Northeastern University - Cauldron Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 33 text:

Cooperating Jfirmg The employers wlio eo-operate with the eollc ' s ' e K ' ' i ' ' ' y iififeo, whenever pos.sil)le, to eni])lo ' tlie students in all the diti ' erent dejjart- nients of their estaljlislinu-nt during the periods of engineering practice. This practice is just as coni])lete as the college class-room work. and. in order for a nuin to receive a passing grade in his course, a favorable re])ort must he sent in to the college by an official of the firm. Wlierever possible the student is given actual ])ractice in all ])hases of the work, from the handling of the raw materials to the ship- ment of the finished product. His jiractical training includes not only the Jiandiing and use of the tools and implements of his trade or pro- fession, but takes in. to a certain extent, instruction in the business end of the firm. Thus, upon the com])letion of his cour.se, the student not only knows how to do things, but also why they are done as they are. When a student is first assigned to a firm the college gives him general information in regard to the work done, together with a letter of introduction. At the first interview the student familiarizes himself with the kind of work in which he will be engaged and the conditions under which he will work. It is ex])ected that no student will acce]it employment through the school unless he fully expects to continue in college and with the firm in cjuestion throughout the year. 31

Page 32 text:

Co=operating jFirmsi Technical scliool instruction, deiiendiiif; on class-room work and laboratories, must always lack some of tlie vital characteristics of an actual manufacturing plant. One is carried on for educational purposes, while the other is operated for dividends. Northeastern students ol tain the advantages of both systems. The college year is divided into nine five-week periods and each student spends alternate ))eriods at study in school and at work in the plant of some com])etitive firm. This enables the student to properly place himself in the world and ajjply theory to j ractice: besides developing through experience, that rare thing, executive ability. 30

Page 34 text:

The students report for work at the regiihir working hours of the firm, no special privileges being granted. Students are not permitted to discontinue engineering practice except under unusual conditions, and then only by previous arrangement with, and the consent of, the college. In all ca.ses of absence from engineering jjractice, whether unavoiflable or not, due notice must be given to the employing firm. This matter of notification of absence from work is very important and failure to give due notice is considered as sufficient cause for dismissal. Stiulents in the So])homore, Junior, and Senior years are always placed with firms which give them ex])erience directly in line with the course of studv followed at school. Freshmen, as a rule, are assigned to work not so technical in char- acter, but to work designed to train them in the fundamental c|ualities of character and ])ers()nality so necessary for the successful com])leti()n of their college course and to their future success. For the practical work the student does, he is i)aid according to a l)redetermined wage scale, which fixes the minimum wage for various classes of work in all the years of the course. The wage scale provides for increases in pay at the end of fixed periods of service and does not determine any maxinuim. The student will receive as much compen- sation for his work as he makes himself worth. Si