Keuka China Exchange

Keuka China Students

The Keuka China Exchange Program is a one-way semester or yearlong exchange of Keuka China students at Chinese partner universites to Keuka College, U.S.A.

How to Apply

To complete your application, you need to submit:

  1. Online Keuka China Exchange Application
  2. Declaration of Finances. The U.S. Government requires that students wishing to obtain permission to study in America demonstrate financial documentation to support the student – including tuition, room and board, and personal expenses – for one year of study.
  3. A copy of your passport. Scans or faxes are accepted.
  4. Official TOEFL (School Code 2350) or IELTS scores sent to Keuka College, USA.  A photocopy of test results sent to the address below would be appreciated and may speed your application but cannot be substituted for official results.

As of April 14, 2009, submit information to:

Keuka College
Office of Admissions
141 Central Avenue
Keuka Park, NY 14478
Tel: +1 (315) 279-5254
admissions@keuka.edu

Application Deadline: May 5, 2009

Q & A for Chinese Exchange Students At Keuka College, U.S.A.

Q: Where is Keuka College located? Where is the nearest international airport and how long will it take to drive from the airport to campus? Can the school provide pick-up service for a newcomer?

A: Keuka College is located in the Finger Lakes region in central New York state (northeast United States). The nearest international airport is located in Rochester, about 60 miles from campus. Yes, Keuka will provide a pick-up service for Chinese students.

Q: What are the teacher-student ratio and the male-female ratio of students in Keuka College? How many international students on campus and where are they from?

A: The student-teacher ratio is 14:1. The male-female ratio is 3:7. There are eleven international students enrolled at Keuka College and they are from South Africa, Canada, Jamaica, Nepal and China.

Q: Please introduce the store and supermarket around the campus. Is that convenient for students to buy groceries?

A: The town of Penn Yan (population 5,000) is located about three miles from campus. Two grocery stores and several pharmacies/dry goods stores are located in Penn Yan, as well as a movie theatre, many small shops, restaurants, book stores, etc. The College offers weekday van service into Penn Yan for students to access these services, as well as occasional van trips to area shopping malls on weekends.

Q: What’s the residence hall for students? Please describe the facility.

A: Keuka College has six residence halls for students. Each is equipped and set up differently, but all have cooking facilities, laundry rooms and student lounges with TV and recreation equipment such as ping pong and billiards. All residence halls are segregated by gender – either by floor or wing. Five of the residence halls have community bathrooms, while one has semi-private bathrooms. Room configurations include a small number of singles, many doubles and some triples and quads.

Q: Is there any “home-stay” plan for international students? If yes, please give more information about this.

A: There is no formal “home-stay” plan, but there will be opportunities for students to have meals with local families, and perhaps some limited lodging during school breaks.

Q: How many clubs and organizations are there for students to join? What kind of sporting places and facilities does Keuka have?

A: The College offers more than 40 student-run clubs and organizations in addition to several academic clubs for students in particular majors or academic interest areas. The College also offers seven men’s and eight women’s intercollegiate sports, club sports according to student interests, and a growing number of intramural sports. The Weed Physical Arts Center features a gymnasium (home to the basketball and volleyball teams), fitness room, weight-training room, athletic training room for injury diagnosis and treatment, and a swimming pool. Outdoor facilities include five soccer/lacrosse fields (one of which is lighted for night use), a baseball field and softball field, as well as a fully-equipped ropes course for team-building and confidence training.

Q: Is there a medical clinic located on campus? How far is the nearest hospital?

A: The Keuka College Health and Counseling Center is located on the ground floor of one of the residence halls, right in the center of campus. The Health Center is staffed by a full-time nurse practitioner, a part-time registered nurse, a consulting physician who is on campus one day a week for appointments, and an office manager who helps schedule appointments. The Counseling Center features one full-time and one part-time psychological counselor, in addition to being able to refer students to a consulting psychiatrist in Penn Yan. All on-campus health and counseling services are covered by a student’s tuition and fees; there are no additional charges for services. Charges for off-campus services are the responsibility of the student and his or her health and accident insurance. A small, full-service hospital is located in Penn Yan, and there are several world-class hospitals in Rochester, which is just over an hour away.

Q: How is the security on campus? Is it safe to walk on campus during the evening?

A: Students rate the campus as very safe. The College has a full-time staff of protective services officers who constantly patrol campus, and who work closely with the local police and fire department to provide quick response to emergency situations. The College’s annual Clergy Report is available at http://ope.ed.gov/security/search.asp (Enter: Keuka College). The College has an emergency notification system for campus, and nine “blue lights” located across campus that allow persons in need to quickly contact emergency personnel.

Q: Please introduce the classroom and library facility at Keuka College.

A: Every classroom features presentation and audio-visual equipment and there are five smart technology classrooms. The College also has three computer labs, offering 90 workstations, while the Jephson Science Center provides state-of-art lab facilities.

The Lightner Library features:

  • Titles: 75,868
  • Total Columes: 87,368
  • Periodicals: 315 print titles, 21,000 print volumes
  • Microfilm reels: 4,021
  • Video and CD-Rom collections: 1,705

The library also houses two galleries: one that showcases works by students and regional artists and the Robert S. and Rebecca Bannan Aben Gallery, which features works by internationally acclaimed artist Yankel Ginzburg.

Q: What are the standard class hours for the undergraduate student per week? How many hours for a master’s degree student?

A: For both undergraduate and master’s students, it’s 12 to 18 hours per week, with an average of 15 hours.

Q: I have no English Proficiency before I admit to Keuka College, is an ESL (English as a Second Language) program provided for Chinese students?

A: We have no formal ESL program. Depending on the needs, we will be prepared to offer a non-credit course for international students needing additional work in English and/or use student mentors. We do not have the capability to provide interpreters for classes.

Q: Is there any work-study opportunities provided for Chinese students on campus? How do they apply? How much is the hourly rate of pay?

A: Yes, the College has a work-study program. Colleges and universities in the United States must all abide by federal regulations regarding work-study opportunities for international students. All work-for-pay opportunities will require a student to apply for, and receive, a Social Security card, which can take up to 12 weeks. Therefore, work-study won’t be available until the second semester. The application process can be initiated once a student arrives on campus and enrolls. Although students are permitted to work 20 hours a week on campus in the work-study program, most Keuka students work only 6-7 hours a week. The hourly rate is $7.15 USD per hour. The maximum work-study award is $2,000 for the academic year.

Q: When can an international student complete a Field Period?

A:

  • Students must be lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year (two semesters) in order to complete curricular practical training (CPT [Field Period]).
  • If completed for academic credit: only internship or Field Period courses qualify; independent studies or seminar courses do NOT qualify.
  • Student may begin CPT only after receiving his or her current Form I-20 with the Designated School Official (DSO) endorsement.
  • Employment authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is NOT required.
  • Experience must be commensurate with current degree level.

May be paid or non-paid and employers’ discretion.The Center for Experiential Learning provides resources, individual counseling, and workshops on how to contact a site, but ultimately Keuka students are responsible for securing their own Field Period site. Also, students are responsible for their own transportation, housing and meals when conducting a Field Period. Master’s degree students conduct an Action Research Project, not a Field Period.

Q: Does the school provide help to international students who want to apply for practical training after graduation?

A: The College is prepared to assist students in applying for practical training opportunities after graduation by cannon guarantee that every student who desires such an opportunity will receive one. Practical training is available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year (two semesters). Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training (CPT). An eligible F-1 student may request employment authorization for practical training in a position that is directly related to his or her major area of study.

Q: Will the Keuka College Alumni Association recommend job opportunities for international students?

A: Keuka alumni get involved in myriad mentor Keuka activities through the Web-based Storm Tracker system. Through Storm Tracker, alumni post job openings, arrange volunteer opportunities, and help plan Field Periods.

Career Services, located in the Center for Experiential Learning, puts employers in touch with students in myriad ways, including:

  • On-Campus Recruitment. Employers may schedule recruiting visits to fill openings within their organization at any time during the academic year. Employers also have the option of scheduling interviews with pre-screened candidates while on campus
  • Position Listings on Storm Tracker. Organizations can advertise full-time, part-time, Field Period, internship, seasonal, temporary, and volunteer positions.
  • Annual Career Fairs. Organizations are invited to recruit students for full-time, part-time, Field Period, internship, seasonal, temporary, and volunteer positions at the Career Fair, held every spring semester.

Q: Please provide information on the employment of Keuka graduates. What is the average salary?

A: The recent graduate survey reveals the following:

  • 98 percent of Keuka College graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate programs within six months of graduation,
  • 91.2 percent are employed, and
  • 35 percent are enrolled in a graduate program

The average salary range for Keuka College graduates: $30,000-$40,000 USD.