Dow Chemical's co-op study program is a good route to a job: 60 percent of the 120 candidates completing the most recent program got job offers, and most of these came on board.
While the program is not limited to diverse candidates, the firm sees it as a primary vehicle for expanding opportunities at Dow, says Lisa Barnette, implementation leader for university relations and national student programs. She also works with the firm's summer internship program.
"During the intern and co-op assignments, students work at real jobs on meaningful projects, in production units or R&D facilities. We get the value of the students' contributions to the project or worksite, while we evaluate the student in a real situation. By the same token, the students get to size up Dow," Barnette explains.
The co-op program emphasizes technical careers, since Dow is a global leader in science and technology. The firm develops and produces chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services for customers in more than 180 countries and multiple markets.
Dow reaches out to diverse candidates at more than a half-dozen diversity conferences. Its Emerging Scholars program brings co-op students with many different backgrounds into the firm.
"Students apply after hearing about the program from Dow's campus reps," Barnette says. "They write essays describing how they've overcome adversity in their lives. We've had applicants from all circumstances: single mothers, non-traditional students, traditional students from disadvantaged backgrounds." Students selected for the program get scholarships and work terms.
Overall, Dow's co-op program involves about 500 students at a time with approximately one-quarter graduating each year. Most start during their sophomore year and stay for three terms. Barnette says the majority are ChE majors with some MEs and EEs, and a few business students. Technical co-ops move through several of the firm's business units, with stops in manufacturing, engineering and R&D.
Dow prefers co-ops, but will arrange internships for students from schools that don't offer co-op programs.
Dow offers students housing, a stipend-salary and benefits like moving expenses. And if the students later become full time hires, they get employment credit for time spent in the program.
Another benefit is the student program advisor network: Dow employees keep an eye on the students and serve as their advocates. They are resources and mentors, rather than supervisors, Barnette says.
The students enjoy social activities from professional lunches to evening events organized by Dow.
Louise Crochet, diversity compliance implementation leader, says Dow offers other informal mentoring opportunities. The "open mentoring tool" matches the right volunteer to the student who requests a mentor with a particular skill.
Crochet says that Dow's six employee diversity networks, most launched several years ago, can also be good resources for co-ops and interns. There are networks for women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics and Latinos and gays and lesbians. The newest is for employees with disabilities.
"One of our goals is to proactively recruit people with disabilities," says Crochet. In 2003, the firm ran a very successful awareness program and mentoring day for fifty students with disabilities at the corporate headquarters in Midland, MI.
Crochet says Dow supports the networks because they provide professional and personal development opportunities like speaker programs, workshops, lunch seminars and informal networking meetings. They also help write employee development plans. Dow's employee network leadership team coordinates activities at the corporate level across the networks, Crochet adds.
D/C
Dow Chemical
Business:
www.dow.com
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Headquarters: |
Midland, MI |
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Employees: |
46,000 |
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Sales: |
$32.6 billion |
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Business: |
Chemical, plastic and
agricultural products and services for
global consumer markets |
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