Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering, founded in 1923, announced today that it has become the first Canadian Association For Co-operative Education (CAFCE) accredited school in the nation. The CAFCE accreditation recognizes colleges and universities with high-quality co-operative education programs, which are evaluated based on the following five dimensions:

• Structural criteria
• Co-op in the institutional context
• Institutional commitment criteria
• Quality program delivery criteria
• Monitoring and evaluation criteria

“This accreditation only reinforces what we have known all along,” says Cleveland State University President Ronald M. Berkman, “that Fenn College’s Co-operative Education Program not only meets standards, but exceeds them, providing unparalleled opportunities for Cleveland State University students to earn experience in their field, which are crucial for career success in these tough economic times.”

This prestigious and groundbreaking accreditation establishes Fenn College’s Co-operative Education Program as one with proper structure, objectives and monitoring capabilities that meet independent external reviews and approvals. The accreditation ensures that students and employers involved with the program will participate in a clearly defined educational experience that enhances and complements the learning process, while offering opportunities for engaged learning in a real-world work setting and providing benefits to the employer as well.

Although the Fenn College of Engineering is the first engineering school in the U.S. to be accredited by the CAFCE, the CAFCE has accredited and worked in partnership with more than 80 member institutions that represent over 80,000 co-op students from Canada’s top universities over the past 37 years. In addition to providing formal accreditation, the CAFCE provides professional development opportunities and best practices for co-operative education programs and program administrators.

Cleveland State University Fenn College of Engineering

Since 1923, the Fenn College of Engineering at Cleveland State University has provided a tradition of high quality undergraduate and graduate education in engineering and engineering technology. The college is home to over 1,000 students annually and boasts the 9th largest Co-operative Education Program in the nation. Fenn College of Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In addition, the Electronic Engineering Technology program has been accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. The college offers traditional engineering degrees in Chemical and Biomedical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical, Software and Computer, Industrial and Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering as well as degrees in Electronic Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology. All of Cleveland State University’s Engineering programs offer Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in their respective disciplines, as well as a doctoral program, including a specialization in Applied Biomedical Engineering in conjunction with the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation. www.csuohio.edu/engineering.

Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE)

The CAFCE fosters and advances post-secondary co-operative education in Canada, and with its certification of Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering in 2010, internationally as well. The CAFCE has created a national forum of professional co-op practitioners and established national and international standards for co-operative education programs. They strive to deliver opportunities for learning and the sharing of best practices to co-operative education programs through accreditation, professional development and membership. www.cafce.ca.

About Cleveland State University

Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for engaged learning. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, 8 colleges and more than 250 academic programs, CSU provides a hands-on learning environment that connects students, ideas and real-world experience.

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