Chrysler Group and Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, have established the first class of student co-ops that will work at the automaker starting this autumn. A day of on-campus events was intended to rekindle a longstanding relationship between company and university that was halted while the automaker was in bankruptcy, restructured and came under the control of Fiat.
“Chrysler Day” at Kettering University featured informational and recruiting booths staffed by company representatives, product displays of many of the group’s 16 new or significantly refreshed vehicles and a presentation to students by Laura Soave, president and CEO of Fiat Brand in North America. Many current Chrysler employees who are alumni of the university also attended.
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“Kettering University has been a good source of technical talent in the US and at our company for many years,” said Nancy Rae, Chrysler’s personnel chief. “We are excited and proud to continue our relationship with the university and its students.”
The five year co-op programme allows students to alternate work and school terms every three months. Students work for the co-op sponsor – in this case Chrysler – from freshman year until graduation and begin work on a thesis project in their senior year.
“University president Robert McMahan said: “Chrysler Group is a top-tier employer of both our co-op students and our alumni, and Kettering is very pleased with our partnership with the company.”
Chrysler’s university relations programme assigns volunteer teams to one of 30 major colleges and universities in the US where they build relationships with university leaders and create opportunities for the automaker to identify and recruit talented interns and employees.
