COOPERATIVE EDUCATION IS A WORK-STUDY PLAN INTEGRATING THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES. THE STUDENT ALTERNATES PERIODS OF FULL-TIME WORK IN AN INDUSTRIAL PLANT, A BUSINESS, OR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH EQUAL PERIODS OF FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDY. THE FACTORS THAT POINT TO A POTENTIALLY EFFECTIVE USE OF THIS SYSTEM INCLUDE NEW JERSEY'S INDUSTRIALIZED ECONOMY, THE SHORTAGE OF WELL-TRAINED TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORTING STAFFS, THE SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION, AND THE PRESSING NEED FOR EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMIC UTILIZATION OF TAXPAYERS' FUNDS FOR EDUCATION. IN 1966, THERE WERE AT LEAST 125 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERING SOME TYPE OF WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS. THE STRENGTH AND APPEAL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE BENEFITS PRODUCED FOR ALL CONCERNED--STUDENTS, INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION IS ITS FLEXIBILITY IN METHOD OF OPERATION. THE CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE CAN BE DESIGNED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND OF THE STUDENTS TO BE SERVED. (FOR PURPOSES OF ILLUSTRATION, FOUR CALENDARS ARE PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT.) THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE UTILIZATION OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE TERMINAL COURSES AT EACH COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. (HS)