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Inside Higher Ed: Higher Ed Next

National publication calls for universities to embrace UC's co-op model to reduce cost of education

headshot of Matt Koesters By Matt Koesters 513-556-5279
3 minute read June 5, 2020

Cooperative education, invented and pioneered at the University of Cincinnati, should be embraced by universities around the country to keep the cost of education low in the post-pandemic future.

"Higher education is at an inflection point when strategic changes are not only possible but necessary," wrote Steven Mintz in a June 4 op-ed for Inside Higher Ed.
"Exciting ideas are in the air. These ideas need to be considered, and, in many cases, embraced."

Mintz presented four ideas in the piece: 

  • Create an online/low-residency option;
  • Integrate select private institutions into the public higher education system;
  • Seize opportunities for sharing and new-model partnerships;
  • Trimming the costs of higher education.

To accomplish that final point, Mintz called for universities around the country to look to cooperative education, which was born at UC in 1906. 

"Under this model, students alternate between academics and paid work experiences," wote Mintz.

UC's co-op programs have made it possible for students to graduate with little to no debt while gaining practical experience that gives them a leg up on other job seekers upon graduation. In fact, many UC co-op students receive offers of full-time employment ahead of their graduation dates. 

Through its Co-op 2.0 initiative — a pathway within the university's strategic direction, Next Lives Here — UC has made it possible for students from all areas of study to pursue a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities, including project-based work, virtual apprenticeships and grant-funded nonprofit work. 

UC has already incorporated many of the ideas put forth by Mintz. UC Online programs provide students the ability to earn a UC degree from anywhere in the world, while UC colleges have partnered with public and private K-12 systems to give students opportunities — such as the School of Information Technology's Early IT Program — to earn UC-recognized college credit hours. 

Featured image: Steger Center, the home of UC's Division of Experience-based Learning and Career Education. Photo/Creative+Brand

Next Lives Here

Next Lives Here, the University of Cincinnati’s strategic direction, defines our moment and our momentum. More nimble and more robust than a plan, Next Lives Here announces our vision to the world—to lead urban public universities into a new era of innovation, impact, and inclusion. 

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