I went around my campus and asked students what their plans were. Sure enough, the Spring Break party plan was the minority. But I was not the only one who noticed this. Xinran Y. Lehto, an assistant professor of hospitality and tourism marketing at Purdue University said, ”The Panama City Convention and Visitors Bureau did a massive marketing campaign this year in 500 college and university newspapers, and bookings are still down by 50 percent. The out-of control image and tarnished reputation of hedonistic spring vacations has parents annoyed and universities concerned.” She then asked her own students what their plans were: ”Only 10 percent to 15 percent of my students were planning vacations at southern beach resort locations,” she said. “About the same number were planning on community service spring breaks.”

So what about Keuka Students? Some are taking advantage of Keuka’s annual Alternative Spring Break trip, some are traveling independently, and some going home.

• Sam Stevenson, ’13: “I’m going to go home and do projects, get ahead with homework, work a little maybe, and look for an internship.”
• Jake Banas, ’15: I’m just going to relax and free-read since I don’t get the chance to read extra books for fun during the school year.
• Mary Leet, ’16: I’m going to Syracuse to visit my sister.
• Devin Filipiak, ’13: Some friends and I are going on an East coast road trip. We’re going to make a few stops along the way before we hit Florida.
• MacKenzie Ellis, ’15: I’ve never been to Disney World or Harry Potter World… so my boyfriend and I are going to go there together for Spring Break.
• Nae Nae Morgan, ’14: I’m doing homework.
• Niki Chase, ’14: I’m ging to D.C. to do Alternative Spring Break with Keuka College. My major is social work, so I like community service. I’ve never been to D.C. before, so that’s exciting, and I will also be working with a population I’m interested in working with after school (the homeless). I also thought it was a good idea to get to know other Keuka students whom I’m less familiar with.
• Shanita Williams, ’16: Working.
• Caleigh Alterio, ’14: I’m going to New York City to visit family.
• Tischa Eckhardt, ’14: I’m going home and maybe to New York City to try to see a show… either Wicked or the Stephen Colbert Show.
• Daryl Hamlin, ’13: Probably just going home. Hanging out.
• Olivia O’Boyle, ’15 and Vincent Glanville, ’15: We’re going to go to Olivia’s house, go to the movies a lot…
• Arielle Scott, ’14: I’m going home for Easter dinner, and I’m also going to celebrate my birthday with my family.

So you see, Spring Break is an opportunity to relax (or work if you need the money), to catch up, to spend time with people, and to travel. I will be doing a little bit of each (I’m flying down to visit Kansas State where I will be attending graduate school in the fall, and then catching a Greyhound to visit a buddy in Iowa before returning to Rochester. I will also put a few hours in at McDonald’s where I now work and catch up on my senior art project, among other things).

So there you have it. Spring Break is just time off from classes so you can spend your time elsewhere. The question is, how will you spend your time?

That being said, I want to tell you about the new changes that I encountered this semester, and I also want to tell you about some of the things I have seen change, grow, and improve at Keuka overall since I’ve been here. The point I am trying to make is that college is not just a stagnant place. Especially not Keuka College. Changes are occurring everywhere to meet the demands of an increasingly global and technological world and a continuously fluctuating student body.

College is an exciting time, and just like you will develop during your time here, Keuka College continues to develop and to challenge and rethink old ways of doing things.

New Changes:

• Director of Student Activities—Eva Moberg-Sarber is the newest addition to the student affairs team at Keuka College. From my few conversations with her, as well as comments about her from my peers, it is clear that not only does she bring new energy to the position, but she is great to work with, friendly, and a huge asset to the community. If you are involved in any club on campus during your time here, you will very likely run into her.
• Mexican Grill—Have you heard of the Terrace Café? This is the casual dining facility on campus. Unlike at the Geiser, you pay extra here (you can use campus cash or dining dollars as well as regular cash and cards). It’s nice to come in and order food to be made for you. Well, we used to have a sub bar, much like a Subway. Imagine my surprise when I walk in and discover that, instead of subs, my options are Mexican! So I ordered a chicken quesadilla with the works. It was supremely delicious and well worth it.
• Parking Layout—Parking used to be more simply divided into resident students, commuter students, and faculty and staff. Now freshmen and sophomores have designated parking lots, while juniors and seniors have designated parking lots. Let’s just say that, since Keuka is such a small school, parking is relatively close anyhow. But if you stay here for all four years (or transfer in later), the convenience will be nice.

Administrative and Personnel Changes:

• New President—I was one of the few lucky students who got to attend Dr. Jorge Díaz-Herrera’s inauguration ceremony last year. In his address, the president talked about a lot of the changes he had in mind, including revamping the arts, improving technology, and so much more. Originally from Venezuela, Prez D-H, as he lets us call him, is a very friendly man with lots of goals for the college, some of which are already taking shape!
• New Admissions Counselors—Since I’ve been here, two of my peers, Ashley Larimore (starting this May) and Trista Wesley, are the newest admissions counselors. Their job is to travel around New York (and sometimes beyond) to attract future prospective students, like you! They also help you with the admission process, look at your applications, conduct interviews, and overall help make college a reality (and they help with the transition to college). So if you ever have the fortune of having one of these lovely ladies as an admissions counselor, know you are in good hands.

Physical Changes:

• Coffee Bar—Why go all the way to Canandaigua for some Starbucks when you can walk to the Terrace and pick up a fruit smoothie, a mocha chiller, a pumpkin spice late, or Finger Lakes Roasters brewed coffee? Enough said.
• Auxiliary Gym—Keuka College now has a second gym in the Weed Athletic Center, aside from the main one. It is used for volleyball practice, various intramural events, and Zumba, among other things.
• Point Neamo Updated—When I first came here, Keuka’s waterfront area, Point Neamo, had old rickety steps leading down to the shore. Not it has nice new steps that end in a stone plaza, and there are several picnic tables at the point and along the bank for you to enjoy picnic or hang out at during nice weather. Studying by the lake is always a Keuka favorite.
• North Education Center and Strong Apartments—Keuka added apartment style living for upperclassmen and a new conference center where Student Senate meetings, classes, and special events are held.
• Campus Walkways and Landscaping—There are a lot less cracks in the sidewalk, drainage works phenomenally better in the spring, and all of the new benches and side gardens just make Keuka an even prettier place to be!

Technological Changes:

• MyKeuka—This is Keuka’s online hub for checking grades, registering for classes, planning future coursework, and so much more. Club paperwork is also filled out here (so keep this in mind if you become a club officer!). Altogether, Keuka’s online portal indirectly kills a lot less trees while making it more efficient for students to navigate academic and extracurricular requirements.
• Mac Computers—The library now has Macs. Lots of them. When I came here, they only had PCs. As I type this, I am using a Mac in the Office of Communications. Huzzah!

Program Changes:

• New Art Program in the Forecast—One of my majors is Visual & Verbal Art, but I will be one of the last students at Keuka to have that title. Art isn’t going anywhere; don’t worry. Art is actually becoming a bigger presence on campus, and several people have been diligently working to bring a heavier emphasis on studio and fine art to the art program. New courses are being added, old requirements are being dropped, and there’s more more emphasis on design and practical application—these are all highlights to look forward to.

Global Education Changes:

• Keuka in Malaysia—Keuka had partner schools in China when I came in. Chinese students at these institutions take Keuka classes, earn a Keuka degree, and even have the chance to study for a year at Keuka. Now, aside from its  four partner schools in China and now two more in Vietnam, Keuka has hosted students from Universiti Utara Malaysia. I never got to talk to the first two students who came here from there, but I do remember seeing them around. Keuka, for such a small school, really does have an impressive global connection and diverse demographics. While I never made friends from Malaysia, I still have good friends from China and Vietnam.
• Study Abroad for Domestic Students—Aside from the opportunity to participate in a semester exchange with one of Keuka’s partner universities (at the cost of attending Keuka), Keuka’s Global Education Office is also partnering with SUNY Brockport to bring opportunities to visit Australia and other locations all around the world!

Windows

Macintosh

Processor: Core i3 or better 2.0 GHz or higher Operating System: Windows 7 Monitor / Video Card: LCD 1024 x 768 resolution or higher Hard Drive: 250 gigabytes or higher Memory (RAM): 3 gigabytes Ethernet Card: 10 / 100 Base T Ethernet Wireless Card: 802.11n recommended (802.11g minimum) DVD: DVD recordable drive USB Ports: 3 minimum (ensure they are easily accessible) Anti-virus: Norton Anti-virus 2010, MacAfee, AVG Professional, etc. Extended Warranty: Accident insurance highly recommended Optional, but strongly recommended: USB jump drive (4 gig) External hard drive (160 gigabyte) Surge protector 10’-25’ Ethernet cable Laptop bag

Processor: Core i3 or better 2.0 GHz or higher Operating System: Mac OSX 10.7 (Lion) or higher Monitor / Video Card: LCD 1024 x 768 resolution or higher with 256 MB video ram Hard Drive: 250 gigabytes or higher Memory (RAM): 3 gigabytes Ethernet Card: For 10 / 100 Base T Ethernet Wireless Card: 802.11n recommended (802.11g minimum) DVD: DVD recordable drive USB Ports: 3 minimum (ensure they are easily accessible) Anti-virus: Norton Anti-virus 2010, MacAfee, AVG Professional, etc. Extended Warranty: Accident insurance highly recommended Optional, but strongly recommended: USB jump drive (4 gig) External hard drive (160 gigabyte) Surge protector 10’-25’ Ethernet cable Laptop bag

Recommended Software

Educational Software Discount – Registering at www.microsoft.com/student with your keuka.edu email address will allow you to purchase Microsoft Office University for $99.99.

This edition includes the following: Word 2010, Excel 2010, Power Point 2010, Outlook 2010, One Note 2010, Publisher 2010, Access 2010. The Mac version (Microsoft Office Mac University 2011) can be purchased with the same suite of products for $99.99.

This past semester, Keuka College’s Global Education Department has been working diligently with its partner universities to develop Keuka’s official study abroad program for American students, in China, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

International Exchange Students from Keuka's Partner Universities (from Facebook)

In this post, I share information about some of the universities from Vietnamese and Chinese Keuka students studying on our home campus, and information about the overall program from D. Vernon Larson.

First of all, some of you may be aware that Keuka College has international partner universities: four in China, two in Vietnam, and one in Malaysia. Every year, students who study through Keuka’s program have the option to spend a semester, a year, and in some cases, up to four years, at Keuka College. While this is a wonderful opportunity for the exchange students, and while international friendships are established between the American and the exchange students, until recently there had been no official study abroad opportunity for American students. In other words, the idea (and the benefits) of a full circle international exchange of Keuka students is becoming a reality.

And after I sat down and talked with Dr. Larson, these are the things we discussed.

Overview:

“This is what we know,” Dr. Larson told me. “First of all, each deal needs to be customized because every student is going to have different educational needs, but we are willing to work with students, as this is new, and we do not have anything completely set in place yet.”

Eventually, the Office of Global Education hope to have a more structured program, but because this is new, ideas are being tested, and interest is being gaged–there is still so much to do, but they plan on taking a group of students over in the Spring 2013 semester.

Cost:

Students pay the regular Keuka College tuition, room, and board. (So all of your Keuka scholarships, federal aid, etc. would cover that.) Also, the Global Education Office is setting up a scholarship to cover the cost of transportation–there and back–as well as some internal transportation, for instance, to take a trip to the Great Wall in China.

Woah, what? Studying abroad for practically no extra cost (aside from personal expenses)? That is awesome. That is a dream come true. Before I came to college, I had heard of study abroad, but I always thought I either needed too many credits or just couldn’t afford it. But this should be available to those who want it, and this opportunity makes it a reality. I have a study-abroad program lined up for Fall 2012, but if my funding falls through, I know I will still be able to take the opportunity of a lifetime at one of Keuka’s partner schools.

Classes:

First and foremost, students, I imagine, would be anxious about the language issue. That is OK. Fortunately, all of or partner universities offer classes in English, taught by native and non-native speakers. So there is no language requirement for studying abroad.

Furthermore, every single international exchange student studies some form of business: Management, Accounting, Marketing, Business, International Business etc. Dr. Larson told me, “Most of [the courses] are business related.”

Well, I’m an English and art major (communications minor) who did not really like my one and only business class. It was useful, sure, but I have other courses that I need, as well as other courses I would rather take. Fortunately, there are other other options. A student who is a senior this year studied in China last spring, and he took non-business courses, such as a beginning Chinese course. But what about general education courses? Well, when I spook with Hein [a Vietnamese student from ISNVU], she told me that certain Keuka classes are available at ISNVU. Dr. Larson told me that every student would work out classes with their advisors ahead of time so that there were no issues with transferring in credit. “You could also do an independant study,” Dr. Larson said. When I expressed interest in developing my own art history course, or doing travel writing, he said that both of those sound viable. “I would also encourage students to do a Field Period,” he said. “Why not take full advantage of this?”

Other Important Information:

• Dr. Larson also said, “We would want some American students to be ambassadors for Keuka when they study abroad.”
• And, for those of you who would rather travel in Europe or Australia, think of just how much more special, how much more unique it would be to study abroad in Asia–beyond the western world.
• Housing and food would be provided. American professors utilize similar resources, and Keuka students would have a meal plan–so you don’t need to rely on take-out or your own cooking for a whole semester.
• Once again, Global Education is working on tailoring this to fit every interested student’s needs. In other words, don’t just study abroad, but get a custom made experience as well.

What’s so Great about Hanoi?

Before I chatted with Dr. Larson, I also spoke with my friend Hien who is an exchange student from the International School of Vietnam National University. She told me all about what life was like there, useful information for anyone traveling to a new environment.

The International School, Vietnam National University

ISVNU has several language tracks, one of which, is English (the others are French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian). “All of the classes are in English,” Hien told me, “But outside, and in the hallways, it’s not.” 20% of the professors are from the US. ”It’s a very international environment, with teachers from a lot of different countries.”

Also, ISVNU is integrated with a big city, so students interact with community members–they are not walled in by some clandestine campus. “Most commute,” Hien said. But public transportation is cheap. Very cheap–less than a $1 per ticket. But, like any other university, ISVNU has clubs and events.

Then I asked her about food. “There are American franchises, like KFC,” she told me. “But there’s also a lot of other vendors.” I asked her what was common to eat there. “Lots of rice.” But the vendors’ food is both cheap and delicious. I asked Hien how far five bucks could take me; she replied, “With five bucks, you can eat for two days.”

So the food sounds like a pretty good deal, especially when you can eat outside of shops, on the street (European style), with city traffic going by. But I can still imagine an American student feeling a little lonely in an environment that is so different (especially me, a small-town girl, being in a big city).

There are other exchange students, Hien told me, from the US and all over. Plus, th Vietnamese students are super friendly–it won’t be too hard making new friends. “Just smile and say Hi to people,” Hien suggested. “They are more than willing to show you around and teach you about their culture. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn–don’t be scared.” There’s even a welcoming committee for internatinoal students that Vietnamese students help organize (Hien was on this before she came to Keuka).

Wow. After hearing all that, I am so stoked for the opportunity to go abroad. And this is only information form one school. More information will be forthcoming concerning other schools, but with what is here, I hope this gets you at least considering this amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity. And why shouldn’t you? Studying abroad, and exchanging with and learning about students on the other side of the world is experiential education at a global scale. And, with Keuka College, it’s actually possible.

Concern #1: What if college is super boring?

College is what you make it. There are so many opportunities to get involved, and there is such a great variety. The thing is, how full your plate is, is up to you . I can honestly say, that anyone who wants to have fun, will.

Here is a small list of some of the things we have to offer at Keuka alone:

• Open Mic Nights (singing, comedy, and any other acts)
• Comedians (we have a lot of these guys come in, sometimes we even have magician comedians)
• Musicians (pop, acoustic, country, jazz, you name it)
• Bingo Nights (free stuff–enough said)
• Intramural Sports and Games (dodgeball is big)
• Art Club (make crafts and provide artistic opportunities to the rest of campus)
• Dances
• Magic (the card game) Groups
• Adventure Club (go on white water rafting trips, backpacking trips, etc.)
• Boating (seasonal)
• Holiday Activities (Easter Egg Hunt, Make-Your-Own Ornaments, Pumpkin Decorating)
• Community Service Opportunities (this is a big deal at Keuka, and there are so many ways to give back)
• Bearers of Ancient Kultures United, BAKU’s Annual Fashion Show (and there’s an after party)
• Spring Weekend (3 days of fun, fun, fun, and fireworks!)
• Speakers (we’ve covered topics like “Life After Keuka” and “Domestic Abuse”)
• Dance and Step Team Showcases
• Movie Nights and Showings
• Equestrian Club (there is a nearby stables where lessons, leasing, and horse boarding are available, and I believe they are hoping to go competetive)
• Drama Club (do improv, skits, and so much more)
• Tabula Rasa (trips to coffee roasters, breweries, Underground Railroad sites, planetariums, etc.)
• Multicultural Events
• Bible Groups
• Campus Activities Board (CAB)–you get to do a lot of programming

This is only a small list of the stuff you can do. For a complete list of clubs, go here. Also, check the college calendar to see what stuff is going on right now (the calendar does not list everything, so there is even more to do).

Concern #2: What if the workload is too much to handle?

This is a very legitimate concern–college work is more analytical and more independent than in high school, but the system is set up to help you–not hinder you. There are a lot of resources that will help you with any problems you may discover, and, as my advisor did, your faculty advisor will not let you take on a daunting full course load (18/19 credits) your first semester here. Even though I desperately wanted to, I couldn’t. Which is fine because that first semester is your opportunity to adapt to develop a schedule, to figure out best how you learn and time-manage (if you don’t know already, but even if you do, the different context might alter that some).

Here is a list of some of the resources available to you at Keuka College:

Academic Success at Keuka (ASK). This one of the most important academic help centers on campus. Here is a list of some of the resources it provides:

• Academic Counseling (e.g. help with time management strategies)
• A Writing Center (for help with all of your papers)
• Disability Services (if you have a documented learning disability, you can receive notes from classes and alternate testing options)
• A Blog, which includes quick information if you are in a hurry
• Peer Content and Writing Tutors (if you feel more comfortable working with peers, then these are the people for you; they are also pretty flexible and most meet by appointment)
• Outside of the ASK Office, every student also has an academic advisor, typically a professor who teaches in his or her major. These people help make sure you have all of the courses you need to graduate, help you find Field Periods, and can become great friends. I am pals with both of mine!

If you are struggling with your course load, it may not be for academic reasons. Here is a list of other resources available on campus that will help you manage your personal and physical well-being.

• The Center for Spiritual Life (CSL): Eric Detar, the college chaplain is one of the nicest guys I know, and he is so supportive and caring. He always says “Hi” to me, and he does a lot to increase awareness and respect of the various religions on campus.
• Keuka College also has a health center that offers free condoms and other services, and a counseling center which is staffed by professional counselors and Peer Advocates (a position which requires application and training). I have friends that utilize both of these resources to relieve personal stress, and other issues.
• The Office of Multicultural Affairs supports multiculteral clubs, brings in speakers, and hosts events to promote awareness on campus. Chevy, the director, is particularly wonderful at leading these events. Also, her office is almost always open, and all types of students go in there to hang out, relax, or talk to her. Keuka is also about the personal connections, and the support staff is phenomenal at recognizing that.
• We also have a Diversity Task Force which, made up of your peers, addresses instances of hate crimes or prejudice and promotes equality and fairness.
• Also, we have an LGBT resource center which promotes equality for the gay community and allies, and provides useful information (and events like A Day of Silence)–it’s also a friendly, chill place to hang out; we also have a Women’s Center, which promotes and educates people on women’s issues through events such as condom bingo and The Vagina Monologues.
• And if you’re concerned about living on campus, we have an excellent residence life staff that includes full-time Residence Directors and peer Residence Assistants, who are trained to help students adapt to residence life on campus and other living issues. RA’s also put on tons of fun dorm events like Twister Tournaments, crayon art, movies nights, and other cool stuff.

Finally, if you are concerned not just about your college course load, but also how it will effect your professional development, or what you will do after college, we have resources for you too!

• The Center for Experiential Learning oversees everything from work study employment, to Field Period experiences, to TeamWorks!, to the co-curricular transcript. They can help you develop your resume, find field periods, and get jobs on campus.
• The Center also offers career help, which includes job fairs, career and graduate schoolcounseling, tips on how to rock an interview, links to other resources, and so much more. At Keuka, we are all about not just helping you succeed during your time here, but after as well.
• Networking with alumni. Every year, we always have the Alumni Networking Fair, which allows students to see what past Keuka students have done with their degrees, find potential Field PEriod placements, and make connections. The alumni are so involved and so wonderful.

All of these resources we have at Keuka are here to support you, and not just the academic you, but the whole you. College is not about being too difficult that you cannot succeed. Rather, it is about challenging you as you learn and grow, and helping you and guiding you along the way.

Concern # 3: How will I fit into the social atmosphere?

This is another legitimate concern. You’re being thrown into a new environment with a lot of people you do not know. But here’s the thing–most people in your class will also not know anyone, or only a few people. Before classes begin, new students participate in Transition Week, which, with the help of a peer mentor, will introduce you to college life, set you your email account, and help you get to know your classmates. As someone who has been through it before, I can say, “Never Fear.” It’s like camp where everyone is looking to make new friends. (I can also say that I am still in touch with old ones from high school, thanks to Facebook.)

Here is a list of things you can do to help establish new connections–and don’t worry–college is so different from high school. There are no cliques, and people are people. We respect diversity, and we act maturely (most of us, at least). Trust me on this.

• Leave your door open (when you’re in your room). Seriously, this says, hey, I’m here, I’m open. Especially in Davis, peers will pop their heads in to say hello, or chat for a few. Who knows, they may even invite you to hang out, watch a movie, or play a game. I spent a lot of time door-hopping in Davis my freshman year, but not until the second semester–so don’t wait–the first few weeks are the best times to make new friends!
• Join a club, intramural sport or something. Getting involved will be an excellent gateway to making new friends (and upperclassmen friends too). Being involved in shared goals outside of the classroom is a wonderful way to make strong bonds (I found a lot of close friends, primarily in Drama Club).
• Start up a study group. It is also good to connect with your classmates academically, especially those in your major. Most majors at Keuka are relatively small (our two big ones are OT and Education), so it should not be hard for you to know most of the people in your major (if not all). For example, I have been part of the “English Herd” where, since we all have the same required classes, a large majority will “travel” from American Literature to Poetry Studies together.
• Don’t forget your Peer mentor! These people have walked the walk, so if you have any issues, they are very able and more than willing to help.

There–I’ve addressed the three biggest concerns I have seen on the Facebook group. I really hope this helps. It feels great to be informed, and I hope this list will help you understand all of the opportunities and support available at Keuka. My advice–give it a shot. Why? Keuka is here to help you and make your time here worthwhile.

I enjoyed the b-e-a-utiful weather today, and walked all over campus, taking pictures. I took pictures of the not so easily noticed things, and the more inconspicuous nooks and crannies. I did take a photos of few more well known things, but to a newcomer, it’s all brand new turf. And let me tell you, Keuka College is a quaint place, but paying attention to these more out-of-the-way places expanded it for me–like I was rediscovering my campus.

Where am I?

Therefore, I challenge you. On April 14th 2012–Spring Open House, or whenever you come up to visit, try to find these places, located throughout our beautiful campus, and get to know it a little better, just like I did.

Directions:

1. Walk around campus–all locations are outside.
2. Look for clues in the pictures (and captions!) to find the landmarks or places you are looking for. (I didn’t go too far off the beaten path.)
3. Everything is fair game from between Jephson and Davis.
4. Feel free to snap pictures of what you find and share them on Keuka’s Facebook, your Keuka class Facebook group, or as a comment on this blog post.
5. Have fun!

Find this sign:

A New York State Historic Landmark Sign

Find this sign:

So many signs, so little time...

Find this weather vane:

It's on a roof, alright... but what type of roof? Pay close attention to detail.

Find this fire pit:

Freshmen, you have to walk up to get to this!

Find this door: 

Keeping these open is always a good idea--it gets sweaty in there!

Find this meter:

We'd be silly not to have these...whatever they do.

Find this sign:

It's too narrow to park here!

Find this canopy:

This is where all of Keuka's thespians flock to.

Find this air conditioner:

We'd be lying if we told you that this box isn't right around the corner.

Find this fire hydrant:

Luckily, there's enough space around this fire hydrant for firetrucks to park.

Find this volleyball court:

Ladies (and men) on campus love to use this in nice weather. Saunter on over!

Find this basketball hoop: 

Kids have a ball when they play on this outdoor half court.

Find this cute, little, rock path:

This is outside of the leadership residence hall.

Find this tree: 

One of our nice, Chapel Lawn shade trees.

Find this picnic table:

If the Terrace is full, eat outside!

Find this old stop sign:

When you're done eating outside, follow the road.

Find this birdhouse:

Still along the lake road...

Find this sign:

Down by the water...

Find this water pipe:

The water in this pipe must come back up from the lake...

Find these stairs:

This has an excellent view of the lake, and the benches make it a nice place to lie down and read.

Find this statue:

This stone statue stands strong all day long.

Find this fire hydrant:

The fire hydrant is red, but behind it is a greenhouse.

Find this stairwell:

Thy stairs art suitable for traversing up and down.

Find this door:

This resource center is a house!

Find this pathway (and the building it leads to):

Students, one female and three males, play out in front of this important building.

Almost there now…

Come back here, and you are done!

Did you find everything? Did you have a good time? Share your feedback, please! We would love to see how this activity went for future families and prospective students who visit campus.

Therefore, this post is going to be all about the work study program at Keuka College, the various job opportunities, and more. It’s a great way to gain experience and earn money toward tuition, or just extra spending money.

What is Work Study and How Can I Get It?

According to the Office for Experience Learning:

The student employment (work-study) program provides an opportunity for you to practice and learn valuable work-related skills and, at the same time, help meet educational and personal expenses while at Keuka College.

In other words, it’s like killing three birds with one stone: resume development, job skills, and extra cash. Score!

But how do you get it?

1. You have to fill out a FAFSA.
2. Once you receive you financial aid award from your institution (hopefully it’s Keuka College), you will not only see grants, loans, and scholarships, but you will also see work study.
3. Keep in mind, you can be awarded up to $2,000, but you have to earn it first. In other words, you are given the ability to work for that money–you are not given it directly along with the rest of your financial aid package.
4. Once you see that you have received work study (most people do), you are good to go; the next step begins when your college careers does.
5. During Freshmen Transition Week, you will go through tutorials and meetings to set you up with a Keuka email account, introduce you to your faculty advisor, and so much more. One tutorial that will be particularly important, is setting up a StormTracker account so that you can apply for jobs (you also build your resume if you do not yet have one).
6. Once you are set up with StormTracker, you can apply, not only to work-study jobs, but to potential Field Periods and outside jobs as well (which is why you should get one even if you were not awarded work study).
7. After that, happy job hunting!

What is StormTracker?

StormTracker is the online, campus wide database for career opportunities. Employers and Field Period sites post job or Field Period opportunities, and job seekers apply for them. As a student, you will have an account that you sign into. When you first submit your resume, it must be approved by the Center for Experiential Learning, and every time you update it, it will be reapproved. You can search jobs available by type, by category, or by the specific identification number. To apply, you submit your resume and any additional comments.

Student Testimonials:

OK, so after learning all about how to get a work study job, you are probably wondering what types of jobs are available and how they can help you develop your professional prospects. I went around campus, and I interviewed a wide variety of students who all had very positive things to say about the program.

Heather Tarr, ’12, Head Lifeguard: “I really love being head guard because the waterfront allows people to have a positive recreation experience–it’s a great stress reliever.” Heather also told me that working as head guard has allowed her to develop communication and time management skills, as well as become a leadership figure on campus. “I also hold other leadership roles,” she said, “I work with people at the waterfront, and I lead my team of guards, coordinating schedules, planning in-services, and making sure everyone is up-t-date on training.” Having worked as a guard under her, I can say that Heather definitely does a great job.

An Old Photo Of the Point--Now It Has a Fire Pit Where the Tree Was

Devin Filipiak, ’13, Van Driver: “I work with a lot of offices and other students to coordinate van driving schedules. It’s really great because it gives me the chance to get off campus and explore the area while getting paid.” In order to become a van driver at Keuka, Devin had to have the DMV do a background check on his license, and he had to complete three hours of driving in the van while accompanied by a campus safety officer.

Meghan Marks, ’13, CSL Office Worker: For those of you who don’t know, CSL refers to Campus Spiritual Life. “Working in the office here has allowed me to get to know more people and improve my social skills,” Meghan told me. “I also have better time management skills because there is always a specific list of things I need to get done.”

Keuka CSL Supports Our Troops

Melissa Sheridan, ’13, D.R.I.V.E. Peer Mentor: For the three years that Melissa has worked for this program (D.R.I.V.E. is an inclusive, higher education program for students with learning challenges. It provides the opportunity to attend college courses and participate in college life where it might not otherwise be possible). She told me, that, as an education major turned occupational therapy major, “it paralleled issues that she I learning about, in both majors. Before I took this job, I had no experience interacting with these people. Now it is natural to me, where before I was uncomfortable and nervous.” Brittany Miller, ’13, also a D.R.I.V.E. Peer Mentor, added “It helps with OT, and it gives me a strong sense of responsibility and leadership, and the income is nice.”

A Mentor Works with Nathan, a D.R.I.V.E. Student

Nikita Wilkins, ’15, Community Service Advocate: Nikita works in the Community Service office on campus–which is quite important to Keuka, which has been nationally recognized for the past several years for its dedication to community service. Nikita told me, “It requires a lot of organization. I have to take charge on events I am doing.” Currently, she is working on the Student, Staff and Faculty Appreciation Dinner.

Last Year's Student, Staff and Faculty Appreciation Dinner

Caleigh Alterio, ’14, Harrington and Blyley Desk Worker: As Keukonians know, Harrington and Blyley are two of the six traditional residence halls on campus (apartments are available for upperclassmen). Therefore, desk workers are vital for several reasons: signing guests into halls during evening hours so that, in the event of an emergency, everyone is accounted for. Caleigh told me, “I get to meet a lot more people, I get to know who lives in the buildings, and I love the laid-bak atmosphere. Everyone is really nice, and I also get a lot of work done.” Obviously, people are not coming in every second, so, on the down-time, there’s a great opportunity for multitasking–work and homework.

Stephanie Lange, ’12, ASL Lab Assistant and Keukonian Editor: Stephanie, a once ASL interpreting major, now turned art and communications major, continues to work in the ASL lab. “I help people with recording interpreting videos, and the technical aspects of it, but it does help to maintain an eye on ASL since I dropped my major–it’s a good refresher.” Not to mention the technical skills she uses are important too. Stephanie also works in the Office of Communications (like me!), but she works as the layout editor for the student newspaper, The Keukonian. “It’s good practice for design, and the flexibility is great–I can work in the office or in my own room.”

Travis Simmons, ’13, Intramural Supervisor and TeamWorks! Facilitator: Travis is very involved in activities on campus. As a fellow TeamWorks! Facilitator, I know how demanding, and how rewarding, TeamWorks!, Keuka’s project adventure ropes course, can be. Travis is very involved, more so than I am, and he told me. “I am recruiting for new facilitators now, but, when I am working at the course I love being outside, and the people are the best part–we’re all friends. It has helped me with my communication skills, and I even did a Field Period last January where I got to work behind the scenes.” And, as intramural director, Travis has even more responsibility. He and Molly Wilson, ’13, work together to hire and manage game officials and scorekeepers, assist Jon Accardi, the Intramural Director, in scheduling events, and “making sure everything runs smoothly.” He told me that this job has helped him immensely with oral communication, self expression, responsibility, event planning, and leadership. “I feel more outgoing now, and as a business major, all of these skills are very useful.”

Passing Ping-Pong Balls on a Low Element

Leisl Hall, ’14, Game Day Staff: Leisl helps keep scores, records videos, and sets up and tears down for all of Keuka’s intramural sports competitions. “It helps me focus–if I don’t pay attention, I screw up big time,” she told me. “It also helps with leadership and teamwork skills; I, and the other people I work with, have to work together and divide up tasks that need to be done.”

Intramural Football at Keuka--Still Undefeated

Emily Procopio, ’14, Mailroom Assistant: Emily helps organize deliver mail throughout campus. She told me, “It helps with my communication skills because I have to talk to customers when I deliver mail.

Billie Rosboskin, ’14, Zumba Instructor: As an occupational therapy major, Billie’s job on campus is very relevant for her. She told me “It helps with communication and public speaking, since I am directing and speaking to a large amount of people at once.” And she means large. I know so many people who attend Zumba regularly (I would if my schedule allowed), and I have looked down into the auxiliary gym before during a session–it was packed.

Zumba in the New Auxiliary Gym

Shannon Elliott, ’14, Writing Tutor: Sahhnon, like me, works in the ASK (Academic Success at Keuka) office. I took the same, mandatory, one credit, writing tutor prep course with Shannon when we became writing tutors. I asked her about it, and she told me, “I really enjoyed the class.” I did too. But as a writing tutor, Shannon explained, “Our goal is to help them [the students that seek our help], not do it for them. That has helped me, because I always just want to take the paper and fix it myself–so that’s helped with my teaching skills. It also helps me with my own writing skills.”

Ariel Scott, ’14, Library Assistant: At the library, Ariel sits behind the circulation desk, waiting to help patrons check out regular or reserve materials, refill empty printers, hand out copy cards, take care of overdue fines, sometimes reshelve books, and any other relevant tasks. She told me, “It helps my communication skills, to talk to students and help them find books. It also helps me with computers–I know how to use Polaris [a library cataloging software].”

The Circulation Desk, January 2012

This is only a taste of the jobs available on campus. Click here for a complete listing.

The vision of Keuka College is to become the world leader in hands-on, experiential learning. The Field Period is integral to its mission; it is the “Keuka difference.” At other schools, internships are possible, and encouraged, but at Keuka, a mandatory, 140-hour, 3-credit internship allows students to explore job possibilities, to make professional connections, to apply what they learn from the classroom, and to graduate with a competitive resume. And this happens for every year a student attends Keuka. These outcomes are definitely true for me, and I now have four Field Periods under my belt.

This is Lightner Library, Keuka College's Academic Library

So now, having recently completed my 2012 Field Period, what better to talk about than my experiences and how it has helped me? I can add that when I made the decision to come to Keuka, price, location, and other factors primarily influenced my choice, and the Field Period was merely an added perk. I hadn’t known when I was a senior in high school, making my official college decisions, just how important the Field Period would be to me, so here is my story; I hope it helps inform your decision.

According to the Recent Graduate Survey:

• 40% of Keuka College Graduates “say they were offered a job from a site where they conducted a Field Period”
• 20% of Keuka College graduates “report being employed at a former Field Period site” (as seen on one of Keuka’s many admissions publications)
• 98% of Keuka College graduates “report finding jobs or enrolling in graduate school within 6 to 9 months of graduation”

Although I am not yet a graduate (I still have one more year to go), my Field Period supervisor, Linda, the head librarian at Lightner Library, offered me a summer job working the circulation desk, shelving books, helping patrons, and doing other tasks. Normally, she told me, this job would be posted on Stormtracker (Keuka’s online job portal), but I saved her the trouble. “You know what you’re doing, and I know I can trust you.”

Since I plan on getting my MLS (Master of Library Science) after Keuka, this is wonderful praise. I am also excited for the continued opportunity to gain experience and credibility in the field. So now that you know how successful I have been in this aspect, let me tell you a little more about the rest of my experience.

From Google Images

Field Periods require 140 working hours on the student’s part, and you also need to submit:

• Daily Journals
• A Summary Paper
• A “Unique Documentation” of the work you did (most students put together portfolios, but some are more creative with books, collages, or videos–hence “unique”)
• Your site supervisor must also send in a midway and overall evaluation of your work. All of these go before your Field Period evaluator (who is usually your adviser), whose job it is to determine your Field Period “grade” (which is pass or fail).

In my summary paper, I organized my learning experiences into three main categories: practical skill development, specialized library skills, and my own personal initiatives. Each area not only helped me develop my understanding of the library profession, but I also believe it contributed back to the library in a number of ways:

Practical Library Skill Development

• A thorough comprehension Library of Congress catalog
• Shelving books and shelf reading
• Using Polaris to check in/check out books, pay patron fees, and find books or patron information
• Being able to work the circulation desk
• Other, miscellaneous tasks (e.g. using the copier)

A Book Cart--I Pushed These Around A Lot--Shelving Books Can Be a Good Workout

Specialized Library Skills

• Helping with Interlibrary Loan
• Preparing new books for circulation
• Weeding old books
• Setting up displays
• Helping patrons find books and/or other materials
• Working with the archives

New Books--A Display I Did After Helping Two of the Librarians Prepare Them for Circulation

My Own Initiatives

• Information Literacy improvement ideas
• Information Literacy student surveys (which I have yet to conduct)
• The Lightner Library Facebook page
• Library Staff Bios

This is an Archival Display I Did During My Time at the Library

After glimpsing my exciting (and final) Field Period experience (and know that the possibilities are almost limitless), I hope you have a slightly better idea of what makes Keuka so special. And believe me, in this day and age, with the economy how it is, practical approaches to job hunting are important. If you want to know more about particular Field Period experiences, check out Keuka’s online news site. Enjoy!

Taken from internet--old picture

But what is the FAFSA? And why is it so important? According to the official FAFSA site, fafsa.ed.gov:

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans —and its value to our society…

Today, Federal Student Aid performs a range of critical functions that include, among others:

• Educating students and families on the process of obtaining aid;
• Processing millions of student financial aid applications each year;
• Disbursing billions of dollars in aid funds to students through schools…

In a nutshell, FAFSA is the application for federal financial assistance with the costs of college, whether it comes in grants or in loans. FAFSA applications also work for statewide aid. This post will focus on three things: what information you will need to fill out the FAFSA, how and when to fill it out, and other resources that you can utilize to make your college dream a financial reality.

FAFSA: What You Need to Know

For any academic year, FAFSA applications can be turned in as early as January 1st of that school year. For example, prospective college students or current high school seniors would be applying for admission for the Fall 2012-Spring 2013 academic year, so January 1st, 2012 would be the earliest that a FAFSA application can be submitted. And, no matter who you are, the closer you submit your FAFSA to January 1st, the better.

Before you fill out your FAFSA, you will need important financial information, as well as some other sensitive information, on hand. I gathered these items from my previous FAFSA for this academic year. These include:

1. A FAFSA PIN
2. Student’s social security number
3. Student’s driver’s license number and state (if applicable)
4. Student’s email address
5. Student’s citizenship status and, if applicable, Alien Registration Number
6. Student’s state of legal residence
7. Whether student was a legal resident of that state before January 1, 2006
8. If student is male, he will have to register with selective service
9. Parents’ level of education
10. Student’s high school information
11. The type of degree/certificate student will receive (not set in stone)
12. Whether student’s filed 2011 Income Tax Return, and type of form used
13. Student’s 2011 income and tax information (as well as any auxiliary or untaxed income information)
14. Student’s total of cash, savings, and checking accounts, and investments
15. Student’s education credits
16. Student’s child support paid (money coming from the student for child support)
17. Marital and armed forces information
18. Guardianship or child information
19. Parents’ marital status, social security numbers, emails, addresses, and income and tax information, as well as any supplemental income (food stamps, child support, etc.)
20. All of your federal school codes (that you have applied to or do intend on applying to). For example, Keuka College: 002744, and Finger Lakes Community College: 002744

Furthermore, the FAFSA website lists these documents as essential:

You will need records of income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parents’ income information if you are a dependent student. For the 2012-2013 school year you will need financial information from 2011. You may need to refer to:

• Your Social Security card. It is important that you enter your Social Security Number correctly!
• Your driver’s license (if any)
• Your 2011 W-2 forms and other records of money earned
• Your Parents’ 2011 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2011 Federal Income Tax Return.
  • IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ
  • Foreign Tax Return, or
  • Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau
• Your 2011 untaxed income records
• Your current bank statements
• Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records
• Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

To organize your information, you can print and complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet before you begin entering your information online. However, you are not required to do so. FAFSA on the Web will guide you through the questions that you must answer, and you can save your application and return to it later if you don’t have the information you need to answer any of the questions.

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to Federal Student Aid.

You may not have all of this information available, or, like me, you may only be living with and dependent on one parent. Just fill it out to the best of your ability. The information that is absolutely essential is income and tax information, but the more they know about you, the more likely you are to receive an informed amount of aid.

For more information or help, you can utilize the official FAFSA Worksheet that, according to the site, “provides a preview of the questions that you may be asked while completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).”

FAFSA: How to File Your Application

Submit your application as soon as possible–don’t wait. According to the FAFSA worksheet, “Check with your high school counselor or your college’s financial aid administrator about other deadlines. The Federal deadline is June 30, 2012.” FAFSA applications for colleges in New York State should be submitted and received no later than June 30th as well.

Keep in mind that you can go back and update your FAFSA if need be; just be sure to get the key information (most of which is on the worksheet) in initially because that will be essential to assuring that you receive aid–if you don’t have your household income (from the fiscal year preceding the academic year) in your application, your application may be rejected until this information is submitted. I did find a link to a financial aid calculator through our financial aid office’s website. While it may not match your ultimate FAFSA results, it will help give you an idea of how much aid you might receive.

Furthermore, you have 3 filing options, as outlined on the FAFSA site. You will also need to apply for a 4-digit PIN to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your Federal Student Aid records online annually.

Also, it always helps to set up a meeting with prospective schools’ financial aid offices. Here is Keuka’s financial aid office contact information:

What Not to Do:

Keep in mind, a lot of people confuse FAFSA with the actual source of aid. The federal government and state governments are the actual source–FAFSA is just the free, government sanctioned, application. Therefore, it is important to not be fooled by phony “look-alikes” that make you pay.

Don’t go to these sites:

• Student Financial Aide Services Inc.
• FAFSA Online

These Sites Offer Information, But No Application:

• Social University
• FAFSA Express

Keep in mind that it is always a good idea, when looking at outside site such as these to double check the information with your financial aid counselors or admissions counselors. This blog has been reviewed by members of Keuka’s financial aid team, so it provides relevant and reliable information.

Go to These Sites:

• The Real FAFSA
• FAFSA Pin Site
• Keuka’s FAFSA Site

And, want more information on the types of loans and aid available? Check out: studentloans.gov. Best of luck!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time, mainly for the company, and also for the food. As a college student, I am very grateful for the opportunity to just be with my family and unwind a little before crunch-time. But as a college student, I also belong to another, bigger academic family. I owe a lot of who I am today to the successes and struggles I have undergone as an undergraduate. My classmates, housemates, and professors have played an integral role in my development at Keuka. But what about the other key players?

Today, I went around and asked faculty and staff who (with one exception) did not teach courses, but still had integral roles to the day-to-day functions of Keuka College. These are the people that work with student life operations or help run offices or other vital components of the college. I am thankful for them because without them, my college experience would not be the same, and the college would not be as smooth running. These are important members of our college community, so it is important to hear what they are thankful for.

Michelle Sheldon, Academic Affairs Administrative Assistant: “My family and health.”

Jackie Clark, Front of the House (AVI): My family and my grandchildren.”

Amanda Miller, Retail Supervisor for AVI: “My family, and my position here at the college with the new food company.”

Patrick Reape, Director of Residence Life: “I’m thankful for a dedicated and hardworking staff.”

Kelsey Deso, Davis Residence Director: “Just my family. My nieces mainly. Existing in the world.”

Margeaux DePrez, Space Residence Director: “Sunshine and rainbows because I love sunshine, and we don’t see it in the winter.”

Rebecca Capek, Saunders Residence Director: “Family and friends is a big one, and the fact that I actually have a job after college.”

Eugene Mont, Ball Residence Director: “I’m thankful for Black Friday sales after Thanksgiving… [Rebecca responds: "So you can buy transformers!] Yeah, that’s what I’m really thankful for is Transformers.”

Joanne Jacobs, Experiential Learning Secretary: “Loved ones and family.”

Penny Webber, A.S.K. Office Manager: “My family and friends.”

Carole Lillis, Director of A.S.K. Office/Assistant Professor of English: “Health for my family.”

Jim Blackburn, Dean of Students: “Personally, I’m thankful for my wonderful family and kids. And I guess professionally I’m thankful for being able to work with college students and all of their energy and varied perspectives on life.”

Tracy McFarland, Associate VP for Student Development: “Just the opportunity to take some time off and be with my family.”

Betty Hill, Student Affairs Office Manager: “I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to be here at Keuka, and my favorite part of the job is getting to know students.”

Michelle Waugh, Sales Associate: “Probably my family and being retired from the army–finally, after 21 years!–and the hope to someday have peace.”

Gretchen Parsells, Manager of Communications: “I’m thankful for my son–he’s the greatest thing ever. I’m thankful that I have a family who loves me… and I’m thankful that I have a job I absolutely love.”

Jessica Noveck, Student Services Representative (Registrar): “I am thankful for having a healthy family that will be with me during the holidays.”

Beth Tillman, Student Services Representative (Registrar): [After hearing Jessica's response) "You took mine!" [To me] “Ditto.”

Hopefully this puts you in the spirit of gratitude (or the “attitude of gratitude”). I think, as college students in America, we take way too much for granted. So enjoy the time with family, and enjoy the food. But most of all, do not forget the little things that make each day possible.

Just before I spoke with Dean Blackburn, he had sent out an email that I read afterward. It said:

Even with all the world’s turmoil and our perplexing challenges here at home, it is good to pause and reflect on all our many blessings and advantages as Americans and citizens of the world. Take time to thank those who support, encourage and love you, including faculty, staff and friends here at Keuka. I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. Please be safe in your travels.

With that wonderful message in mind, safe travels, and Happy Thanksgiving!