AWE Policies and Procedures During COVID-19 - Employers

We want to thank our employer partners for their continued support and flexibility during this unprecedented time.

In order to keep Arts Work Experience running as smoothly and responsively as possible during COVID-19, our goal is to be flexible and follow best practices laid out by our accreditor Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Canada (CEWIL Canada) during this time. These recommendations place student and employer health and safety as the top priority, while allowing co-op terms to continue and minimize negative impacts to students.

CEWIL Canada states that, “CEWIL is committed to bringing together the co-operative education and work-integrated learning community during this uncertain and unprecedented time. We have seen our membership and partners join together to work through unpredictable challenges and we are proud to provide leadership and guidance as much as possible during this time. We will continue to offer updates to our community and partners and offer ways to collaborate and share information and best practices."

AWE Employer Partner Recommendations

Adjustments and Accommodations
The following adjustments and accommodations that may be considered for both students and employers include any/all of the following:
  • Work terms are developed in partnership with the employer and approved by the co-operative education program as suitable learning environments
  • Students are engaged in productive work for which they receive remuneration
  • Ending the current work term early or starting the upcoming work term late (i.e., it is okay to reduce the number of hours below 420 hours and/or the number of work weeks to fewer than 12; adjustments to be assessed/approved on a case-by-case basis by your Co-op Program)
  • Work term experiences are assessed via work term consults with both students and employers (conducted remotely as necessary)
  • Completing work term report requirements, as required by your Co-op Program, must still be met including employer evaluations
  • Revising co-op student job duties to accommodate remote work
  • Delaying the start of the upcoming work term (e.g., September - December) (i.e., will result in a reduction in the number of hours/weeks)
A review of these accommodations coupled with an assessment of the status of the pandemic will be evaluated on an on-going with the intention of returning all accreditation standards to normal.
Work Terms 2022
Effective May 1, 2021, the CEWIL Accreditation Council will return to its standard practice as intended albeit under the health and safety guidelines governing each institution’s respective jurisdiction.
  • All students must feel that the employment model (work from home or workplace modifications) respects their health and safety.
  • Students must generally complete a minimum of 420 hours to earn CR for work terms. 
  • Students are permitted to count work from home positions as AWE work terms, assuming their Work Experience Coordinator is confident that the opportunity is appropriately supervised (regular check-ins with supervisors strongly recommended) and that tasks are at a professional level consistent with co-op positions.
  • Student performance in the workplace is supervised and evaluated by the student's employer
  • Students and employers must participate in self and employer mid-term and final evaluations, and a remote site visit (phone or videoconference) during the work term.

Additional Resources:

Contact Us 

HUB Career Centre
8917 HUB Mall
Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30
artsworkexperience@ualberta.ca

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