Fall Semester

The one-week orientation program for fall semester begins when the students meet as a group in Hangzhou. The fall semester orientation includes a range of activities designed to help the student settle into his or her new life in China, and our faculty and staff will help students move into their accommodations, purchase bedding and bicycles, and open Bank of China Accounts. We will also have our first community meeting early in the week and assign Faculty Advisors to students, who will have their initial meeting in the first week to discuss logistical and academic plans.

The orientation program includes a group welcome meal, and cultural activities designed to help familiarize the student with the local surroundings, such as a city drop-off exercise and debrief, in addition to fun activities like boating on West Lake. Most of the program, however, is focused on health and safety and visa issues, and include a visit to the local VIP clinic, where an American physician will give our students a tour of the facilities and discuss health concerns. In addition the U.S. Consulate General will send a government representative from Shanghai to discuss emergency and crisis procedures. We also will discuss this document in detail with students and orient students to our own illness and crisis contingency plans and provide all students with an emergency contact card that they should keep on their person at all times.

Students with previous language skills will take a placement exam during this week, and all students will be introduced to the China Center facilities and academic resources, and we will introduce the academic calendar and schedule of classes, and how to construct a successful Portfolio of Learning. In addition we will discuss our expectations regarding advising, attendance, and class participation.

A daily schedule for fall Student Orientation week will be posted soon.

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