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Letter from the Dean: our Co-op students need you

Letter from the Dean: our Co-op students need you

May 13, 2020

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Dear business community:

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics is proudly home to Canada’s largest business degree co-op program. Our co-op program has been a celebrated and important part of our business and economics programming for 45 years and one that I know you’ve proudly championed, too.

This Fall, more than 650 students will be seeking co-op jobs. Additionally, more than 100 co-op students are currently available for May to August. Our students are versatile, creative and job-ready, but the market is tough for them. We are reaching out to uncover resilient employers and new opportunities for co-op student employment and we need your help.

We hope you will help us spread the message about the value our business and economics students bring to employers and their organizations. Hiring co-op students during these unstable economic times affords flexibility to companies. There are no long-term commitments and companies are not locked in to full-time salaries or benefits.  Students add valuable skills, fresh perspectives and specialties that can help employers manage changes imposed by economic conditions.

Our co-op students need you. If you are in a position to make a difference, we hope you will consider hiring a Lazaridis School co-op student now or for the Fall term. Here are a few additional considerations to help to persuade you further:

  • Your company may be eligible for wage subsidies through the Student Work Placement Program or for tax incentives through the Ontario Co-op Education Tax Credit. Learn more on the co-op funding for employers website.
  • Co-op student work terms are flexible and can be arranged for a four-month term or longer (or shorter) beginning now or in September. Here are our recruiting dates.
  • We will help you recruit during the pandemic. We’ve compiled tips and guidance on how to train students remotely.

Ready to hire? Contact lauriercoop@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x4058.

Please share this message with anyone in your network who might be able to hire our talented business and economics students.

Thank you for your support, 

Micheál Kelly, PhD
Dean, Lazaridis School of Business & Economics
Wilfrid Laurier University

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