Field Period®
The Keuka College Field Period® provides students the opportunity to link academic learning with hands-on experiences. This integration and synthesis of theoretical and applied learning provides a rich, real-world laboratory for student growth and learning. Through Field Periods® students can test academic principles, investigate diverse environments or cultures, raise awareness of social responsibilities, explore and develop career possibilities, enhance their cultural understanding of the world, and grow personally. Field Periods® help students become active, self-directed, and, ultimately, lifelong learners.
Field Periods® are a minimum of 140-hour experiences done each year by all students scheduled traditionally during the month of January or during the summer months. They involve self-initiated placement, an intensive experience, and multi-faceted evaluation. The faculty supports and works closely with students in planning, preparation, and evaluation of Field Period®. It is ultimately the student, however, who is responsible for the success of the Field Period® experience.
Through Field Period® , opportunities exist for individual or group placements, career exploration or development, service learning, cross-cultural/diversity exploration, spiritual exploration, and personal growth. Field Periods have been accomplished in small and large organizations, rural and metropolitan areas, from New York to Israel to Russia, from Latin America to London. Field Period® opens the world to Keuka College students Field Periods® can be a paid or non-paid experience.
College policy requires students to complete one Field Period® for every 30 Keuka College credit hours. Students with an A.A. or A.S. degree will, therefore, usually be required to complete two Field Periods. The number of Field Periods® required for transfer students will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the registrar, based on the number of credits accepted and applied toward the baccalaureate degree.
Some major programs may require students to complete several Field Period® experiences within the discipline. Registration, requirements for credit and grading, and suggestions for an enhanced learning experience are located in Handshake, a database of opportunities for students, alumni and employers. It also houses the Field Period® process, including course proposals, approvals, and evaluations and is accessible through the KC Portal.
Field Period® Opportunities
Individual Experiences
Each student consults with a faculty member to establish individual learning objectives, evaluation methods, and standards.
Students are required to keep a journal, prepare a written and oral presentation, and demonstrate learning and accomplishments via a customized evaluation tool. The Assistant Direct of Field Period
® and Internships provides orientation sessions on Field Period
® and assists students in locating sites through an online database, Web searches, consultations, networking, and hard copy resources."
Prior Experiential Learning (PEL) Field Period® Experiences
PELs provide a framework for the assessment of learning and the awarding of academic credit based on a student’s synthesis of prior non-collegiate experiences and academic theory. Students must be out of high school for four or more years or have four or more years of interruption in post-secondary education and be a matriculated Keuka College student. A student must have no more than six credit hours to complete in the general education curriculum. Prior non-collegiate experiences that can be considered include employment, community service, cultural activities, travel, or independent research. An eligible student works with a faculty Field Period® evaluator to assess and critically analyze the learning for which Field Period® credit is sought. A critical essay, extensive portfolio documenting the experience, and discussion are required.
At least one Field Period® must be completed as an individual or group experience.
Policy on Field Period® Student Hours Allocation
Each 3 credit FP requires the instructional equivalent of 140 hours of class time. To meet this requirement, students should complete at least 120 active, on-site hours. The remainder of the 140 hours requirement should be met through preparatory activities, reflective assignments, and sharing FP outcomes through discussion and/or presentation (see table below for approximate instructional equivalents). Academic advisors have final discretion in determining that FP goals and objectives have been met.
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Instructional equivalent hours (approximate)
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Student activities (may vary by student and FP)
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120 hours (min)
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Engage actively in the on-site experience.
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~4 hours
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Locate Field Period site(s) -- research, contacts, applications, interviews, etc. Meet with academic advisor to discuss proposal, site requirements, assignments etc.
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~2 hours
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Create course proposal — learning contract and thank you letter —
and submit to academic advisor and Jandshake for approvals.
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~4 hours
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Write reflective journal entries throughout the FP experience.
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~3 hours
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Develop unique documentation.
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~1 hour
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Complete final student evaluation at end of FP.
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~2 hours
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Compose summary paper using Kolb Model of Experiential Learning.
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~3 hours
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Develop e-portfolio or other structure to organize and submit reflective assignments.
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~1 hour
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Meet with academic advisor to discuss FP experience and learning outcomes. Present FP using unique documentation/e-portfolio.
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Total 140 hours
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