The crisis at GM finally hit Kettering today. 103 out of 173 co-op students will be laid off between now and June. 28 will be graduating in 2009 and will be allowed to finish; 42 students from critical skill areas will be retained. (The layoffs are about 5% of our student body.)
This isn't a surprise to anyone; Kettering has been trying to diversify its employer base for years now, and contingency plans are going into effect to try and place those students. Still, it's disheartening.
[And not to gloat, but it's a nice time to be in a degree program and an industry that is growing.]