Basic Information for CCP

How many College Connectors does Showa need?

About 75-80 College Connectors will be selected and prepared for this intercultural learning exchange. Each CC will host 1 pair or triad of Showa students. To facilitate success, CCs will receive intercultural training, ongoing support, and supervision.

Are CCs paid for participation in CCP?

Successful completion of all CC responsibilities requires about 30 hours, for which CCs will be awarded a stipend of $300. After completing the Orientation Meeting and then Kick-Off Day at Showa (Saturday, October 4 or 11), each CC will be paid $100. The remaining $200 will be paid upon completion of all other requirements of the program (3 Visits with your Showa pair, E-mail Reports about each Visit, Debriefing Survey, and some e-mail chat with your Showa pair or triad).

What are the qualifications to be a CC?

To qualify as a Showa College Connector, you must be:

  • A currently registered, full-time student at one of the six Colleges of the Fenway
  • A U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident
  • Able to efficiently manage your CCP, academic, other jobs, and personal commitments
  • A clear communicator with non-native English speakers
  • Sensitive to the cultural dimensions of behavior
  • Respectful of the unique perspectives of foreign visitors
  • An enthusiastic representative of your campus
  • Motivated, out-going, and energetic

What are the time and schedule commitments for CCs?

  • Submit your application by Friday, September 19, 2008
  • Attend one of the five 2-hour Orientation Meetings. (September & October dates are not set yet.) Applicants who are accepted as CCs will be notified by e-mail and phone of the exact dates/times/and locations, and will be given a choice of which session to attend.
  • Attend the one of the Kick-Off Day at Showa, Saturday, October 4 or October 11, from about 10 AM to 7 PM. Showa will provide transportation, lunch, & dinner.
  • E-mail Chat (about 2 hours). You will initiate some e-mail chat with your pair or triad. Most Showa students communicate more easily in writing than verbally. These messages are essential to clarify/confirm the details of your Visits.
  • Host 1 pair or triad of Showa students for 3 Visits to your campus.
    • Visit 1: Academic Visit (5 to 6 hours). This Visit is for Showa students to experience the academic realities of an American college student. Observing 2 of the CC's classes is the highlight of this Visit. It will happen during regular school hours on a Tuesday or Wednesday.  Visit 1 must happen on a fixed day depending on your Kick-off day, look below for the corresponded visit 1 date for each Kick-off day. This Visit will also include a meal or snack in the campus cafeteria to preview and debrief the class experiences. Students and their CCs would sign-up to Visit either from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, or from 12 PM to 5:45 PM. Showa provides shuttle transportation
      • Kick-off day Saturday, October 4
        • Visit 1: Tuesday, October 7 or Wednesday, October 8  
      • Kick-off day Saturday, October 11,
        • Visit 1: Tuesday, October 14 or Wednesday, October 15.
    • Visits 2 & 3: School club activity or campus activity. These visits are for Showa students to feel as though they are part of the College of Fenway, and to experience "Student involvement in student organization/ clubs/event" during the visits.
    • The Visits will happen when CCs and Showa students have free time.
  • Submit brief e-mail Visit Reports (about 2 hours total for all 3 Reports) to Showa Boston after each of the 3 Visit.
  • Complete and submit an e-mail Debriefing Survey (about 1 hour) after all Visits and all other CCP activities are completed.
  • All visits must be completed by Sunday, December 14.

After I apply to be a CC, how will I know if I am accepted?

The application deadline is 4:00 PM, Friday, September 19. Showa will notify (by telephone and by e-mail) those applicants who are accepted, by September 26th. If you are selected, we will notify you of the details of the required Orientation Meeting (held at Colleges of the Fenway). We will offer this meeting 5 times. You can choose the one that is most convenient for you.

How will Showa Boston prepare me for this challenge?

Intercultural Communication and Student Service specialists from Showa Boston will provide solid preparation for this international adventure. The curriculum will include not only the practical aspects of planning and implementing CCP, but also the complex cultural issues related to interacting sensitively with Japanese culture and communication styles. CCs should expect to encounter unique and challenging situations within their CCP work. We will all collaborate to respond to these challenges with open minds, creativity, patience, and intercultural understanding.