First-Year Assignments
First-year students, defined as incoming first-year, international, exchange, and transfer students attending Berea College for the first time, are assigned centrally by the Work College Program Office. Once students confirm their enrollment for the fall term, they submit a resume and an interest form detailing their skills, experience, and preferences. The Program Office reviews this information and places each student in a position directly; supervisors are not involved in reviewing candidates or selecting students for first-year placements.
All first-year students are assigned WLS Level 1, ten-hour positions for their first academic year (August through May), though a position change is possible mid-year through the process outlined below. Two of these ten weekly hours are fulfilled through First-Year Summit, a required weekly cohort-based experience that supports the transition into Path to Purpose by building community, connecting work to learning, reflecting on strengths and growth areas, and developing the skills and habits needed for success in college, work, and life. Transfer students may be assigned a higher WLS level depending on relevant prior work experience.
Centralized placement for first-year students helps ensure equity, since incoming students are not yet in a position to promote themselves to prospective supervisors. While many first-year positions are in service areas, students are placed in departments across campus depending on availability. A student's first position emphasizes transferable skills, such as punctuality, accountability, initiative, and communication, while giving the student time to acclimate to college life and explore future interests.
First-year students are not normally permitted an overload during their first year. A first-year student may request a mid-year position change; however, any new position must also be a WLS Level 1 position, and the request must follow the standard Position Change Process.
Academic study and work-learning through the Work College Program are a student's primary responsibilities at Berea College and together constitute a full-time load. While outside work is permitted in accordance with College policy, first-year students are encouraged to avoid off-campus employment during their first year, to allow time to adjust to academic and campus life.