NIU President John La Tourette and DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow have declared October to be “National Co-op Month.”

The purpose of “National Co-op Month” is to make the community aware of the services the Cooperative Education Program has to offer, said Douglas Davis, program director.

Many students do not realize experience is the key to getting a jump on the competition, he said. Through this program they can get experience and jobs in their area of interest.

“We’re trying to make it (the program) more accessible to students,” Davis said. “The focus of the staff is to help students become more competitive upon graduation.”

At the end of the 1990-91 school year, job placement numbers remained the same despite the downturn in the economy, he said.

Approximately 60 to 65 percent of co-op students get job offers, Davis said. They also begin at higher salaries and are promoted more rapidly, he said.

“Companies hire students with experience and this is the perfect vehicle for it,” Davis said.

The program also gives students the opportunity to see if they will like a job, he said. Not every job is cut out for each student.

The co-op staff works hard to provide students with the service they need, Davis said.

Although the co-op program has had good feedback already, students still are becoming aware of the benefits, he said.