French exchange students enjoying campus life at KCC

KLAMATH FALLS — A little bit of French culture has landed in the Klamath Basin with the arrival of six French students who are studying computer engineering and manufacturing engineering technology at Klamath Community College for the winter term.

The students are from the CESI School of Engineering outside of Paris as part of a student exchange program with KCC, according to Dr. Fred Griffiths, KCC’s director of International Studies. In turn, KCC hopes to send several students and a faculty member to France.

Members of the Klamath Falls French club met with the students at an informal reception last week at Dr. Griffiths’ home.

“I just love the fact that we can have a diverse cultural exchange here in Klamath,” said Jen Cole, a club member and a retired teacher and school administrator, who plans to visit France in the near future.

French native Nathalie Naveau, the Klamath County Library director, hosts the French club. She said she was pleased to have the students as guests so club members can practice their use of language. “I think it is a great addition to KCC to have this program,” she said.

“We envision the International Studies program at KCC as becoming one more way to reach out to the world for our college,” said KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez. “Exchange of ideas across nations is vital to growing a world view for our students on campus. As an open campus, deeply involved in the community, it only makes sense to expand beyond the usual borders to attract new students. It is also a way to grow economic development in the community.”

The French students and the cities they are from are: Achilee Barucq of Chambourcy; Tom Burger of Strasbourg; Mansour Cassius of Angoulême; Lucas Kimmoun of Bordeaux; Leo Lelievre of Bordeaux and Hugo Manchec-Bellour of St. Nazaire.

Two of the students have host families — Mark and Erika Cross and Scott and Lisa Carter  — who are boarding them for the 11 weeks of the term. Oregon Institute of Technology is housing the remaining four in its dormitory, where the students can take their meals in the cafeteria, use the gym equipment and basketball courts and mingle with the other students.

“We are grateful to OIT for helping us house these students,” said Dr. Gutierrez. “We have a great relationship with OIT and a strong partnership.”

Club member Zoe Krichko, a pre-med student at OIT, agreed the exchange program helps build connections with other countries.

“It’s a great benefit to Klamath to have this cultural exchange,” she said.

While the students are getting adjusted to the KCC campus and classes, they are enjoying the warm reception they’ve received.

“Everyone has been very helpful,” said Barucq. “The classes are similar to what we are studying in France, but the instructors here are more personable. They call you by your first name, and give you one-on-one help. In France, the classes are much more formal.”

Barucq hopes he and his colleagues will find time to explore, such as visiting Crater Lake National Park, the Lava Beds National Monument, and perhaps skiing at Mount Shasta.

This is not the first exchange program for KCC. Students have visited from Brazil, Burma, and China and the college expects the program to grow, said Griffiths.

The college also signed a partnership with Rennes School of Business in Rennes, France. That program will allow KCC business students who want to earn a bachelor of science degree within three years to finish their business studies in France in the third year.

“CESI is a highly rigorous program,” said Griffiths. “Most of the students will study in Paris, but the school has 25 campus locations across the country. The institutions we have partnered with are 100% English-speaking programs.”

All the credits between KCC and the schools are fully transferable, as are the tuition costs and financial aid. That means a KCC student is paying KCC tuition, but able to study in France. The only additional costs would be travel and living expenses.

Across Oregon, international studies programs bring in about $3.2 million annually, supporting 16 jobs and attracting close to 100 students. The entire state has about 7,300 visiting students, contributing $260 million a year to the economy.

For more details on CESI, visit cesi.fr/en; and for Rennes, visit rennes-sb.com.

To contact Dr. Griffiths about hosting students from France, email griffiths@klamathcc.edu.