As I begin my second co-op cycle, I realize that the gap between me and Northeastern is widening. The disconnect is even greater this year since I also moved off-campus, and Northeastern does very little to keep its students in either group feeling like students at Northeastern

Northeastern does an excellent job of instilling independence in its students, but a very poor job of actually helping students make the connection between classes and co-op. As soon as co-op is done, you have a one-hour reflection session, and that’s it, you are on your own again. Living off-campus compounds the confusion because you no longer feel like a student. Instead, you’re living on your own, paying your own rent and working 9 to 5, but after six months you must return to classes.

Most on-campus services close at 5 p.m., just as co-op students are getting out of work. It’s as though once you are no longer paying tuition, Northeastern no longer feels the need to assist you.

There are far fewer notifications of events for students – once you move off-campus your only link to Northeastern becomes the myNEU portal, which already has many problems that hinder communication with students.

Of course, Northeastern does make an attempt to solve the disconnect through the Office of Off-Campus Student Services. However, their role appears to be more to in helping students move off-campus. They are not very effective in making off-campus students feel like they are a part of the Northeastern community.

The only true solution to the disconnect would to be to get co-op students more involved in on-campus activities and events, or hold more events during the evenings, when the majority of students are not working. The most effective way to bring the Northeastern community together would be to offer students more of an incentive to stay on-campus, like cheaper housing.

– Samantha Moll is a middler business major.