Field Period®
Keuka College Field Period® provides students the opportunity to link academic learning with hands-on experiences. The integration and synthesis of theoretical and applied learning provides a rich, real-world laboratory for student growth and learning. Through Field Period® experiences, students can test academic principles, explore and advance career possibilities, investigate diverse environments or cultures, exercise leadership skills, raise awareness of social responsibilities, and enhance cultural understanding of the world, and grow personally. Field Period® helps students become active, self-directed, and, ultimately, lifelong learners.
Field Period® experiences are a minimum of 140-hour experiences done each year by all students, typically scheduled during the January term and/or during the summer term, however, there are Field Period® opportunities available during both the fall and spring semesters. Field Period® can be a paid or non-paid experience. They involve student-initiated learning goals and site placement, an intensive experience, and multi-faceted evaluation. The faculty advisers and the Field Period® Program office. work closely with students in planning, preparation, and evaluation of Field Period®. It is ultimately the student, however, who is responsible for the success of their 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, leadership, and personal growth. Field Period® experiences have been accomplished in small and large organizations, rural and metropolitan areas, from coast to coast and around the globe. Field Period® opens the world to Keuka College students.
College policy requires students to complete one Field Period® for every 30 Keuka College credit hours. The maximum number of Field Periods® that may be taken is four. Students with an AA or AS degree usually are only 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 Division Chairs and the Registrar, based on the number of credits accepted and applied toward the baccalaureate degree. In these instances, students may have a certain number of general Field Period® requirements waived. Specific Field Period® requirements for majors and minors cannot be waived.
Online students must complete one experiential learning requirement as dictated by their program.
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. The Director of Field Period® Program provides orientation sessions on Field Period® and assists students in locating sites through Handshake, web searches, consultations, networking, and hard copy resources.
Field Period® experiences taken during the January and Summer terms are graded on a different schedule than other courses. Grading deadlines for January and Summer as well as the Fall and Spring Semesters Field Periods® can be found in the current Academic Calendar.