Background
In Jan of 2021, WARG hired 2 co-ops - it was the first time that this generation of the team had hired co-ops before, and thus the team’s organization of how to hire and manage them was completely thrown off. Sahil Kale developed the WARG co-op program shortly after in an attempt to ensure that co-ops had adequate supervision and had regular reviews and enough work. This document is intended to be the final manual for running the co-op program
Before hiring
Before hiring a co-op, it is good to establish a motivation for why you’d like a co-op. New co-op managers tend to underestimate just how much time a co-op can put into the team as it is their full-time job for the next few months.
In our experience, co-ops have had the most success when given a project that
They have full ownership over
Is a long-term endeavour
Self-contained (i.e. does not rely on others completing stuff or blocks others)
A project meeting these specifications means that the co-op can self-direct questions and avoid on waiting for people to finish tasks while they idle. Examples include
Auto takeoff/landing module
Auto taxi module
Groundstation development
Hiring
WARG has internal documents on how to hire. See here: Admin Process for hiring co-ops
Onboarding
Administrative Process
Follow Step 5 of the Admin Process for hiring co-ops , this should be the first and foremost priority. A good strategy is to get them to complete the safety training in advance of first day.
Subteam Process
This varies at the discretion of each subteam lead. Some have chosen to allow the member to bypass the bootcamp and instead complete another small task, while others ask the member to complete the bootcamp. However it goes, this is left to the subteam lead to decide.
Throughout the co-op period
Daily contact is something that is mandated by the SDC co-op regulations. This can be satisfied by a standing morning meeting on discord or in the bay, and doesn’t need to be long at all, ~10 minutes is all it usually is.
Every month, a co-op review shall be held between the supervisor and student. It’s fairly chill, Monthly internship reviews
Offboarding
For co-op supervisor
Submit the co-op evaluation on CECA
This replaces the final co-op review as you and the student fill it out together
Compile feedback on what we can do better and add it here!
For co-op student
Return all equipment loaned by the team, or provide option to pay for items by shipping replacements to the bay.
Commentary
To add later?