The Student Community
Students at Berry College enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of
self-governance. The Student Government Association handles matters
concerning the general welfare of the student body, subject to the
supervision of the Student Life Council. The association, through its
officers elected by the students, provides an educational experience
that enables students to have the opportunity to grow in their knowledge
and use of the basic democratic process. Every student is a member of
the Student Government Association.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center offers a variety of services for personal and
academic concerns. Individual counseling is the center’s primary
service, and counselors adhere to a policy that assures confidentiality.
Other services include group counseling, outreach programs, peer
education and testing. The resource library includes books, pamphlets,
software, audiotapes and videotapes on topics related to personal
development and academic skills. When appropriate, referrals are made to
other agencies on or off campus.
The Counseling Center provides and fosters leadership in the prevention
of drug and alcohol abuse and other health and wellness issues at Berry
and in the surrounding community. Through the student-work-opportunity
program, counselors hire, train and supervise a team of Berry students
called Peer Educators who provide educational programs to promote
responsible choices, attitudes and behavior. To support this cause
further, the Counseling Center actively supports the Health and Wellness
Concerns Committee and serves at-risk students through counseling and
referral.
The Counseling Center is committed to promoting student development
intellectually, spiritually, socially and emotionally. This commitment
both complements and supports students' academic learning experiences.
The director of the Counseling Center administers all services and
programs of the office under the direct supervision of the associate
vice president for student affairs.
Multicultural and International Student Support
The Associate Dean of Students Office exists to foster a supportive
environment for international students and students of color to live,
learn and grow as active members of the academic community. Its
responsibility is to implement programs and activities, thereby creating
a more informed understanding of cultural awareness on campus.
The associate dean of students serves as the chair of the Multicultural
Student Committee. The associate dean also serves as advisor to the
Black Student Alliance organization and the International Club.
The associate dean sponsors and coordinates programs such as the
Cultural House, Pathways, PLUS (Preparing Leaders for Ultimate Success),
Multicultural Student Reception, Welcome Back Pack Program, Day of
Dialogue, MLK Celebration and Black History Month activities,
International Fair and the host family program.
The associate dean administers all services and programs of the office
under the direct supervision of the vice president for student affairs.
Religion in Life
Berry College believes that an educational experience should include
growth in the understanding of the meaning of life. Through the
religion-
in-life program and the Christian context of the campus community, it is
intended that each student will experience the openness, concern and
responsible freedom to facilitate her or his growth.
The college is a specifically Christian institution in purpose,
although nonsectarian in character. The college chaplain serves as
minister to all persons on the campus and is available as a trained
counselor. Services of Protestant, Christian worship are held in the
Berry College Chapel each Sunday of the academic year for the entire
Berry community. Roman Catholic mass is celebrated each Sunday evening.
Information on the programs of the community synagogue and various
churches is coordinated through the chaplain's office.
The religion-in-life program is guided by a Religion-in-Life Advisory
Council (RLAC) composed of students, faculty and staff. Religious-life
lectures, service projects and special-emphasis programs by guest
leaders are a part of the total religion-in-life emphasis.
Various student organizations, such as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry,
Catholic Students Association, Canterbury Club, Campus Outreach, MORE,
Presbyterian Student Fellowship, Heirway, Exaltation, Fellowship of
Christian Athletes, Wesley Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and others,
provide an opportunity for further denominational or
interdenominational activities.
Community service is stressed. Projects involving faculty, staff and
students provide thousands of hours of volunteer service each semester.
The Mount Berry Church is an interdenominational, Christian
congregation serving the campus community. Its primary focus is the
Sunday service in the chapel. It also provides a program of Christian
fellowship and leadership training through educational, social and
service activities. Membership in the Mount Berry Church is open to
anyone in the locale. Students may be especially interested in
"watch-care" membership, which allows them to be fully participating
members of this congregation without affecting membership in their home
churches. The chaplain serves as pastor of the Mount Berry Church.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center provides a variety of resources and
services to assist students in making career-related decisions,
developing job-search campaigns and combining work experience with
academic study.
Recognizing that most undergraduates will explore several career
options before deciding on the one they will pursue, the office is
committed to supporting this exploration process. Through individual
career counseling, workshop presentations, assessment instruments and
campus-wide programs, staff members encourage students to formulate
their career goals and values and the plans needed to achieve these
goals. For example, career counselors assist students with the
self-assessment process-identifying and clarifying interests, skills and
work values. Moreover, through the
self-assessment process, students gain insight about relationships
between college majors and various career options. A career-resource
library, including a computerized resources system, is maintained by the
office as an aid to students seeking up-to-date career development
information.
As students prepare for life after Berry, the Career Development Center
assists them with their job or graduate school/professional school
searches. Recruiters from business, industry, education and government
visit the college each year to interview graduating seniors during
prescheduled interviews and career-fair events such as Employer Expo and
Education Day. In addition, Berry students have the opportunity to
attend a number of
off-campus job fairs supported by the college. The Career Development
Center also maintains contact with other employer representatives to
whom students may be referred. In addition, the office houses a career
resource and graduate school library to assist students with their
post-graduation plans.
In workshops and individual sessions, students learn how to write
résumés and other job-search correspondence, prepare for job interviews,
conduct information interviews and develop job-hunting strategies.
Job-vacancy notices are available to students online through Jobtrak, in
jobs notebooks and at the Career Development Center..
The Career Development Center supports students seeking career-related
work experience prior to graduation by maintaining information on summer
jobs, internships, international work/study experiences and cooperative
education (co-op). Through cooperative education, students complete a
sequence of work experiences related to their academic studies. This
sequence usually constitutes a series of progressively responsible work
assignments during a period of at least two work semesters.
Co-op may be set up in an alternating plan in which students work full
time during alternating semesters, or in a parallel plan in which
students work part time (no more than 20 hours a week) during
consecutive semesters. Cooperative education experiences are offered to
students of various academic disciplines through assorted business,
industry or government co-op employers. To qualify for co-op, students
must complete at least 30 semester hours and hold an overall 2.5
grade-point average.
Berry students select the co-op work option because it offers them the
opportunity for experiential learning-learning which complements their
studies through related practical work experience. They also select
co-op as a means to explore career options, to establish successful work
habits, to help finance college expenses and to develop skills related
to their career goals.
The director of career development administers all services and
programs of the office under the direct supervision of the associate
vice president for student affairs.
Health and Wellness Center
Prior to enrollment at Berry College, each student must complete a
health-history/immunization record form. Services can be rendered in the
Ladd Center only when this form is on file. All information contained
in the student's record is strictly confidential.
The college provides limited medical care on campus. Registered nurses
are on duty from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The college
physician visits the campus three times a week for an hour each visit
to see students with appointments. Students needing treatment for minor
injuries and illness receive out-patient care in the Health and Wellness
Center.
Students are referred to off-campus facilities for treatment for more
serious injuries or illness. Medical care at facilities other than the
Health and Wellness Center and ambulance services are the students'
financial responsibility.
Students are required to participate in a group accident-sickness
hospitalization plan unless proof of coverage is received. Complete
details of the plan may be obtained from the office of the dean of
students or from the Health and Wellness Center.
The director of the Health and Wellness Center administers all services
and programs of the center under the direct supervision of the
associate vice president for student affairs and the medical director.
Residence Life
The concept of residence halls embodies much more than mere residential
accommodations. The residence-hall community is an integral part of the
college. Residence within this community implies certain obligations
and standards of citizenship. When these obligations and standards are
met, a meaningful experience will result. A large measure of
responsibility is delegated to residents through their elected officers
and representatives in the areas of social life, extracurricular
activities, discipline and the protection of college property.
The college maintains residence halls for approximately 1,400 students. All residence halls are air-conditioned.
Berry College recognizes that every experience of college life is an
integral part of the education of the students. In keeping with this
ideal, residence halls are designed and staffed to provide facilities
that are stimulating to personal, social and academic growth.
All residence halls are staffed with student resident assistants (RAs)
whose general responsibilities are to make the residential experience as
worthwhile, as productive and as pleasant as possible. The RAs assist
students with academic and personal problems and/or refer them to the
appropriate resource persons on campus. The RA is an official staff
member who is also charged with maintaining order in the living areas.
Each room is equipped with single beds, desks, chairs, dressers or
chests, and mirrors. Rooms are equipped for telephone and
cable-television accessibility. All residence halls have the
capability to connect to the Internet and e-mail. Berry has a
closed-circuit television channel to aid in communicating with
resident students. The student must supply a pillow, sheets,
pillowcases, bedspread, blankets and towels as well as the necessary
personal articles. Everything should be marked with the owner's name in
indelible ink.
The residence halls are furnished with coin-operated washers and
dryers. Residence halls have kitchenettes equipped with stoves and
microwave ovens that allow students to cook light meals. Ice machines
and vending machines are also provided for the students' convenience.
Living rooms in the residence halls are available for relaxation and
various social events. Study rooms are also available for private or
group study.
Berry College is a residential college, and students are expected to live on campus unless given permission to do otherwise.
A housing contract is binding for the entire academic year and may not
be terminated by the student. Students must live on campus at least four
semesters as a full-time student unless they meet one of the following
criteria as of the end of the spring semester preceding the fall
semester in which they desire to live off campus:
- Completion of at least 60 credit hours of academic work.
- At least 21 years old.
- Married.
- Residing with their parents, grandparents or legal guardian within a 40-mile radius of Berry College.
If a student believes he or she meets one of these criteria, the
student must complete a Release From Housing Request Form to request
permission to move off campus before he or she may do so. Please note
that this is an application process, and approval is not automatic.
The office of residence life communicates with new students about room
assignments, policies and roommates prior to enrollment. Information
regarding room selection is distributed to returning students in the
spring semester.
The director of residence life manages all services and programs of the
office under the direct supervision of the vice president for student
affairs.
Intramurals, Fitness, Outdoor Recreation and Athletics
An extensive program of physical education, intramural, recreational
sports, outdoor recreation and athletics helps students fulfill their
needs in physical fitness, personal social development and competition. A
wide range of activities is offered for students of varying abilities.
All students are required to participate in the health and
physical-education program as part of their general-education
requirements. This program includes individual and team sports, dance
forms and outdoor-recreation activities.
Two gymnasiums; an expansive, well-equipped weight-training room; three
sand volleyball courts; many running and hiking trails; 10 tennis
courts (four lighted); numerous intramural fields; and many acres of
land are available for student, faculty, staff and alumni enjoyment.
The intramural and recreation area of the department offers a wide
range of activities in individual, dual and team sports for men and
women as well as coed activities. Richards Gymnasium sponsors
aerobic-exercise classes, water aerobics, intramural and an overall
weight-training and fitness program. Some of the activities include
basketball, flag football, softball, volleyball, golf, bowling, soccer,
tennis and racquetball.
Intercollegiate varsity athletic competition offers student-athletes
opportunities in both men's and women's sports. Programs for women
include basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, volleyball and golf.
Programs for men include basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country,
baseball and golf. Academic requirements must be met to be eligible for a
varsity athletic team. Berry's athletic teams have achieved honors at
the conference, regional and national levels.
The Cage Athletic and Recreation Center is slated for completion in
February 2008. A multipurpose facility, it will house the Health and
Physical Education, Athletics, Intramural and Recreation departments. A
25-meter pool, fitness and weight-training rooms, multipurpose courts,
basketball courts, aerobics and fitness rooms, classrooms and a walking
track will be located in the center.
The director of athletics administers all services and programs under
the direct supervision of the vice president for student affairs.
Student Activities and Organizations
To enhance its outside-the-classroom advantages, the college provides
a number of student organizations and special activities in which
students may become more adept in social and cultural areas, may learn
more about subjects of particular interest to them, and may take added
steps toward realizing their leadership potential.
These student organizations and activities have a wide range of
interest areas, including music, drama, debate, business and the
sciences; clubs and honor societies in various academic areas; student
publications, with a newspaper, yearbook, closed-circuit television
channel and literary magazine; and numerous service clubs as well as
other groups centering around religious concerns. Full information on
these varied activities of more than 60 organizations is provided in the
student handbook, Viking Code. The Krannert Center Activities Board
consisting of students, faculty and staff coordinates student activities
open to the college community.
The director of student activities administers all services and
programs of the office under the direct supervision of the vice
president for student affairs.
New Student Orientation
Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) is planned for
new incoming students and their parents to facilitate the transition to
Berry for the fall semester. New students are invited to a particular
SOAR session according to the date of their enrollment deposit. Several
sessions are scheduled during the summer for freshmen, and two are
scheduled for transfers. All new students will be charged an orientation
fee-$135 for freshman residents and $75 for transfers and commuters.
This fee covers expenses for SOAR and Viking Venture.
Viking Venture occurs immediately preceding the first day of fall
classes. Activities during Viking Venture are available to provide
opportunities for interaction with faculty, staff and students; for
orientation to the counseling
center, career-development and other student-development services; and
for social and recreational activities.
New students for spring and summer semesters are also provided with
orientation activities designed to acquaint them with Berry and college
life in general. Orientation is coordinated by the associate vice
president of student affairs.
Basic Policy on Student Life
Berry College accepts responsibility for directing the academic, work-
opportunity and religious programs for students. The college also
accepts responsibility for the conduct and development of students.
"Berry College" includes the Board of Trustees, the president, all
faculty and staff, all students and all worthy traditions of this
institution.
Every student is expected at all times to recognize constituted
authority, to abide by the ordinary rules of good conduct, to be
truthful, to respect the rights of others, to protect private and public
property and to make the best use of time at Berry toward acquiring an
education.
Every student has rights which are to be respected. These rights
include respect for personal feelings, freedom from indignity of any
type, freedom from control by any person or persons except those in
proper authority and freedom from rules and regulations not authorized
by authorities of Berry College. Every student is entitled to pursue
opportunities available in this institution. No faculty or staff member
or student, regardless of position or rank, shall violate these rights.
Those persons who may become parties to violations, either by lack of
positive preventive action or by participating in administering, or in
submitting to indignity of any type, will be held personally
responsible. Every effort will be made to eliminate any unjust customs,
traditions and practices in conflict with these rights. It shall be the
personal responsibility of every faculty or staff member and student to
cooperate with other administrative officers, work supervisors and
officers of the student government in carrying out the provisions of
this basic policy.
Additional Policies
In addition to the various policies of the college referenced elsewhere in
this catalog, the following are important:
Students maintaining motor vehicles while at Berry must have them
properly registered in the office of campus safety and must park in a
student parking lot. Regulations for operation of vehicles on the campus
may be found in the student handbook and in the traffic code.
The college does not permit the use or possession of alcoholic
beverages or illegal drugs on the campus. Visitation in college
residence halls is provided on a limited basis.
The college may at any time require the withdrawal of a student whose
conduct or general influence is considered harmful to the institution.
Berry College's annual security report includes statistics for the
previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus,
in certain off-campus buildings owned or controlled by Berry College,
and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible
from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies
concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug
use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault and
other matters. A copy of this report may be obtained by contacting the Campus Safety Office, then click on the link to the Campus Safety Report.
Additional policies concerning student conduct, including Computer
Use and Ethics Code, may be found in Viking Code, the student handbook. A
copy is available upon request in the office of the vice president for
student affairs.