPY AT WORK
Fueling opportunity, innovation and career readiness for Bearcats across the country.
Through donor support, the college has expanded opportunities for experiential learning. These efforts are creating real-world opportunities for students in high-demand industries and high-cost cities, connecting classroom learning with career-launching experiences.
Your impact:
Strategic growth in key cities
Since September 2021, co-op staff have created 715 new positions in 13 target cities, such as Atlanta, Houston and Seattle.
Employer pipeline development
With dedicated staff support, UC engaged new co-op partner companies and mobilized UC alumni to build employer pipelines.
Industry-aligned expansion
UC has expanded co-op to partnerships in high-demand fields of aerospace, finance, cloud computing and consumer goods, aligning student experiences with the evolving needs of the workforce.
THANK YOU
Together, we can evolve the University of Cincinnati’s renowned co-op program into the gold standard of excellence—one that trains students in the latest technologies and connects them with industries around the globe. This is more than growth, it’s a commitment to building the future of professional education.
Thank you for your interest in shaping the future of cooperative education and workforce development, both locally and nationally.
CONTACT
Michelle Clare Dean, College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
Michelle.Clare@.uc.edu 513-556-9193
Chris Eden
Assistant Vice President, Development University of Cincinnati Foundation
Chris.Eden@foundation.uc.edu 513-556-0912
