Summer FAQ

If you plan to hire the same summer positions (e.g., # of students, job classification types, average hours per week, timeframes, etc) that were either approved or hired in summer 2025, no new requests are necessary. 

After winter break, senior leaders (VPs, Deans, etc) will invite change requests, so stay tuned for next steps if you are requesting a change.

Senior leaders will communicate approvals by February 27th. If unsure, you may reach out directly to your senior leader or contact us at summer@berry.edu.

Please refer to this list of position approval contacts by department: 

Senior Leader List

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program will follow its regular application (due March 23, 2026) and approval process instead of following the standard summer work approval process. The Provost’s Office will coordinate directly with LifeWorks to incorporate SURF positions.

New summer research positions (i.e. positions not previously approved or hired for Summer 2025) that will not be conducted through the SURF program must be requested by supervisors and submitted to their senior leaders no later than February 13, 2026.

Supervisors requesting changes to their student teams should ensure that their requests are for jobs that contribute to critical campus operations in the summer months. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Facilities (e.g., Grounds, Housekeeping, etc.)
• Animal Units
• Welcome Center
• Food / Dining / Auxiliary Services
• BITS

Jobs that fulfill essential college programming over the summer months. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• SOAR leaders
• Admissions Ambassadors
• Student Support / Programming
• Gate & LifeWorks Scholarship Leaders

Jobs that align with the current strategic priorities / initiatives of the college. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Undergraduate Research (e.g., SURF, etc.)
• Auxiliary Partnerships (e.g., The Spires, Rome Tennis Center, etc.)
• Strategic Employer & Community Engagement Partnerships (TBD)
• Revenue Generating Opportunities (e.g., Camps, Conferences, etc.)

Non-meaningful work positions are jobs that do not consistently meet the following criteria of meaningful work in the summer months:

• Clear Responsibilities and Goals: Do student employees have defined tasks and responsibilities that contribute value to their department or the college, with specific goals and measurable outcomes?
• Intentional Development: Are there structured opportunities and support systems for students to enhance their professional skills, with clear expectations for their performance and growth?
• Consistent Engagement: Are student employees primarily involved in their job tasks (or professional development activities) during work hours, avoiding distractions like personal phone use, scrolling online, doing homework or other unrelated activities?

• Students who have achieved, or will achieve, significant training and/or certifications necessary to complete their job requirements (e.g., BITS, Salesforce, Animal Units, etc.)
• Students in work-based scholarship (e.g. Gate & LifeWorks Scholars)
• Students who have been hired for positions with strategic community partners or employers (see list above)

Students wishing to work in the summer should first secure employment, then indicate they will be staying to work when applying for housing. Summer Housing applications for all blocks will open on March 23. The application can be found on the housing portal. Applications are due by April 15. Late applicants cannot be guaranteed housing and will be placed based on space availability.

Transition block: If you are in the critical summer operational LifeWorks job, your supervisor will communicate with you directly. There will also be an opportunity in the Summer Housing Application to request staying on campus during the transition block (July 25 – August 8); approval is not guaranteed.

Why is Berry closing the residence halls for this time period?

The reason for this change is to ultimately improve the residential experience by:

• Providing additional time for deferred and preventive maintenance and cleaning.
• Significantly reduce the number of summer students after Block B and before early arrivals, which will reduce the number of times students will need to move into temporary spaces.
• Ensuring that Fall spaces are ready for when students move in, including early arrivals.
• Providing structured downtime for students working during the summer to recharge before the start of the Fall semester.

• Students working full-time in an approved LifeWorks or C&I position
  • Full-time = consistently working 30-40 of hours per week per summer block
• Students taking in-person summer classes
• Students enrolled in an academic internship in the Rome-Floyd County area
• Students who need to be on campus to fulfill scholarship obligations
  • Gate / LifeWorks Scholars (for work hours requirements)
  • Bonner Scholars (for service requirements)
• Students who meet the above criteria must also agree to abide by Res Life’s summer guidelines / policies
  • Be available to move during identified time periods published by Res Life
  • Students in residence will be re-evaluated each summer block

• Students working in a non-approved LifeWorks job or virtual internship
• Students enrolled in virtual summer classes
• Student consistently working under 30 hours a week in an approved LifeWorks job
• Students working an off-campus job not affiliated with LifeWorks 
• Student who will not agree to abide by Res Life’s summer guidelines / policies (including move dates: see below)

Summer students will be housed in Morgan-Bailey Hall, Oak Hill Residences, Thomas Berry Hall, and Townhouses. While every attempt will be made to assign spaces by credit standing, exceptions will need to be made based on space availability and Spring assignments.  The summer housing requirements remain the same as last year (e.g., working full-time in an approved LifeWorks or C&I position, taking in-person classes, or enrolled in an academic internship in the Rome-Floyd County area).

Summer Housing Dates

Spring semester move-out dates:

• May 6, 2026 Halls close at 6 p.m. to students not involved in Commencement
• May 9, 2026 Halls close at 1 p.m. for those involved in Commencement
• May 9, 2026 Halls close at 6 p.m. for those graduating and participating in Commencement

Summer A: May 17 - June 20

Summer B: June 21 - July 25

Transition Block: (July 26 - August 8)*

Reopen for early arrivals: August 9

*All summer students will be required to move out at the end of Summer B on July 25 unless they are employed in a critical work position.  Students employed in a critical work position remaining for the Transition Block will be housed in Oak Hill Residences or Morgan-Bailey Hall; Transition Block residents will not be housed in Thomas Berry or Townhouses.

Summer Applications

Summer Housing applications for all blocks will open on March 23. The application can be found on the housing portal. Applications are due by April 15. Late applicants cannot be guaranteed housing and will be placed based on space availability.

All summer residents are required to participate in the summer meal plan of $250 per block.