The Cleveland Foundation, through its Fenn Educational Fund, has awarded $149,413 to the Washkewicz College of Engineering for a 2-year period for the project “Reimaging Co-operative Learning and Working”. The project is led by Sandra English, Sr. Manager of the Center for Engineering Experiential Learning of the College, which includes the Fenn Cooperative Education (Fenn Co-op) program.

Through this funding, the Fenn Co-op program will develop a student-centered approach that will build on the success of the program and maximize student access and flexibility as a working learner in a virtual environment. Emphasis will be on increasing the placement of chemical engineering students in the fields of manufacturing, drug discovery and delivery and chemical processing. The continued placement of engineering students in co-ops by using alternative modes will contribute to an adaptable and resilient workforce that is prepared to navigate the uncertainty and complexity of the near future.

The Washkewicz College of Engineering partners with hundreds of corporations to provide co-op education. Over the past six years, Fenn Co-op has engaged over 700 students completing over 1,400 co-op assignments. Previous support from the Fenn Educational Fund significantly helped the college to grow placement of under-represented minorities and first-generation students in engineering by over 90%. ​​​​​​​