This semester, SUNY Fredonia is home to 27 Japanese undergraduates from two colleges in Aichi, Japan. The students are here to learn American culture, compare nursing and health care services, and study English.
 
From the Aichi Prefectural Junior College of Nursing are ten nursing students. From Aichi University of Education are undergraduates who are studying to become teachers of Japanese to non-native speakers.
 
Monday, March 7, the international visitors will be greeted by members of the campus and the community at a dessert reception in their honor at the home of SUNY Fredonia President and Mrs. Dennis L. Hefner.
 
"This is the greatest number of students participating in this program since it started in 1999," Mary Sasso, director of International Education, said. "These annual visits by the Aichi students vary in duration. Some students stay only 2 weeks while others stay almost 2 months."
 
The program is based on showing students a broad segment of the community as well ast the campus, including Brooks Memorial Hospital, Lakeshore Nursing Home, and the Chautauqua County Home. SUNY at Buffalo, and Jamestown Community College have also welcomed the Aichi students to tour their facilities and talk with professors in their fields. The greatest off-campus commitment has been made by the Dunkirk Public School system, whose ESL coordinator, Marc Parycek, has been instrumental in arranging student teaching opportunities for the Japanese language students in collaboration with English as a second-language teachers at various Dunkirk Public Schools.
 
On campus, SUNY Fredonia’s faculty and staff have played a large part in the exchange program. The Learning Center, the Department of Speech Pathology, and Residence Life have provided their services, as have faculty members from countless departments who open their classes to the Aichi students. Also, SUNY Fredonia student ambassadors have helped to make sure the Aichi students feel welcome and secure in their new and different environment. Many students have also invited the Aichi students to "shadow" them throughout the day to their classes and meetings.