International Study and Travel
(Goal Nine, Objectives B and C)
A survey of the 2004 graduating class indicates that 38.2 percent (50 students) of the respondents had participated in formal study abroad during their years at Berry. Those 50 comprise 15.3 percent of the 327-member graduating class, which exceeds the college’s objective of 10 percent. Objective C calls for 50 percent of students to complete an international experience; some 45 percent of these respondents indicated that they had traveled abroad while a student for reasons other than studying abroad.
Improve Retention of Students
(Goal Six, Objective G)
The 2000 entering freshmen class achieved the highest four-year graduation rate (54 percent) of the last 11 first-year cohorts of entering freshmen (highest since 1997, with 51 percent), up from 48 percent for the 1990 cohort, 47 percent for the 1996 cohort and 40 percent for the 1995 cohort. The 1999 cohort achieved a five-year graduation rate of 61 percent. The 1997 cohort achieved the highest five-year graduation rate (62 percent) and the highest six-year graduation rate (63 percent) of any group since tracking began. The 1997 cohort group also achieved the highest to date graduation rate (64 percent) of any group since 1983.
Encourage Service
(Goal Three, Objective B)
The Bonner Center for Community Service, which coordinates Berry College Volunteer Services, Bonner Scholars Program and service-learning programs and partners with student affairs in developing leadership programs, was formally dedicated in early April 2004. The Bonner Scholars Program, alone, provided 21,000 hours of service to at-risk youth, the elderly, the physically and mentally disabled, and the hungry and homeless of the Rome-Floyd County community.
Enhance Teaching and Learning
(Goal One, Objectives C and F)
- The Campbell School of Business completed its final year of AACSB candidacy and will host the accreditation team in Fall 2004. Sixteen faculty members and seven staff members participated in various academic and administrative workshops, seminars and conferences.
- The Charter School of Education and Human Sciences hosted the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s 11th Annual Bus Tour Across Georgia, the first time a teacher-education program at a private institution was included in the agenda.
- The faculty in the Evans School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences published eight books and 32 scholarly articles and presented papers at 80 professional meetings. They also had 25 professional performances and exhibitions.
- Students in the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences had an outstanding year with 16 of 16 applicants to medical school accepted and the best ever year for the number of students admitted to veterinary school. In addition, for the seventh consecutive year, there was an increase in the number of student publications and presentations at regional, national and international conferences. The college hosted the Georgia Academy of Science’s annual meeting as well as the Georgia High School Science Olympiad.