Drawing from role theory, this study explores supervisors' views on co-operative education (co-op) students' roles, variables that shape those views, and how those views relate to supervisors' conceptions of successful WIL experiences. One out of four supervisors in this study saw students primarily as learners. This view was rare in small organizations and the technology and finance industries. Supervisors trained to supervise co-op students were more likely to view students as learners. The more supervisors viewed students as learners, the greater importance they assigned to student outcomes of the WIL experience, such as learning new skills and the meaningfulness of students' work. Our findings identify opportunities to reframe students' roles in paid placement-based WIL through supervisor training, enhancing collaboration between supervisors and students in WIL.