The University of Toledo Engineering Career Development Center will host the Fall 2018 Engineering Career Expo from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Savage Arena.

“This year marks a milestone for the center: celebrating 20 years of placing more than 20,000 engineering co-ops,” said Angie Gorny, interim director of the Engineering Career Development Center.

More than 190 companies from across the United States and 700 UT engineering students and alumni are expected at the event.

Employers are seeking undergraduate students to participate in engineering co-op assignments, as well as their leadership development programs, along with seniors and graduates for full-time employment.

Companies scheduled to participate include Automatic Handling, BP, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Dana Inc., GEM Inc., Johnson & Johnson — DePuy Synthes, First Energy Corp., GE Appliances (a Haier Co.), Honda, Libbey Inc., Matrix, Marathon Petroleum Corp., Owens Corning, Owens-Illinois Inc., PCC Airfoils, SSOE Group, and the Lathrop Co.

“This event is a dynamic networking and hiring experience for students to connect with companies seeking the talent they need for success,” Gorny said. “The expo is exclusive to UT College of Engineering students who are enrolled in the mandatory co-op program, as well as UT engineering alumni searching for full-time opportunities.”

The UT undergraduate mandatory co-op program is one of only eight mandatory engineering co-op programs in the country.

“Many students indicate our co-op training is the reason they attend the College of Engineering at The University of Toledo,” Gorny said. “Our students have one full year of professional engineering experience before they graduate, and they feel confident seeking full-time employment upon graduation. Co-op businesses are able to work with these students and determine how the student fits within their organization. It’s a win-win situation for our students and the companies who hire them.”

Since the launch of the co-op program, the event has grown in size each year and this fall has been relocated to Savage Arena.

“The demand for our co-op students is evidenced by the increase in the number of companies participating this fall,” Gorny said.

The college hosts semiannual career expos to offer UT students the opportunity to network with potential employers. It allows employers to meet UT students to determine if they would be a good fit in their organizations.

“The current job outlook for engineering students in The University of Toledo Engineering College is certainly bright as indicated by the record number of students registered to attend the fall expo,” Gorny said. “This reflects very positively on the quality of The University of Toledo’s engineering program and our students. It also demonstrates our vital and mutually beneficial partnership we have with our industry participants.”