CAFCE CO-OP STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS (2014)

NOMINATION GUIDELINES FOR EMPLOYER MEMBERS

CAFCE is looking for one university co-op student and one college co-op student of the year (2014) and you can help!The winning students, their employers, and institutions will receive national recognition as a result of these awards.Each winning student will receive a $1,000 cash award (the CAFCE award of $500.00 and the Emery-Dufault award of $500.00).

A CAFCE employer member may nominate two candidates with the support of the CAFCE institution(s) and approval of the students. All nomination materials become the property of CAFCE to be used in promoting co-operative education. Each winning student may be required to provide their Social Insurance Number once announced.

ELIGIBILITY:

  1. Any undergraduate, diploma, or postgraduate student registered full-time in a recognized post-secondary co-operative education program at a CAFCE Member institution throughout the period from January - December 2014.Secondary school students are not eligible for this award.
  2. In order to be eligible for this award, a student must be nominated by a CAFCE employer member with support of the CAFCE institution member. A CAFCE employer membermay nominate no more than two (2) candidatesand, where possible,from different programs within the CAFCE institution(s).
  3. Co-op programs must meet the CAFCE Definition of Co-operative Education (
  4. The Work term(s), for which the student is being nominated, must be completed within the 2014calendar year. Candidates may not be nominated twice in two consecutive years for a work term that spans two calendar years.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The CAFCE Co-op Student of the Year Awards Committee uses the criteria listed below to evaluate candidates. Nominees are scored initially on a scale of 100 points. The value of each criterion is indicated in brackets. Subsequent review within the committee of the merits of top candidates (based on initial scores) helps to determine the two winners.

  1. (30pts) job achievement
  2. (15pts) academic achievement
  3. (15pts) contribution to co-operative education
  4. (10pts) contribution to extra-curricular activities at school and/or the community-at-large
  5. (10pts) student’s résumé (which includes Co-op and previous employment)
  6. (15pts) student’s personal letter
  7. (5pts) evaluator assessment and recognition of intangible qualities of nominee

NOMINATIONS:

Nomination MUST be submitted in one (1) PDF electronic document with the following items presented in the order below.

  1. nomination form
  2. nominator’s letter on companyletterhead, signed by the same person noted on the nomination form,detailing the student’s performance in the 2014 work term for which the student is being nominated for(one (1) typewritten letter,two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font)
  3. supporter’s letter on institutionletterhead, signed by the same person as noted on the nomination form,referencing only the 2014work term for which the student is being nominated for(one (1) typewritten letter, two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font)
  4. nominator to provide a bio of their nominee (a maximum 150 words) to be posted on the CAFCE web site
  5. student’s personal letter with signature (one (1) typewritten personal letter, two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font)
  6. student’s current academic transcript (present the candidate’s grades as a percent out of 100)
  7. student’s current résumé (two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font)
  8. student's portfolio (optional, two (2) pages maximum)

All applications must follow the current year's application process.Those applications that follow an earlier year's application process will have their applications edited by the CAFCE office to meet the current year's criteria.Only those nomination packages that meet the guidelines will be forwarded to the selection committee. Incomplete or improperly prepared nominations will be disqualified by CAFCE.

We wish all nominees the best in their consideration for the Co-op Student of the Year Awards. Any questions regarding the nomination requirements may be directed toScott Daniels () or Rachel King ().

GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATION MATERIALS – EMPLOYERMEMBERS

The guidelines presented below are provided to assist in the preparation of the nomination package. Nominees are advised to adhere to the guidelines stipulated. Packages that do not meet the guidelines may be removed from consideration for theaward by CAFCE. All parties are reminded that the committee is seeking well-rounded candidates who show evidence of achievement in all facets of the student’s background: academics, the workplace, and extracurricular/community activities.

NOMINATOR: CAFCE Employer Member

You are required to submit one (1) typewritten letter oncompanyletterhead(two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font). The letter is to reference only the 2014 work term for which the student is nominated for. In your letter, please comment on:

  • The student’s duties/responsibilities;
  • The student’s performance in comparison to your expectations or in comparison to other co-op students;
  • Any outstanding work achievements (cost savings, process/quality improvements, design/development innovations, improved customer service, significant research or other initiatives etc.); and
  • How this student, or co-op students in general, have benefited your/his/her department/company.

Where possible please be specific with your examples. Please include your signature at the bottom of the letter.

The nominating member is to provide a bio of their nominee (a maximum 150 words) to be posted on the CAFCE web site.

NOMINATION SUPPORTER:CAFCE Institution Member

You are required to submit one (1) typewritten letter on institution letterhead (two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font) in support of the nomination.The letter is to reference only the 2014 work term for which the student is nominated for.Please cover the following points in your letter:

  • The student’s achievement in the co-op program;
  • Any achievements, awards, and extracurricular activities that you feel are worthy of mention
  • The student’s activities in support of co-op education; and
  • Any insights on the student’s personal qualities you feel warrant consideration.

Where possible please be specific with your examples. Please include your signature at the bottom of the letter.

You are also required to verify the student’s academic background and provide the student’s cumulative grade point average as well as confirming that the program meets the CAFCE Definition of Co-operative Education (

Important Note: You are required to provide the student’s cumulative grade point average and to convert all grading systems, where necessary, to present the candidate’s grades as a percent out of 100. Where letter grades represent a range of marks (i.e., B+ = 77 – 79 %), grades should be rounded to the highest mark available in the range for that particular grade (79%) If the grade information requested on the nomination form is incomplete the nominee will receive zero (0) points for the academic achievement score (maximum 15 points) in his/her evaluation.

STUDENT NOMINEE

You are required to prepare and submit the following items:

  1. One (1) typewritten personal letter (two (2) pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font) describing how:
  2. Co-operative education has enhanced your career development;
  3. Personal development; and
  4. Academic experience.

Where possible please be specific in your examples. Your comments need to be limited to experience from the specific work term and calendar year for which you are being nominated. Please include your signature at the bottom of the letter.

  1. A copy of your current résumé. Co-op work terms/experience should be clearly identified, and noted with work term dates. Extracurricular and community activities, scholarships and awards, etc., should also be noted.
  1. A portfolio (max. 2 pages) is recommended. You may include any items you feel will give the selection committee a better idea of who you are as a person. You may submit photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles, previous letters of recommendation, published work. Awards and citations are to be listed in your résumé. Please note that any additional letters/essays similar to those already requested from the nominating institution, employer, and you in the nomination package are not acceptable.

NOMINATION FORM – CAFCEEMPLOYER MEMBER

Please complete all sections of this nomination form including signatures. The participants completing and signing this form must be the same people who are signing the letters.By signing this form all parties certify that the information provided is accurate and provides CAFCE with permission to use names and non-confidential information for promotional purposes. Any false information provided in a nomination may result in disqualification or retraction of the award.

Only CAFCE members may submit a nomination. CAFCE employer members must have support of a CAFCE institution member.

CAFCE EMPLOYERNOMINATOR / Company Name:
Member’s Name:
Title/Department:
Mailing Address:
Work Phone: / E-mail:
 I received permission to nominate the student below for the CAFCE Co-op Student of the year Award (2014) and CAFCE has my permission to use non-confidential information for promotional purposes.
Signature (required): Date:
CAFCE INSTITUTION SUPPORTER / Institution’sName:
Member’s Name:
Title/Department:
Mailing Address:
Work Phone: / E-mail:
Nominee's Degree/Diploma Program to be listed on a certificate:
Nominee's Number of Years of Study Completed:
Nominee's Number of Work Terms Completed:
Nominee's Cumulative Grade Point Average: % out of 100
Important Note:You are required to provide the student’s cumulative grade point average and to convert your grading system, where necessary, to present your candidate’s grades as a percent out of 100.Where letter grades represent a range of marks (i.e. B+ = 77 – 79 %), grades should be rounded to the highest mark available in the range for that particular grade (79%) If the grade information requested above is incomplete the nominee will receive zero (0) points for the academic achievement score (maximum 15 points) in his/her evaluation.
Does this co-op work term meet the CAFCE Definition of Co-operative Education? (  or No 
 I received permission to support the student below for the CAFCE Co-op Student of the year Award (2014) and CAFCE has my permission to use non-confidential information for promotional purposes.
Signature (required): Date:
CO-OP STUDENT NOMINEE / Nominee’s Name (Last Name, First Name, Middle):
Mailing Address as of March 2014:
E-mail:
I have given permission to be nominated for the CAFCE Co-op Student of the year Award (2014) and to allow CAFCE to use the non-confidential materials for promotional purposes.
Signature (required): Date:

CHECKLIST – CAFCEEMPLOYER MEMBER

Please check your nomination document to ensure that all required materials are included and that they follow the prescribed order as below:

Nomination Form – CAFCE Employer Member, CAFC InstitutionSupporter,and Co-op Student Nominee typewritten information included, dated and signed (Information must be legible).

CAFCE Employer Member’s Letter – 2 pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font on the company’s letterheadwith signature (nominator must be a member of CAFCE and the signature must match the personstated on the nomination form).

CAFCE Institution Supporter Letter – 2 pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font on the institution’s letterhead with signature (supporter must be a member of CAFCE and the signature must match the person stated on the nomination form).

150 word biofor co-op student nominee that will be used on the CAFCE website once the awards are granted.

Student Nominee’s Letter – 2 pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font minimum with signature.

Student Nominee’s current academic transcript (with letter grades converted to percentages, i.e., B+ = 79 %)

Student Nominee’s résumé – 2 pages maximum, 1 inch margins, 10 point font

Student Nominee’s portfolio (optional, two (2) pages maximum)

Materials must be scanned into one .pdf document and titled by the Student’s Surname, First Name, Institution.Example: Brooks Samantha-University College of Canada.pdf.

One (1) PDF electronic document of all completed nomination materials must be RECEIVED

by e-mail at () on Friday, January 23, 2015,by 4:00 p.m. EST.