final version of the self-study document - Keuka College's Middle ...

identifying their anticipated learning objectives, a potential site and site supervisor, and how they
will assess achievement of their objectives. The academic advisor (faculty) typically signs on as
the evaluator of the Field Period experience and reviews students’ journals, reflection-based
summary papers, and unique documentation before assigning a grade of satisfactory or
unsatisfactory (Appendix 6.33 FP Contract explanation and examples). The Field Period process
is communicated and taught to all first year students through the FYE 101 course (Experiential
Learning), their academic advisors, and the Field Period Resources Moodle site
(http://courses.keuka.edu/course/view.php?id=289 and Appendix 6.34 Field Period Resources on
Moodle). Transfer students in the traditional program do not take FYE 101. Instead, staff from
the Center for Experiential Learning conduct a class/workshop, FP 201, Field Period
Orientation, mandatory for transfer students, in fall and spring to familiarize them with the
process and goals of experiential learning.
Students in the Accelerated Studies for Adults Program (ASAP) meet the College’s requirements
for experiential learning in a number of ways. Whereas the Nursing program requires its students
to complete a 3-credit field period of 140 hours, typically employing a service-learning approach
(2012-2013 ASAP Undergraduate Handbook, 71), the Organizational Management and Criminal
Justice programs require students to complete an action-research project preferably at their
places of employment, providing them “a platform for application of knowledge and skills
acquired within an organization’s changing environment” (ASAP Undergraduate Handbook, 53).
Students in the Social Work program participate in a senior-level 15-credit learning experience
which spans a period of nine months, for a minimum of 416 hours of practicum experience at the
practicum site. Academic advisors serve as mentors to students throughout the experiential
learning experience, and grades are awarded upon the successful completion of the experience or
action research project.
Experiential learning is important in our overseas programs as well. In the China programs, Field
Period is conducted and spread out in four years of the Keuka China Programs. As described in
the Keuka China Program Student Handbook, Field Period “provides opportunities for
awareness of social responsibility, cultural literacy, personal growth, and career possibilities.
Each student initiates and designs her or his learning experience in consultation with a faculty
advisor at the partner university. The faculty advisor helps the student prepare for and reflect on
the experience and evaluates the learning accomplished.” A 2010 review of 88 randomly chosen
FP supervisors’ evaluations provides evidence of the value of Field Period to Keuka’s Chinese
students and potential employers, with students scoring highly across the measure of personal
responsibility and ability to “grasp new situations readily” (Appendix 6.35 China Field Period
Survey 2010). In Vietnam, the students are required to complete the FP401, a course designed to
provide students in the Vietnam program supervised applied learning experiences. Students plan,
implement, manage and evaluate four major events during this intensive experiential learning
course. This course is designed to have an instructor who provides oversight, guidance and
evaluation of student performance and participation. This course addresses the concerns of how
Keuka College can track experiential learning in an international setting. The FP401 course has
been successfully delivered in Hanoi twice (Summer of 2011 and Summer of 2012). Students in
Ho Chi Minh City are still within their freshmen or sophomore years, and therefore have not yet
taken this senior level course.
Page 35 of 39 Chapter 6: Faculty, Ed Offerings & GenEd