Information for Co-op Employers

The Co-op Program provides employers with supports and opportunities to:

• Gain new, innovative ideas and fresh perspectives from students.
• Build and develop a fruitful relationship with members of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the Agri-Food sector.
• Continuous access to a diverse pool of potential student candidates with varying backgrounds in the agri-food sector.
• Access hiring incentives, wage subsidies, government tax incentives such as the Cooperative Education tax credit that covers 15% (up to $5000) of student wages.
• Reduce recruitment costs by addressing labour market gaps through a growing coop program.
• Evaluate, train and mentor long-term employees before committing. Most co-op employers hire their students after graduation. 
• Each work term allows employers to explore different job designs, task varieties, and project needs that can help define the company's recruitment and staffing goals.
• Learn and build on supervisory and project management skills by taking on co-op students as new trainees and employees, and by participating in evaluations and career conversations.

Co-op roles are:

• Full time (minimum 35 hours per week)

• 4 months in duration, spanning the academic term (ie. January - April, May - August)

• Paid
• Meaningful and challenging work that is relevant to a major in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Participating in the Co-op Program supports students’ professional development while helping meet your organization’s workforce needs. The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences maintains ongoing communication with both employers and students to ensure accountability and success.

We value collaboration to make each placement a meaningful experience and to maintain strong relationships between students, Co-op Coordinators, and industry partners.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities expected of Co-op employers:

• Comply with all relevant employment legislation, including Occupational Health and Safety regulations, the Canada Labour Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and Employment Standards legislation.

• Provide meaningful, paid employment for a minimum of 420 hours (approximately 12 weeks at 35 hours per week).

• Submit an accurate job description to the Co-op Program.

• Issue a formal letter of offer to the student, clearly outlining the terms of employment.

• Give reasonable notice for interviews and cancellations.

• Conduct an orientation to introduce the student to their role, the work environment, policies, and their supervisor or workplace mentor.

• Create a structured training plan that covers job expectations, procedures, and health and safety requirements.

• Foster a positive learning environment that supports career development through mentorship, goal-setting, and feedback.

• Ensure a safe and inclusive workplace, especially for students who may have limited prior experience.

• Participate in a mid-term site visit or meeting with the student and Co-op Coordinator to review progress.

• Complete a Student Evaluation Form at both the start and end of the work term and discuss it with the student.

• Communicate any concerns or potential issues affecting the work term to both the student and the Co-op Coordinator promptly.

Explore this extensive list of wage subsidy and tax rebate programs employers can access when hiring a student for Summer, co-op or internship placements. 

Learn More

Suggested Timeline

Hiring Co-op students can be a rewarding process if communication with our Co-op Coordinator happens early in the academic year. We understand that companies and employers have different hiring preferences and we strive to accommodate these as best as we can.

To help you understand and adopt processes to match the Co-op Program timeline, we suggest referring to the following timelines to ensure a smooth hiring process through the Co-op Program.

Winter recruitment

Summer recruitment

Fall recruitment