'The perfect situation': Look inside UC's nationally-ranked co-op program

It’s a rickety ride with eight people crammed into the hoist, but Wirth smiles and assures it’s safe.

Before stepping off onto the 13th floor, the top floor of the residence hall that was recently gutted and is now being remodeled to accommodate 822 students, Wirth’s eyes light up.

“It’s probably my favorite view of Cincinnati,” he says.

This is Wirth’s twelfth week in his current cooperative education experience with Messer Construction. The University of Cincinnati’s co-op program rose to No. 4 in U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings, released in mid-September this year. The local program has historically placed in the top 5 co-op programs in the country.

Its reputation is enough to attract students from all over the world.

UC actually founded the concept of cooperative education 115 years ago, said Gigi Escoe, vice provost for UC’s undergraduate studies and dean of the division of experience-based learning and career education. The first programs were for engineering students, but now students of any major can apply for positions within the university's more than 2,200 global partners.

Read the full Cincinnati Enquirer story, which was also reported by Yahoo News. 

Featured photo of students looking at an architectural model by Lisa Ventre/University of Cincinnati.