Amy Avalos, Cooperative Work Experience Education Professor, interviewed with Marge Nielsen regarding the successful Los Rios Community College District Cooperative Work Experience and Internship Program. The district’s four colleges work in a non-competitive partnership with each other. This has resulted in a successful and cohesive program

Which colleges are within the Los Rios Community College District?
American River College, Cosumnes River and Sacramento City Colleges and Folsom Lake College are all part of the Los Rios Community College District.
They work together to develop shared goals, establish policies and procedures, and market the program.

What instigated the colleges to develop a district-wide program?
For the past 20 years the colleges have worked together to develop a strong Cooperative Work Experience Education and Internship program in the Los Rios Community College District. In 2003, the district’s colleges worked together to secure a marketing grant through the North/Far North Regional Consortium. Through the grant, they were able to create a shared identity, including a logo and a variety of marketing materials. This collaboration also led to the establishment of the CWE website, https://wexp.losrios.edu.

The program’s success is attributed to the collaboration of the district’s staff and resources, and the use of multiple ways to give the students program information. The internship program coordinators and developers meet regularly to discuss their shared goals, and to cultivate new ideas. Also, students and employers obtain program information through the website, and face-to-face meetings.


What type of CWE programs do you offer?
We offer general CWE, vocational (non-transferable) and transferable Cooperative Work Experience.

How has your CWE/Internship website enriched your program?
The website has benefited the students, employers and faculty. It allows students and employers access to program information and listings of available internships 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

Students are given online step-by-step information on how to enroll in the program on the district website. Students submit an online CWE/Internship application and internship information. Employers place their internship information directly online at no cost. Faculty may submit requests for presentations to their classes about the internship program, employer speakers and other career development topics.

What other multimedia tools do you use?
Students are required to complete 18 hours of career orientation, while participating in the Co-op work Experience program. They have the option to complete an online course through Blackboard, or they may attend a traditional on-campus course. Another option for students is to view the orientation through ITFS or interactive TV.

How did your district develop the website?
The website was developed by Sally Wong, an American River College computer programmer. However, the CWE program faculty and staff worked with Sally on the website for the prior year, before it went live in fall of 2003. Sally also created a database that interfaces with the website, so that the staff can have access to more information and reports through an administrative site access.

What was your experience with your TV course versus the online course as a vehicle to teach your CWE assignments?
Cosumnes River College has dropped the TV course, since it was our lowest enrolled section of CWE. Folsom Lake College does offer a CWE course via the TV. However, Cosumnes River College has found the online course to be a more popular option for their students. 

For more information, please call or email Amy Avalos

Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA
Work phone: 916.691.7663
Work fax: 916.691.7362
Email: avalosa@crc.losrios.edu
Website: https://wexp.losrios.edu