Featured
Story
International Student College Experience
New International Student College Experience course prepares students for academic success.
By Charlotte West
Beginning fall quarter
2012, Green River Community College
International Programs will be offering
a new International Student College
Experience course, which will be required
for all new students. The class will
prepare students for academic success
and give them the essential information
and practical skills that will help
make their transition to the US as seamless
as possible.
"We developed this program to help
better prepare our international students
for the American classroom. It will
give them very specific skills and knowledge
they will need in subsequent quarters,"
says Vivette Beuster, IESL Core faculty
member and program founder.
The International Student College
Experience course is specially designed
as a hybrid class (1 hour online and
2 hours in class per week for 11 weeks)
to familiarize students with the various
education delivery modes used at the
college: online, classroom, and hybrid.
"We have designed this specifically
as a hybrid class with both online and
classroom instruction so students are
prepared for all three learning modes,"
explains Mark Blaisdell, an economics
professor who developed the curriculum
together with Vivette Beuster.
The course will be taught by one
instructor and there will be a variety
of guest speakers such as alumni, current
students, and other experts on a wide
variety of relevant topics. The subjects
covered will include an introduction
to the US education system, American
classroom and study expectations, and
how to get involved in leadership, volunteer,
and outside-of-class activities that
are essential when applying to universities.
By the end of the quarter, students
will have a personalized GRCC degree
and university transfer plan that will
help them go to their preferred university,
a list of college resources and knowledge
of how to take advantage of them and
a set of new skills that will help them
perform successfully in class and accelerate
their academic progress.
Green River Community College's International
Student College Experience is one of
the most comprehensive introductions
to American campus life provided by
any community college in the United
States. The program is intended to jump
start the university transfer process
in close collaboration with faculty
members and academic advisors.
|
