All co-oped up This year Douglas College is offering a Co-operative Edu- cation Program. Co-operative education combines the student’s formal education with related work experience. It is a combined effort between the college and employers to promote learning in both the classroom and the work place. Barb Franck Laurel Norton Co-op education is being offered throughout the year, following the college’s three semester system, and lasting approximately four months. The program has students alternate their terms between classroom studies and work placements. The first job placements were with students in the Accounting and Computer Information Systems disciplines, but the Co-op program has now extended to students within other areas: Marketing, Computer Science, Criminology, Theatre and Creative Writing. There will be people from the Co-operative Education Office ccoming around to the class- rooms of these program areas to make presentations within the next few weeks. However, any interested student from other program areas is welcome to apply. Applications are still being aeéepted. To be eligible, a student must register full-time in a program of studies, have already completed at least one semester of full-time study at the college, and maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 2.50. Students who meet these standards will be interviewed by Co-op placement officers. The Co-op officers are looking for students who possess qualities such as maturity, motivation and adaptability. Jobs aren’t always guaranteed, as it depends on a number of factors, including market demands, the student’s skills and experience. Students are expected to do their part in the job search process. Of those enrolled in the Spring /86 semester, 40 percent of the students found their own jobs. Student’s tuition fees will be refunded in full upon their finding no job placement. For those interested, the Co-op Office encourages students to apply at the beginning of their first semester at the college. In order to apply, students are asked to complete a Co-op application form, attaching to it both their transcript and resume (if available). For more information, contact Barb Franck (local 2710) or Laurel Norton (local 2711). The Co-op Office is located in room 2710 in the Counselling Centre. by LISA HAWS Meet swaps Nancy Yates is a SWAPPER and she strongly suggests you all join her. You’re probably wondering ‘‘What is a SWAPPER?”’ SWAP is the Student Work Abroad Program. The student picks the country he/she would like to work in. Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) has an agency in these countries that will assist you in finding a place to live and employment. Wendy went to London and is going back this summer. Last year she worked for Westminster City as a clerk in the parking ticket department. There are a variety of different types of jobs that are available to students. Nancy mentioned some SWAPPER’s worked in pubs, restaurants and many,many more places. It’s a program that any adventurous student would be interested in. If. you are, on March 6, noon at Douglas College in Room you can find out more. Take the big |step and join the other SWAPPERS. The Other Press Much food for Soviets Could you survive on $70 a month to cover your accom- modation, food and additional expenses while at university? by JAN HERMISTON Soviet Embassy Press Office For students in the Soviet Union, this is the average monthly grant while at uni- versity. “If one lives with one’s parents, like me, for instance, one .has no financial prob- lems,’’ says Mikhail Mikhail- ov, a student at Moscow University, in an article he sent to Ottawa. ‘‘In this case, one tends to regard the grant as pocket money.’’ Students who don’t rely on their par- ents for financial support look to the government, their trade union and to their own capa- bilities for financial well- being. Education in the USSR is government-subsidized and there are no tuition fees. Every academic year, the gov- ernment forks out 1,300 rou- bles (about $1,800 Cdn.) to pay for monthly grant pay- ments, residence fees and the costs of the education proper for each student. Soviet stu- dents enjoy the free use of all educational facilities —librar- ies, laboratories, computer facilities. Students who __ receive “‘gsood’’ and ‘‘excellent’’ grades are entitled to the monthly grant of 50 roubles monthly grant, provided they have financial difficulties. Student residence fees are only about 3 roubles a month (about $5.00 Cdn.) with heat and electricity included. The largest expense ‘ for students is food. Student caf- eterias offer meals at about half the cost of ordinary cafe- terias. ‘‘The students who frequent our cafeteria can tell you that it costs them only 50 to 60 kopecks (about 80 cents Cdn.) for a substantial, four- course meal, consisting of vegetable, meat and fish dish- es and dairy products,’’ ex- plains Mikhailov. Transportation costs are minimal. ‘’l go to the Univer- sity by subway and bus,” says Mikhailov: ‘‘Though all the public transport fares are five kppecks (about 7 cents Cdn.) per one-way trip, | usually buy a student season ticket, which cuts my trans- portation expenses in half.’’ The student discount card also enables students to re- ceive a 50 percent discount on train travel and 30 percent reduction in air travel costs during the off-season. Almost all Soviet students are trade union members. With monthly membership fees only 10-30 kopecks (about 35 cents Cdn.), the ad- vantages of trade union mem- bership are enormous. Mem- bers are entitled to the free use of sports facilities, and (about $70.00 Cdn.). Students whose grades are ‘‘satisfac- tory’’ may also receive the free instruction in various sports and art clubs and studios. Trade unions also sponsor student vacations. ‘‘When the next winter holidays come around, I’Il go to our student holiday centre, like | did last year,’’ says Mikhailov. “There’s nothing like going to the countryside for a couple of weeks and resting there after exams, far away from our parents.’’ The cost is in- expensive—just over 7 | rou- bles (about $10.00 Cdn.) for two weeks. This covers only 30 percent of the expenses— the trade union pays for the remaining 70 percent. Tours abroad are also offer- ed through the student trade union, with discount bookings available. Even though the monthly grant and trade union bene- fits save students a lot of money, there are always addi- tional expenses—a new outfit, or entertainment costs. Many students work part-time to earn extra money. Every uni- versity has a job-placement centre which helps students find suitable part-time work related to their area of study and with acceptable schedule and pay. ‘‘Usually such jobs take no more than two or three hours a day, several times a week,’’ notes Mik- hailov. ‘‘Surely, that cannot interfere with one’s studies.’’