Report
Members of the 2002-2003 Exchange Program
Acclimation Committee (EPAC) were Pam Carstens and Deanna Jobe
of Coe College and Ken McMillan, Helen Ochs, and Tom Sienkewicz
(Project Coordinator) of Monmouth College. All members of this
team were part of the 2001-2002 EPAC team. John Chaimov of Coe
College was on sabbatical for this academic year. The committee
benefited from its work the previous year and found it easy to
plan, oversee, and evaluate two (re)orientation programs for Coe
and Monmouth exchange students. Unlike the first year, where
several planning meetings were held, the committee was able to
maintain regular contact via phone and e-mail throughout the
year to accomplish its goals.
The EPAC Committee used the 2001-2003 objectives as a
starting point for planning this year's programming: 1.) to
prepare American students for the general problems and
challenges of living and studying abroad; 2.) to assist American
students returning from exchange programs in their process of reacclimatization
to the United States; 3.) to assist international students in
their process of acclimatization to the United States; and 4.)
to make all of these students more aware of cultural differences
and ways to deal with such differences. In addition the
committee relied upon its experiences from 2001-2003, and
especially student feedback, to plan the 2002-2003 programs. The
profile of participants in these programs included: Monmouth and
Coe students who had returned from exchange programs abroad,
Monmouth and Coe students who were planning to go on an exchange
program the following semester, international students from
institutions with which Monmouth or Coe have agreements, and
members of EPAC. Unfortunately, the committee did not
invite representatives from either Knox and
Cornell
Colleges
to observe either program, as originally planned.
The fall program was held at Monmouth College on Saturday,
November 16, 2003. A copy of the agenda for this program can be
accessed at http://department.monm.edu/offcampus/GlobalPartners/FallProgram2002.htm.Seven
students (four from Coe and three from Monmouth) attended this
program along with five faculty from both institutions. Students
were asked to evaluate this program and make suggestions for
improvement. Their comments are available at: http://department.monm.edu/offcampus/GlobalPartners/EvaluationsFall2003.htm.
The spring program was held at Coe College on Saturday, April
12, 2003. A copy of the agenda for this program can be accessed
at: http://department.monm.edu/offcampus/GlobalPartners/SpringProgram2003.htm.
Twenty three students (eight from Coe and fifteen from Monmouth)
attended this program along with five faculty from both
institutions. Students were asked to evaluate this program and
make suggestions from improvement. Their comments are available
at: http://department.monm.edu/offcampus/GlobalPartners/EvaluationsSpring2003.htm.
At both programs students were specifically asked to mention
positive and negative points. While there was strong enthusiasm
for the program in general, students did not particularly like
the video shown at the spring program. Members of EPAC fully
agreed with these student comments and discussed ways that the
video could be used more effectively another time. It is clear
that the best aspect of these programs is the opportunity for
students from the two institutions to interact with each other.
The more student-driven such the activities at these programs
are, the more successful they tend to be. Structure seems to be
less important than informal conversation and sharing of
experiences.
The members of EPAC did not devote any time to the third
objective for this grant, namely investigation of new exchange
program opportunities for the two schools, although there was
some informal discussion about sharing information concerning
exchange programs each institution currently sponsors. There is
some interest in pursuing this objective, but such an effort
would require significantly more resources of time and money
than were available this year.
These programs have been excellent opportunities for
students, faculty, and staff at both institutions. While there
some desire to continue these collaborative activities,
budgetary constraints will probably keep such events from
happening, at least in 2003-2004. |